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Rojek KO, Wrzos A, Żukowski S, Bogdan M, Lisicki M, Szymczak P, Guzowski J. Long-term day-by-day tracking of microvascular networks sprouting in fibrin gels: From detailed morphological analyses to general growth rules. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016106. [PMID: 38327714 PMCID: PMC10849774 DOI: 10.1063/5.0180703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding and controlling of the evolution of sprouting vascular networks remains one of the basic challenges in tissue engineering. Previous studies on the vascularization dynamics have typically focused only on the phase of intense growth and often lacked spatial control over the initial cell arrangement. Here, we perform long-term day-by-day analysis of tens of isolated microvasculatures sprouting from endothelial cell-coated spherical beads embedded in an external fibrin gel. We systematically study the topological evolution of the sprouting networks over their whole lifespan, i.e., for at least 14 days. We develop a custom image analysis toolkit and quantify (i) the overall length and area of the sprouts, (ii) the distributions of segment lengths and branching angles, and (iii) the average number of branch generations-a measure of network complexity. We show that higher concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) lead to earlier sprouting and more branched networks, yet without significantly affecting the speed of growth of individual sprouts. We find that the mean branching angle is weakly dependent on VEGF and typically in the range of 60°-75°, suggesting that, by comparison with the available diffusion-limited growth models, the bifurcating tips tend to follow local VEGF gradients. At high VEGF concentrations, we observe exponential distributions of segment lengths, which signify purely stochastic branching. Our results-due to their high statistical relevance-may serve as a benchmark for predictive models, while our new image analysis toolkit, offering unique features and high speed of operation, could be exploited in future angiogenic drug tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna O. Rojek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Antoni Wrzos
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Michał Bogdan
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Lisicki
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczak
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Guzowski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Gnecco JS, Brown A, Buttrey K, Ives C, Goods BA, Baugh L, Hernandez-Gordillo V, Loring M, Isaacson KB, Griffith LG. Organoid co-culture model of the human endometrium in a fully synthetic extracellular matrix enables the study of epithelial-stromal crosstalk. MED 2023; 4:554-579.e9. [PMID: 37572651 PMCID: PMC10878405 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human endometrium undergoes recurring cycles of growth, differentiation, and breakdown in response to sex hormones. Dysregulation of epithelial-stromal communication during hormone-mediated signaling may be linked to myriad gynecological disorders for which treatments remain inadequate. Here, we describe a completely defined, synthetic extracellular matrix that enables co-culture of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in a manner that captures healthy and disease states across a simulated menstrual cycle. METHODS We parsed cycle-dependent endometrial integrin expression and matrix composition to define candidate cell-matrix interaction cues for inclusion in a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogel crosslinked with matrix metalloproteinase-labile peptides. We semi-empirically screened a parameter space of biophysical and molecular features representative of the endometrium to define compositions suitable for hormone-driven expansion and differentiation of epithelial organoids, stromal cells, and co-cultures of the two cell types. FINDINGS Each cell type exhibited characteristic morphological and molecular responses to hormone changes when co-encapsulated in hydrogels tuned to a stiffness regime similar to the native tissue and functionalized with a collagen-derived adhesion peptide (GFOGER) and a fibronectin-derived peptide (PHSRN-K-RGD). Analysis of cell-cell crosstalk during interleukin 1B (IL1B)-induced inflammation revealed dysregulation of epithelial proliferation mediated by stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, we demonstrate the development of a fully synthetic matrix to sustain the dynamic changes of the endometrial microenvironment and support its applications to understand menstrual health and endometriotic diseases. FUNDING This work was supported by The John and Karine Begg Foundation, the Manton Foundation, and NIH U01 (EB029132).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan S Gnecco
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Alexander Brown
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Kira Buttrey
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Clara Ives
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Brittany A Goods
- Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, 15 Thayer Drive, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Lauren Baugh
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Victor Hernandez-Gordillo
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Megan Loring
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02115, USA
| | - Keith B Isaacson
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02115, USA
| | - Linda G Griffith
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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Song J, Gerecht S. Hydrogels to Recapture Extracellular Matrix Cues That Regulate Vascularization. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e291-e302. [PMID: 37317849 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The ECM (extracellular matrix) is a 3-dimensional network that supports cellular responses and maintains structural tissue integrity in healthy and pathological conditions. The interactions between ECM and cells trigger signaling cascades that lead to phenotypic changes and structural and compositional turnover of the ECM, which in turn regulates vascular cell behavior. Hydrogel biomaterials are a powerful platform for basic and translational studies and clinical applications due to their high swelling capacity and exceptional versatility in compositions and properties. This review highlights recent developments and uses of engineered natural hydrogel platforms that mimic the ECM and present defined biochemical and mechanical cues for vascularization. Specifically, we focus on modulating vascular cell stimulation and cell-ECM/cell-cell interactions in the microvasculature that are the established biomimetic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyeon Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
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Friend NE, McCoy AJ, Stegemann JP, Putnam AJ. A combination of matrix stiffness and degradability dictate microvascular network assembly and remodeling in cell-laden poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. Biomaterials 2023; 295:122050. [PMID: 36812843 PMCID: PMC10191204 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The formation of functional capillary blood vessels that can sustain the metabolic demands of transplanted parenchymal cells remains one of the biggest challenges to the clinical realization of engineered tissues for regenerative medicine. As such, there remains a need to better understand the fundamental influences of the microenvironment on vascularization. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels have been widely adopted to interrogate the influence of matrix physicochemical properties on cellular phenotypes and morphogenetic programs, including the formation of microvascular networks, in part due to the ease with which their properties can be controlled. In this study, we co-encapsulated endothelial cells and fibroblasts in PEG-norbornene (PEGNB) hydrogels in which stiffness and degradability were tuned to assess their independent and synergistic effects on vessel network formation and cell-mediated matrix remodeling longitudinally. Specifically, we achieved a range of stiffnesses and differing rates of degradation by varying the crosslinking ratio of norbornenes to thiols and incorporating either one (sVPMS) or two (dVPMS) cleavage sites within the matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) sensitive crosslinker, respectively. In less degradable sVPMS gels, decreasing the crosslinking ratio (thereby decreasing the initial stiffness) supported enhanced vascularization. When degradability was increased in dVPMS gels, all crosslinking ratios supported robust vascularization regardless of initial mechanical properties. The vascularization in both conditions was coincident with the deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and cell-mediated stiffening, which was greater in dVPMS conditions after a week of culture. Collectively, these results indicate that enhanced cell-mediated remodeling of a PEG hydrogel, achieved either by reduced crosslinking or increased degradability, leads to more rapid vessel formation and higher degrees of cell-mediated stiffening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Friend
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Atticus J McCoy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Jan P Stegemann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Andrew J Putnam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
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Terzopoulou Z, Zamboulis A, Koumentakou I, Michailidou G, Noordam MJ, Bikiaris DN. Biocompatible Synthetic Polymers for Tissue Engineering Purposes. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:1841-1863. [PMID: 35438479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic polymers have been an integral part of modern society since the early 1960s. Besides their most well-known applications to the public, such as packaging, construction, textiles and electronics, synthetic polymers have also revolutionized the field of medicine. Starting with the first plastic syringe developed in 1955 to the complex polymeric materials used in the regeneration of tissues, their contributions have never been more prominent. Decades of research on polymeric materials, stem cells, and three-dimensional printing contributed to the rapid progress of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine that envisages the potential future of organ transplantations. This perspective discusses the role of synthetic polymers in tissue engineering, their design and properties in relation to each type of application. Additionally, selected recent achievements of tissue engineering using synthetic polymers are outlined to provide insight into how they will contribute to the advancement of the field in the near future. In this way, we aim to provide a guide that will help scientists with synthetic polymer design and selection for different tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Terzopoulou
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandra Zamboulis
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioanna Koumentakou
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Michailidou
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Michiel Jan Noordam
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios N Bikiaris
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers and Dyes, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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6
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Katz RR, West JL. Reductionist Three-Dimensional Tumor Microenvironment Models in Synthetic Hydrogels. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051225. [PMID: 35267532 PMCID: PMC8909517 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumors exist in a complex, three-dimensional environment which helps them to survive, grow, metastasize, and resist drug treatment. Simple, reproducible, in vitro models of this environment are necessary in order to better understand tumor behavior. Naturally derived polymers are great 3D cell culture substrates, but they often lack the tunability and batch-to-batch consistency which can be found in synthetic polymer systems. In this review, we describe the current state of and future directions for tumor microenvironment models in synthetic hydrogels. Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a determining role in everything from disease progression to drug resistance. As such, in vitro models which can recapitulate the cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions that occur in situ are key to the investigation of tumor behavior and selecting effective therapeutic drugs. While naturally derived matrices can retain the dimensionality of the native TME, they lack tunability and batch-to-batch consistency. As such, many synthetic polymer systems have been employed to create physiologically relevant TME cultures. In this review, we discussed the common semi-synthetic and synthetic polymers used as hydrogel matrices for tumor models. We reviewed studies in synthetic hydrogels which investigated tumor cell interactions with vasculature and immune cells. Finally, we reviewed the utility of these models as chemotherapeutic drug-screening platforms, as well as the future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R. Katz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
| | - Jennifer L. West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
- Correspondence:
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Parisi C, Qin K, Fernandes FM. Colonization versus encapsulation in cell-laden materials design: porosity and process biocompatibility determine cellularization pathways. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2021; 379:20200344. [PMID: 34334019 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Seeding materials with living cells has been-and still is-one of the most promising approaches to reproduce the complexity and the functionality of living matter. The strategies to associate living cells with materials are limited to cell encapsulation and colonization, however, the requirements for these two approaches have been seldom discussed systematically. Here we propose a simple two-dimensional map based on materials' pore size and the cytocompatibility of their fabrication process to draw, for the first time, a guide to building cellularized materials. We believe this approach may serve as a straightforward guideline to design new, more relevant materials, able to seize the complexity and the function of biological materials. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bio-derived and bioinspired sustainable advanced materials for emerging technologies (part 1)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleo Parisi
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Sorbonne Université, UMR7574, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Kankan Qin
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Sorbonne Université, UMR7574, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Francisco M Fernandes
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, Sorbonne Université, UMR7574, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
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Rahimnejad M, Nasrollahi Boroujeni N, Jahangiri S, Rabiee N, Rabiee M, Makvandi P, Akhavan O, Varma RS. Prevascularized Micro-/Nano-Sized Spheroid/Bead Aggregates for Vascular Tissue Engineering. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2021; 13:182. [PMID: 34409511 PMCID: PMC8374027 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-021-00697-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Efficient strategies to promote microvascularization in vascular tissue engineering, a central priority in regenerative medicine, are still scarce; nano- and micro-sized aggregates and spheres or beads harboring primitive microvascular beds are promising methods in vascular tissue engineering. Capillaries are the smallest type and in numerous blood vessels, which are distributed densely in cardiovascular system. To mimic this microvascular network, specific cell components and proangiogenic factors are required. Herein, advanced biofabrication methods in microvascular engineering, including extrusion-based and droplet-based bioprinting, Kenzan, and biogripper approaches, are deliberated with emphasis on the newest works in prevascular nano- and micro-sized aggregates and microspheres/microbeads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Rahimnejad
- Biomedical Engineering Institute, School of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Sepideh Jahangiri
- Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier de L'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Navid Rabiee
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Rabiee
- Biomaterial Group, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Centre for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56 025, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
| | - Omid Akhavan
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Rajender S Varma
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacky University, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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