Functional engineered mesenchymal stem cells with fibronectin-gold composite coated catheters for vascular tissue regeneration

Research Progress on Cardiac Tissue Construction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Myocardial Infarction

Heart failure is still the main complication affecting the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an effective treatment to replace necrotic myocardium and improve cardiac functioning. However, the transplant survival rate of MSCs still presents challenges. In this review, the biological characteristics of MSCs, the progress of mechanism research in the treatment of myocardial infarction, and the advances in improving the transplant survival rate of MSCs in the replacement of necrotic myocardial infarction are systematically described. From a basic to advanced clinical research, MSC transplants have evolved from a pure injection, an exosome injection, the genetic modification of MSCs prior to injection to the cardiac tissue engineering of MSC patch grafting. This study shows that MSCs have wide clinical applications in the treatment of AMI, suggesting improved myocardial tissue creation. A broader clinical application prospect will be explored and developed to improve the survival rate of MSC transplants and myocardial vascularization.

Differentiation Induction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by a Au Delivery Platform

Au decorated with type I collagen (Col) was used as a core material to cross-link with stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF1α) in order to investigate biological performance. The Au-based nanoparticles were subjected to physicochemical determination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of this nanoparticle using the MTT assay and measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Also, the biological effects of the SDF-1α-conjugated nanoparticles (Au-Col-SDF1α) were assessed and the mechanisms were explored. Furthermore, we investigated the cell differentiation-inducing potential of these conjugated nanoparticles on MSCs toward endothelial cells, neurons, osteoblasts and adipocytes. We then ultimately explored the process of cell entry and transportation of the nanoparticles. Using a mouse animal model and retro-orbital sinus injection, we traced in vivo biodistribution to determine the biosafety of the Au-Col-SDF1α nanoparticles. In summary, our results indicate that Au-Col is a promising drug delivery system; it can be used to carry SDF1α to improve MSC therapeutic efficiency.

Neural Differentiation Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhanced by Biocompatible Chitosan-Gold Nanocomposites

Chitosan (Chi) is a natural polymer that has been demonstrated to have potential as a promoter of neural regeneration. In this study, Chi was prepared with various amounts (25, 50, and 100 ppm) of gold (Au) nanoparticles for use in in vitro and in vivo assessments. Each as-prepared material was first characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). Through the in vitro experiments, Chi combined with 50 ppm of Au nanoparticles demonstrated better biocompatibility. The platelet activation, monocyte conversion, and intracellular ROS generation was remarkably decreased by Chi–Au 50 pm treatment. Furthermore, Chi–Au 50 ppm could facilitate colony formation and strengthen matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The lower expression of CD44 in Chi–Au 50 ppm treatment demonstrated that the nanocomposites could enhance the MSCs undergoing differentiation. Chi–Au 50 ppm was discovered to significantly induce the expression of GFAP, β-Tubulin, and nestin protein in MSCs for neural differentiation, which was verified by real-time PCR analysis and immunostaining assays. Additionally, a rat model involving subcutaneous implantation was used to evaluate the superior anti-inflammatory and endothelialization abilities of a Chi–Au 50 ppm treatment. Capsule formation and collagen deposition were decreased. The CD86 expression (M1 macrophage polarization) and leukocyte filtration (CD45) were remarkably reduced as well. In summary, a Chi polymer combined with 50 ppm of Au nanoparticles was proven to enhance the neural differentiation of MSCs and showed potential as a biosafe nanomaterial for neural tissue engineering.

Evaluation of the Biocompatibility and Endothelial Differentiation Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Polyethylene Glycol Nanogold Composites

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, where inflammation occurs in the blood vessel wall, are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)-based treatment coupled with nanoparticles is considered to be a potential and promising therapeutic strategy for vascular regeneration. Thus, angiogenesis enhanced by nanoparticles is of critical concern. In this study, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) incorporated with 43.5 ppm of gold (Au) nanoparticles was prepared for the evaluation of biological effects through in vitro and in vivo assessments. The physicochemical properties of PEG and PEG–Au nanocomposites were first characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFMs). Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species scavenger ability as well as the hydrophilic property of the nanocomposites were also investigated. Afterwards, the biocompatibility and biological functions of the PEG–Au nanocomposites were evaluated through in vitro assays. The thin coating of PEG containing 43.5 ppm of Au nanoparticles induced the least platelet and monocyte activation. Additionally, the cell behavior of MSCs on PEG–Au 43.5 ppm coating demonstrated better cell proliferation, low ROS generation, and enhancement of cell migration, as well as protein expression of the endothelialization marker CD31, which is associated with angiogenesis capacity. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory and endothelial differentiation ability were both evaluated through in vivo assessments. The evidence demonstrated that PEG–Au 43.5 ppm implantation inhibited capsule formation and facilitated the expression of CD31 in rat models. TUNEL assay also indicated that PEG–Au nanocomposites would not induce significant cell apoptosis. The above results elucidate that the surface modification of PEG–Au nanomaterials may enable them to serve as efficient tools for vascular regeneration grafts.

Mesenchymal stem cell-based nanoparticles and scaffolds in regenerative medicine

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells owing to their regenerative potential and multilineage potency. MSCs have wide-scale applications either in their native cellular form or in conjugation with specific biomaterials as nanocomposites. Majorly, these natural or synthetic biomaterials are being used in the form of metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles (NPs) to encapsulate MSCs within hydrogels like alginate or chitosan or drug cargo loading into MSCs. In contrast, nanofibers of polymer scaffolds such as polycaprolactone (PCL), poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), silk fibroin, collagen, chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid (HA), and cellulose are used to support or grow MSCs directly on it. These MSCs based nanotherapies have application in multiple domains of biomedicine including wound healing, bone and cartilage engineering, cardiac disorders, and neurological disorders. This study focused on current approaches of MSCs-based therapies and has been divided into two major sections. The first section elaborates on MSC-based nano-therapies and their plausible applications including exosome engineering and NPs encapsulation. The following section focuses on the various MSC-based scaffold approaches in tissue engineering. Conclusively, this review mainly focused on MSC-based nanocomposite's current approaches and compared their advantages and limitations for building effective regenerative medicines.

Physical Gold Nanoparticle-Decorated Polyethylene Glycol-Hydroxyapatite Composites Guide Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) with hydroxyapatite (HA), with the incorporation of physical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), was created and equipped through a surface coating technique in order to form PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites. The surface morphology and chemical composition were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle assessment. The effects of PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites on the biocompatibility and biological activity of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells, endothelial cells (EC), macrophages (RAW 264.7), and human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as the guiding of osteogenic differentiation, were estimated through the use of an in vitro assay. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory, biocompatibility, and endothelialization capacities were further assessed through in vivo evaluation. The PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites showed superior biological properties and biocompatibility capacity for cell behavior in both MC3T3-E1 cells and MSCs. These biological events surrounding the cells could be associated with the activation of adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation processes on the PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites. Indeed, the induction of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites and enhanced mineralization activity were also evidenced in this study. Moreover, from the in vivo assay, we further found that PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites not only facilitate the anti-immune response, as well as reducing CD86 expression, but also facilitate the endothelialization ability, as well as promoting CD31 expression, when implanted into rats subcutaneously for a period of 1 month. The current research illustrates the potential of PEG-HA-AuNP nanocomposites when used in combination with MSCs for the regeneration of bone tissue, with their nanotopography being employed as an applicable surface modification approach for the fabrication of biomaterials.

Inflammatory Modulation of Polyethylene Glycol-AuNP for Regulation of the Neural Differentiation Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

A nanocomposite composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) incorporated with various concentrations (~17.4, ~43.5, ~174 ppm) of gold nanoparticles (Au) was created to investigate its biocompatibility and biological performance in vitro and in vivo. First, surface topography and chemical composition was determined through UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), free radical scavenging ability, and water contact angle measurement. Additionally, the diameters of the PEG-Au nanocomposites were also evaluated through dynamic light scattering (DLS) assay. According to the results, PEG containing 43.5 ppm of Au demonstrated superior biocompatibility and biological properties for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as well as superior osteogenic differentiation, adipocyte differentiation, and, particularly, neuronal differentiation. Indeed, PEG-Au 43.5 ppm induced better cell adhesion, proliferation and migration in MSCs. The higher expression of the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis may be associated with MMPs activation and may have also promoted the differentiation capacity of MSCs. Moreover, it also prevented MSCs from apoptosis and inhibited macrophage and platelet activation, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory, biocompatibility, and endothelialization capacity of PEG-Au was measured in a rat model. After implanting the nanocomposites into rats subcutaneously for 4 weeks, PEG-Au 43.5 ppm was able to enhance the anti-immune response through inhibiting CD86 expression (M1 polarization), while also reducing leukocyte infiltration (CD45). Moreover, PEG-Au 43.5 ppm facilitated CD31 expression and anti-fibrosis ability. Above all, the PEG-Au nanocomposite was evidenced to strengthen the differentiation of MSCs into various cells, including fat, vessel, and bone tissue and, particularly, nerve cells. This research has elucidated that PEG combined with the appropriate amount of Au nanoparticles could become a potential biomaterial able to cooperate with MSCs for tissue regeneration engineering.

Delivery Capacity and Anticancer Ability of the Berberine-Loaded Gold Nanoparticles to Promote the Apoptosis Effect in Breast Cancer

Simple Summary

In this research, we aimed to evaluate the biological effects of physically gold nanoparticle-collagen nanocarrier incorporated with alkaloid berberine (Au-Col-BB) on non-transformed bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) and Her-2 breast cancer cell lines through in vitro and in vivo assessments. Au-Col-BB showed better cytotoxicity, as well as significantly induced cell apoptosis in Her-2 cancer cells compared with normal cells (non-transformed BAEC). Further, Au-Col-BB also demonstrated better anti-cancer capacity for inhibiting cell growth in Her-2 tumor-bearing mice. In brief, we confirmed that the Au-Col-BB nanocarrier could be a potential nanodrug for increasing the efficiency of specific therapeutic effects in breast cancer disease.

Abstract

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were fabricated with biocompatible collagen (Col) and then conjugated with berberine (BB), denoted as Au-Col-BB, to investigate the endocytic mechanisms in Her-2 breast cancer cell line and in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Owing to the superior biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, and potential functionalization with biomolecules, AuNPs have been well studied as carriers of biomolecules for diseases and cancer therapeutics. Composites of AuNPs with biopolymer, such as fibronectin or Col, have been revealed to increase cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. BB is a natural compound with impressive health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar and reducing weight. In addition, BB can inhibit cell proliferation by modulating cell cycle progress and autophagy, and induce cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In the current research, BB was conjugated on the Col-AuNP composite (“Au-Col”). The UV-Visible spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirmed the conjugation of BB on Au-Col. The particle size of the Au-Col-BB conjugate was about 227 nm, determined by dynamic light scattering. Furthermore, Au-Col-BB was less cytotoxic to BAEC vs. Her-2 cell line in terms of MTT assay and cell cycle behavior. Au-Col-BB, compared to Au-Col, showed greater cell uptake capacity and potential cellular transportation by BAEC and Her-2 using the fluorescence-conjugated Au-Col-BB. In addition, the clathrin-mediated endocytosis and cell autophagy seemed to be the favorite endocytic mechanism for the internalization of Au-Col-BB by BAEC and Her-2. Au-Col-BB significantly inhibited cell migration in Her-2, but not in BAEC. Moreover, apoptotic cascade proteins, such as Bax and p21, were expressed in Her-2 after the treatment of Au-Col-BB. The tumor suppression was examined in a model of xenograft mice treated with Au-Col-BB nanovehicles. Results demonstrated that the tumor weight was remarkably reduced by the treatment of Au-Col-BB. Altogether, the promising findings of Au-Col-BB nanocarrier on Her-2 breast cancer cell line suggest that Au-Col-BB may be a good candidate of anticancer drug for the treatment of human breast cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory Fibronectin-AgNP for Regulation of Biological Performance and Endothelial Differentiation Ability of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The engineering of vascular regeneration still involves barriers that need to be conquered. In the current study, a novel nanocomposite comprising of fibronectin (denoted as FN) and a small amount of silver nanoparticles (AgNP, ~15.1, ~30.2 or ~75.5 ppm) was developed and its biological function and biocompatibility in Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and rat models was investigated. The surface morphology as well as chemical composition for pure FN and the FN-AgNP nanocomposites incorporating various amounts of AgNP were firstly characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Among the nanocomposites, FN-AgNP with 30.2 ppm silver nanoparticles demonstrated the best biocompatibility as assessed through intracellular ROS production, proliferation of MSCs, and monocytes activation. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, were also examined. FN-AgNP 30.2 ppm significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine expression compared to other materials, indicating superior performance of anti-immune response. Mechanistically, FN-AgNP 30.2 ppm significantly induced greater expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal-cell derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1α) and promoted the migration of MSCs through matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) signaling pathway. Besides, in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that FN-AgNP 30.2 ppm stimulated greater protein expressions of CD31 and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) as well as facilitated better endothelialization capacity than other materials. Furthermore, the histological tissue examination revealed the lowest capsule formation and collagen deposition in rat subcutaneous implantation of FN-AgNP 30.2 ppm. In conclusion, FN-AgNP nanocomposites may facilitate the migration and proliferation of MSCs, induce endothelial cell differentiation, and attenuate immune response. These finding also suggests that FN-AgNP may be a potential anti-inflammatory surface modification strategy for vascular biomaterials.

Nanogold-Carried Graphene Oxide: Anti-Inflammation and Increased Differentiation Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Graphene-based nanocomposites such as graphene oxide (GO) and nanoparticle-decorated graphene with demonstrated excellent physicochemical properties have worthwhile applications in biomedicine and bioengineering such as tissue engineering. In this study, we fabricated gold nanoparticle-decorated GO (GO-Au) nanocomposites and characterized their physicochemical properties using UV-Vis absorption spectra, FTIR spectra, contact angle analyses, and free radical scavenging potential. Moreover, we investigated the potent applications of GO-Au nanocomposites on directing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tissue regeneration. We compared the efficacy of as-prepared GO-derived nanocomposites including GO, GO-Au, and GO-Au (×2) on the biocompatibility of MSCs, immune cell identification, anti-inflammatory effects, differentiation capacity, as well as animal immune compatibility. Our results showed that Au-deposited GO nanocomposites, especially GO-Au (×2), significantly exhibited increased cell viability of MSCs, had good anti-oxidative ability, sponged the immune response toward monocyte-macrophage transition, as well as inhibited the activity of platelets. Moreover, we also validated the superior efficacy of Au-deposited GO nanocomposites on the enhancement of cell motility and various MSCs-derived cell types of differentiation including neuron cells, adipocytes, osteocytes, and endothelial cells. Additionally, the lower induction of fibrotic formation, reduced M1 macrophage polarization, and higher induction of M2 macrophage, as well as promotion of the endothelialization, were also found in the Au-deposited GO nanocomposites implanted animal model. These results suggest that the Au-deposited GO nanocomposites have excellent immune compatibility and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro. Altogether, our findings indicate that Au-decorated GO nanocomposites, especially GO-Au (×2), can be a potent nanocarrier for tissue engineering and an effective clinical strategy for anti-inflammation.

The Roles of Nanoparticles in Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Nanoparticles (NPs) are playing increasingly important roles in regulating stem cell behavior because of their special features, including shape, size, aspect ratio, surface charge, and surface area. In terms of cardiac disease, NPs can facilitate gene delivery in stem cells, track the stem cells in vivo for long-term monitoring, and enhance retention after their transplantation. The advantages of applying NPs in peripheral vascular disease treatments include facilitating stem cell therapy, mimicking the extracellular matrix environment, and utilizing a safe non-viral gene delivery tool. However, the main limitation of NPs is toxicity, which is related to their size, shape, aspect ratio, and surface charge. Currently, there have been many animal models proving NPs’ potential in treating CVD, but no extensive applications of stem-cell therapy using NPs are available in clinical practice. In conclusion, NPs might have significant potential uses in clinical trials of CVD in the future, thereby meeting the changing needs of individual patients worldwide.

Application of Nanomaterials in Regulating the Fate of Adipose-derived Stem Cells

Adipose-derived stem cells are adult stem cells which are easy to obtain and multi-potent. Stem-cell therapy has become a promising new treatment for many diseases, and plays an increasingly important role in the field of tissue repair, regeneration and reconstruction. The physicochemical properties of the extracellular microenvironment contribute to the regulation of the fate of stem cells. Nanomaterials have stable particle size, large specific surface area and good biocompatibility, which has led them being recognized as having broad application prospects in the field of biomedicine. In this paper, we review recent developments of nanomaterials in adipose-derived stem cell research. Taken together, the current literature indicates that nanomaterials can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. However, the properties and regulatory effects of nanomaterials can vary widely depending on their composition. This review aims to provide a comprehensive guide for future stem-cell research on the use of nanomaterials.

Use of Nanoparticles in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Advances in nanoparticle (NP) production and demand for control over nanoscale systems have had significant impact on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). NPs with low toxicity, contrasting agent properties, tailorable characteristics, targeted/stimuli-response delivery potential, and precise control over behavior (via external stimuli such as magnetic fields) have made it possible their use for improving engineered tissues and overcoming obstacles in TERM. Functional tissue and organ replacements require a high degree of spatial and temporal control over the biological events and also their real-time monitoring. Presentation and local delivery of bioactive (growth factors, chemokines, inhibitors, cytokines, genes etc.) and contrast agents in a controlled manner are important implements to exert control over and monitor the engineered tissues. This need resulted in utilization of NP based systems in tissue engineering scaffolds for delivery of multiple growth factors, for providing contrast for imaging and also for controlling properties of the scaffolds. Depending on the application, materials, as polymers, metals, ceramics and their different composites can be utilized for production of NPs. In this review, we will cover the use of NP systems in TERM and also provide an outlook for future potential use of such systems.