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Alshehri AM, Wilson OC. Biomimetic Hydrogel Strategies for Cancer Therapy. Gels 2024; 10:437. [PMID: 39057460 PMCID: PMC11275631 DOI: 10.3390/gels10070437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in biomimetic hydrogel research have expanded the scope of biomedical technologies that can be used to model, diagnose, and treat a wide range of medical conditions. Cancer presents one of the most intractable challenges in this arena due to the surreptitious mechanisms that it employs to evade detection and treatment. In order to address these challenges, biomimetic design principles can be adapted to beat cancer at its own game. Biomimetic design strategies are inspired by natural biological systems and offer promising opportunities for developing life-changing methods to model, detect, diagnose, treat, and cure various types of static and metastatic cancers. In particular, focusing on the cellular and subcellular phenomena that serve as fundamental drivers for the peculiar behavioral traits of cancer can provide rich insights into eradicating cancer in all of its manifestations. This review highlights promising developments in biomimetic nanocomposite hydrogels that contribute to cancer therapies via enhanced drug delivery strategies and modeling cancer mechanobiology phenomena in relation to metastasis and synergistic sensing systems. Creative efforts to amplify biomimetic design research to advance the development of more effective cancer therapies will be discussed in alignment with international collaborative goals to cure cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awatef M. Alshehri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
- Department of Nanomedicine, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud bin Abdelaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Otto C. Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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2
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Wei Y, Miao G. Global deblurring for continuous out-of-focus images using a depth-varying diffusion model. APPLIED OPTICS 2021; 60:9453-9465. [PMID: 34807086 DOI: 10.1364/ao.435543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of continuous out-of-focus imaging often occurs in high-magnification optical microscopy when observing large-scale targets. Lacking of accurate depth-varying point spread functions (DVPSFs) for blurred regions at different depths, it is difficult to locally reconstruct the clear images of these blurred regions using traditional deblurring methods, making it unreasonable to globally observe the optical features of large-scale targets in high-magnification optical microscopy. This paper proposes a global deblurring method for continuous out-of-focus images of large-scale sphere samples. In this study, first we analyze the energy diffusion characteristics of the optical imaging process, integrating the relationship between high-frequency energy parameters, optical range distance, and depth of field, and we propose a three-dimensional continuous energy diffusion model for optical imaging. Next, we propose an adaptive weight depth calculation method for a continuously changing surface based on the depth varying diffusion model by introducing the sample surface curvature variation and light direction. Finally, we propose a universal method for deblurring continuous out-of-focus images of large-scale sphere samples for the purpose of observing the global optical features in high-magnification optical microscopy. Moreover, we use dynamic microspheres of different sizes to verify the effectiveness of our proposed method. The results prove that our proposed method can accurately calculate the depth of the sample surface and the energy diffusion parameters at each depth, and it can achieve the image deblurring of a continuously changing surface and the global deblurring of multiple samples in a wide field of view.
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Abstract
As the crucial non-cellular component of tissues, the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides both physical support and signaling regulation to cells. Some ECM molecules provide a fibrillar environment around cells, while others provide a sheet-like basement membrane scaffold beneath epithelial cells. In this Review, we focus on recent studies investigating the mechanical, biophysical and signaling cues provided to developing tissues by different types of ECM in a variety of developing organisms. In addition, we discuss how the ECM helps to regulate tissue morphology during embryonic development by governing key elements of cell shape, adhesion, migration and differentiation. Summary: This Review discusses our current understanding of how the extracellular matrix helps guide developing tissues by influencing cell adhesion, migration, shape and differentiation, emphasizing the biophysical cues it provides.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Cruz Walma
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4370, USA
| | - Kenneth M Yamada
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4370, USA
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4
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Betsch M, Cristian C, Lin YY, Blaeser A, Schöneberg J, Vogt M, Buhl EM, Fischer H, Duarte Campos DF. Incorporating 4D into Bioprinting: Real-Time Magnetically Directed Collagen Fiber Alignment for Generating Complex Multilayered Tissues. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1800894. [PMID: 30221829 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201800894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In vitro multilayered tissues with mimetic architectures resembling native tissues are valuable tools for application in medical research. In this study, an advanced bioprinting strategy is presented for aligning collagen fibers contained in functional bioinks. Streptavidin-coated iron nanoparticles are embedded in printable bioinks with varying concentrations of low gelling temperature agarose and type I collagen. By applying a straightforward magnetic-based mechanism in hydrogels during bioprinting, it is possible to align collagen fibers in less concentrated hydrogel blends with a maximum agarose concentration of 0.5 w/v%. Conversely, more elevated concentrations of agarose in printable blends show random collagen fiber distribution. Interestingly, hydrogel blends with unidirectionally aligned collagen fibers show significantly higher compression moduli compared to hydrogel blends including random fibers. Considering its application in the field of cartilage tissue engineering, bioprinted constructs with alternating layers of aligned and random fibers are fabricated. After 21 days of culture, cell-loaded constructs with alternating layers of aligned and random fibers express markedly more collagen II in comparison to solely randomly oriented fiber constructs. These encouraging results translate the importance of the structure and architecture of bioinks used in bioprinting in light of their use for tissue engineering and personalized medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Betsch
- Department of Orthopaedics; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Catalin Cristian
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Ying-Ying Lin
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Andreas Blaeser
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Jan Schöneberg
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Michael Vogt
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research; Two-Photon Imaging Facility; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Eva Miriam Buhl
- Institute of Pathology; Electron Microscopy Facility; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Horst Fischer
- Department of Dental Materials and Biomaterials Research; RWTH Aachen University Hospital; 52074 Aachen Germany
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5
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See HH, Herath SCB, Arayanarakool R, Du Y, Tan E, Ge R, Asada H, Chen PCY. An Electromagnetic System for Inducing a Localized Force Gradient in an ECM and Its Influence on HMVEC Sprouting. SLAS Technol 2017; 23:70-82. [PMID: 28922618 DOI: 10.1177/2472630317730002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) have been observed to influence the behavior of cells. Investigations on such an influence commonly rely on using soluble cues to alter the global intrinsic ECM properties in order to study the subsequent response of cells. This article presents an electromagnetic system for inducing a localized force gradient in an ECM, and reports the experimentally observed effect of such a force gradient on in vitro angiogenic sprouting of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs). This force gradient is realized through the induction of magnetic forces on the superparamagnetic microparticle-embedded ECM ( sECM). Both analytical and statistically meaningful experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in influencing the behavior of a targeted HMVEC sprout without affecting that of other sprouts nearby. These results suggest the possibility of selectively controlling the in vitro behavior of cells by the induction of a localized force gradient in the ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hian Hian See
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sahan C B Herath
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,2 Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | | | - Yue Du
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Evan Tan
- 2 Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.,3 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ruowen Ge
- 2 Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.,3 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Harry Asada
- 2 Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.,4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter C Y Chen
- 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,2 Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
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6
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Herath SCB, Sharghi-Namini S, Du Y, Wang D, Ge R, Wang QG, Asada H, Chen PCY. A Magneto-Microfluidic System for Investigating the Influence of an Externally Induced Force Gradient in a Collagen Type I ECM on HMVEC Sprouting. SLAS Technol 2016; 22:413-424. [DOI: 10.1177/2211068216680078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Advances in mechanobiology have suggested that physiological and pathological angiogenesis may be differentiated based on the ways in which the cells interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) that exhibits partially different mechanical properties. This warrants investigating the regulation of ECM stiffness on cell behavior using angiogenesis assays. In this article, we report the application of the technique of active manipulation of ECM stiffness to study in vitro angiogenic sprouting of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) in a microfluidic device. Magnetic beads were embedded in the ECM through bioconjugation (between the streptavidin-coated beads and collagen fibers) in order to create a pretension in the ECM when under the influence of an external magnetic field. The advantage of using this magneto-microfluidic system is that the resulting change in the local deformability of the collagen fibers is only apparent to a cell at the pericellular level near the site of an embedded bead, while the global intrinsic material properties of the ECM remain unchanged. The results demonstrate that this system represents an effective tool for inducing noninvasively an external force on cells through the ECM, and suggest the possibility of creating desired stiffness gradients in the ECM for manipulating cell behavior in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahan C. B. Herath
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Soheila Sharghi-Namini
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Dongan Wang
- Division of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Ruowen Ge
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qing-Guo Wang
- Institute for Intelligent Systems, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Harry Asada
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter C. Y. Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Biosystem and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore–MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
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7
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Du Y, Herath SCB, Wang QG, Wang DA, Asada HH, Chen PCY. Three-Dimensional Characterization of Mechanical Interactions between Endothelial Cells and Extracellular Matrix during Angiogenic Sprouting. Sci Rep 2016; 6:21362. [PMID: 26903154 PMCID: PMC4763258 DOI: 10.1038/srep21362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied the three-dimensional cell-extracellular matrix interactions of endothelial cells that form multicellular structures called sprouts. We analyzed the data collected in-situ from angiogenic sprouting experiments and identified the differentiated interaction behavior exhibited by the tip and stalk cells. Moreover, our analysis of the tip cell lamellipodia revealed the diversity in their interaction behavior under certain conditions (e.g., when the heading of a sprout is switched approximately between the long-axis direction of two different lamellipodia). This study marks the first time that new characteristics of such interactions have been identified with shape changes in the sprouts and the associated rearrangements of collagen fibers. Clear illustrations of such changes are depicted in three-dimensional views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Sahan C B Herath
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
| | - Qing-guo Wang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dong-an Wang
- Division of Bioengineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - H Harry Asada
- BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
| | - Peter C Y Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Program, Singapore
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