1
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Rijns L, Baker MB, Dankers PYW. Using Chemistry To Recreate the Complexity of the Extracellular Matrix: Guidelines for Supramolecular Hydrogel-Cell Interactions. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17539-17558. [PMID: 38888174 PMCID: PMC11229007 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking materials in regenerative medicine. Here, we briefly describe current state-of-the-art of ECM-mimicking hydrogels, ranging from natural to hybrid to completely synthetic versions, giving the prelude to the importance of supramolecular interactions to make true ECM mimics. The potential of supramolecular interactions to create ECM mimics for cell culture is illustrated through a focus on two different supramolecular hydrogel systems, both developed in our laboratories. We use some recent, significant findings to present important design principles underlying the cell-material interaction. To achieve cell spreading, we propose that slow molecular dynamics (monomer exchange within fibers) is crucial to ensure the robust incorporation of cell adhesion ligands within supramolecular fibers. Slow bulk dynamics (stress-relaxation─fiber rearrangements, τ1/2 ≈ 1000 s) is required to achieve cell spreading in soft gels (<1 kPa), while gel stiffness overrules dynamics in stiffer gels. Importantly, this resonates with the findings of others which specialize in different material types: cell spreading is impaired in case substrate relaxation occurs faster than clutch binding and focal adhesion lifetime. We conclude with discussing considerations and limitations of the supramolecular approach as well as provide a forward thinking perspective to further understand supramolecular hydrogel-cell interactions. Future work may utilize the presented guidelines underlying cell-material interactions to not only arrive at the next generation of ECM-mimicking hydrogels but also advance other fields, such as bioelectronics, opening up new opportunities for innovative applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rijns
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B. Baker
- Department
of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology
Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht
University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y. W. Dankers
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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2
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Falcucci T, Radke M, Sahoo JK, Hasturk O, Kaplan DL. Multifunctional silk vinyl sulfone-based hydrogel scaffolds for dynamic material-cell interactions. Biomaterials 2023; 300:122201. [PMID: 37348323 PMCID: PMC10366540 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical and mechanical interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix influence cell behavior and fate. Mimicking these features in vitro has prompted the design and development of biomaterials, with continuing efforts to improve tailorable systems that also incorporate dynamic chemical functionalities. The majority of these chemistries have been incorporated into synthetic biomaterials, here we focus on modifications of silk protein with dynamic features achieved via enzymatic, "click", and photo-chemistries. The one-pot synthesis of vinyl sulfone modified silk (SilkVS) can be tuned to manipulate the degree of functionalization. The resultant modified protein-based material undergoes three different gelation mechanisms, enzymatic, "click", and light-induced, to generate hydrogels for in vitro cell culture. Further, the versatility of this chemical functionality is exploited to mimic cell-ECM interactions via the incorporation of bioactive peptides and proteins or by altering the mechanical properties of the material to guide cell behavior. SilkVS is well-suited for use in in vitro culture, providing a natural protein with both tunable biochemistry and mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Falcucci
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Margaret Radke
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | | | - Onur Hasturk
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Tufts University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medford, MA, USA.
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3
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Nicosia A, Salamone M, Costa S, Ragusa MA, Ghersi G. Mimicking Molecular Pathways in the Design of Smart Hydrogels for the Design of Vascularized Engineered Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12314. [PMID: 37569691 PMCID: PMC10418696 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomaterials are pivotal in supporting and guiding vascularization for therapeutic applications. To design effective, bioactive biomaterials, understanding the cellular and molecular processes involved in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis is crucial. Biomaterial platforms can replicate the interactions between cells, the ECM, and the signaling molecules that trigger blood vessel formation. Hydrogels, with their soft and hydrated properties resembling natural tissues, are widely utilized; particularly synthetic hydrogels, known for their bio-inertness and precise control over cell-material interactions, are utilized. Naturally derived and synthetic hydrogel bases are tailored with specific mechanical properties, controlled for biodegradation, and enhanced for cell adhesion, appropriate biochemical signaling, and architectural features that facilitate the assembly and tubulogenesis of vascular cells. This comprehensive review showcases the latest advancements in hydrogel materials and innovative design modifications aimed at effectively guiding and supporting vascularization processes. Furthermore, by leveraging this knowledge, researchers can advance biomaterial design, which will enable precise support and guidance of vascularization processes and ultimately enhance tissue functionality and therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Nicosia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation-National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Monica Salamone
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation-National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Salvatore Costa
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (S.C.); (M.A.R.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Antonietta Ragusa
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (S.C.); (M.A.R.); (G.G.)
| | - Giulio Ghersi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (S.C.); (M.A.R.); (G.G.)
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4
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Lee JC, Brien HJ, Walton BL, Eidman ZM, Toda S, Lim WA, Brunger JM. Instructional materials that control cellular activity through synthetic Notch receptors. Biomaterials 2023; 297:122099. [PMID: 37023529 PMCID: PMC10320837 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The field of regenerative engineering relies primarily on the dual technical platforms of cell selection/conditioning and biomaterial fabrication to support directed cell differentiation. As the field has matured, an appreciation for the influence of biomaterials on cell behaviors has resulted in engineered matrices that meet biomechanical and biochemical demands of target pathologies. Yet, despite advances in methods to produce designer matrices, regenerative engineers remain unable to reliably orchestrate behaviors of therapeutic cells in situ. Here, we present a platform named MATRIX whereby cellular responses to biomaterials can be custom defined by combining engineered materials with cells expressing cognate synthetic biology control modules. Such privileged channels of material-to-cell communication can activate synthetic Notch receptors and govern activities as diverse as transcriptome engineering, inflammation attenuation, and pluripotent stem cell differentiation, all in response to materials decorated with otherwise bioinert ligands. Further, we show that engineered cellular behaviors are confined to programmed biomaterial surfaces, highlighting the potential to use this platform to spatially organize cellular responses to bulk, soluble factors. This integrated approach of co-engineering cells and biomaterials for orthogonal interactions opens new avenues for reproducible control of cell-based therapies and tissue replacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne C Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Hannah J Brien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Bonnie L Walton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Zachary M Eidman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Satoshi Toda
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Wendell A Lim
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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5
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He W, Bai J, Chen X, Suo D, Wang S, Guo Q, Yin W, Geng D, Wang M, Pan G, Zhao X, Li B. Reversible dougong structured receptor-ligand recognition for building dynamic extracellular matrix mimics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117221119. [PMID: 35181608 PMCID: PMC8872741 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117221119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic biomaterials excel at recapitulating the reversible interlocking and remoldable structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly in manipulating cell behaviors and adapting to tissue morphogenesis. While strategies based on dynamic chemistries have been extensively studied for ECM-mimicking dynamic biomaterials, biocompatible molecular means with biogenicity are still rare. Here, we report a nature-derived strategy for fabrication of dynamic biointerface as well as a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel structure based on reversible receptor-ligand interaction between the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin and dipeptide d-Ala-d-Ala. We demonstrate the reversible regulation of multiple cell types with the dynamic biointerface and successfully implement the dynamic hydrogel as a functional antibacterial 3D scaffold to treat tissue repair. In view of the biogenicity and high applicability, this nature-derived reversible molecular strategy will bring opportunities for malleable biomaterial design with great potential in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo He
- Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jiaxiang Bai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Di Suo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shenghao Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Qianping Guo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Weiling Yin
- Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Dechun Geng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Miao Wang
- Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- Institute for Advanced Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China;
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom 999077, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China;
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, Haian, Nantong 226600, China
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6
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Missirlis D, Baños M, Lussier F, Spatz JP. Facile and Versatile Method for Micropatterning Poly(acrylamide) Hydrogels Using Photocleavable Comonomers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:3643-3652. [PMID: 35006666 PMCID: PMC8796170 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c17901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We here present a micropatterning strategy to introduce small molecules and ligands on patterns of arbitrary shapes on the surface of poly(acrylamide)-based hydrogels. The main advantages of the presented approach are the ease of use, the lack of need to prefabricate photomasks, the use of mild UV light and biocompatible bioconjugation chemistries, and the capacity to pattern low-molecular-weight ligands, such as peptides, peptidomimetics, or DNA fragments. To achieve the above, a monomer containing a caged amine (NVOC group) was co-polymerized in the hydrogel network; upon UV light illumination using a commercially available setup, primary amines were locally deprotected and served as reactive groups for further functionalization. Cell patterning on various cell adhesive ligands was demonstrated, with cells responding to a combination of pattern shape and substrate elasticity. The approach is compatible with standard traction force microscopy (TFM) experimentation and can further be extended to reference-free TFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Missirlis
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max-Planck-Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- . Tel: +49 6221 486430
| | - Miguel Baños
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max-Planck-Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Felix Lussier
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max-Planck-Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Joachim P. Spatz
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max-Planck-Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstr. 29, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Department
of Biophysical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Institute, Heidelberg University, INF-253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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7
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He J, Yuan Y, Tang L, Qu J. Schiff base fluorescent hydrogel containing acylhydrazone structure and pyridine ring with multifunction. POLYM ADVAN TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pat.5607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jinde He
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China
| | - Ye Yuan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China
| | - Liuyan Tang
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences Wuyi University Jiangmen China
| | - Jinqing Qu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou China
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8
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Cao H, Duan L, Zhang Y, Cao J, Zhang K. Current hydrogel advances in physicochemical and biological response-driven biomedical application diversity. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:426. [PMID: 34916490 PMCID: PMC8674418 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00830-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 90.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel is a type of versatile platform with various biomedical applications after rational structure and functional design that leverages on material engineering to modulate its physicochemical properties (e.g., stiffness, pore size, viscoelasticity, microarchitecture, degradability, ligand presentation, stimulus-responsive properties, etc.) and influence cell signaling cascades and fate. In the past few decades, a plethora of pioneering studies have been implemented to explore the cell-hydrogel matrix interactions and figure out the underlying mechanisms, paving the way to the lab-to-clinic translation of hydrogel-based therapies. In this review, we first introduced the physicochemical properties of hydrogels and their fabrication approaches concisely. Subsequently, the comprehensive description and deep discussion were elucidated, wherein the influences of different hydrogels properties on cell behaviors and cellular signaling events were highlighted. These behaviors or events included integrin clustering, focal adhesion (FA) complex accumulation and activation, cytoskeleton rearrangement, protein cyto-nuclei shuttling and activation (e.g., Yes-associated protein (YAP), catenin, etc.), cellular compartment reorganization, gene expression, and further cell biology modulation (e.g., spreading, migration, proliferation, lineage commitment, etc.). Based on them, current in vitro and in vivo hydrogel applications that mainly covered diseases models, various cell delivery protocols for tissue regeneration and disease therapy, smart drug carrier, bioimaging, biosensor, and conductive wearable/implantable biodevices, etc. were further summarized and discussed. More significantly, the clinical translation potential and trials of hydrogels were presented, accompanied with which the remaining challenges and future perspectives in this field were emphasized. Collectively, the comprehensive and deep insights in this review will shed light on the design principles of new biomedical hydrogels to understand and modulate cellular processes, which are available for providing significant indications for future hydrogel design and serving for a broad range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, and National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, P. R. China
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Lixia Duan
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Cao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, and National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, P. R. China.
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Medical Ultrasound and Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, No. 301 Yan-chang-zhong Road, 200072, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Chapla R, Hammer JA, West JL. Adding Dynamic Biomolecule Signaling to Hydrogel Systems via Tethered Photolabile Cell-Adhesive Proteins. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 8:208-217. [PMID: 34870965 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sequential biochemical signaling events direct key native tissue processes including disease progression, wound healing and angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. While in vitro modeling of these processes is critical to understanding endogenous tissue behavior and improving therapeutic outcomes, current models inadequately recapitulate the dynamism of these signaling events. Even the most advanced current synthetic tissue culture constructs are restricted in their capability to sequentially add and remove the same molecule to model transient signaling. Here, we developed a genetically encoded method for reversible biochemical signaling within poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels for greater accuracy of modeling tissue regeneration within a reductionist environment. We designed and implemented a recombinant protein with a SpyCatcher domain connected to a cell-adhesive RGDS peptide domain by a light-cleavable domain known as PhoCl. This protein was shown to bind to SpyTag-functionalized PEG-matrices via SpyTag-SpyCatcher isopeptide bonding to present RGDS adhesive ligands to cells. Upon 405 nm light exposure, the PhoCl domain was cleaved to subsequently release the RGDS peptide, which diffused out of the matrix. This system was implemented to confer reversible adhesion of 3T3 fibroblasts to the PEG-based hydrogel surface in 2D culture (73.36 ± 21.47% cell removal upon cell-compatible light exposure) and temporal control over cell spreading over time in 3D culture within cell-degradable PEG-based hydrogels, demonstrating the capability of this system to present dynamic signaling events to cells toward modeling native tissue processes within in a controlled, ECM-mimetic matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Chapla
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive Campus Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Joshua A Hammer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive Campus Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Jennifer L West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive Campus Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
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10
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Hammer JA, West JL. Chemically Orthogonal Protein Ligation Domains for Independent Control of Hydrogel Modification with Adhesive Ligands and Growth Factors. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:2504-2512. [PMID: 33089994 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The twin, chemically orthogonal protein ligation domains, SpyCatcher and SnoopCatcher, were used to link two engineered proteins into poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels in order to control both endothelial cell adhesion and material-mediated pro-mitotic stimulation. SpyCatcher was appended with an N-terminal adhesion ligand RGDS to form RGDS-SC, and SnoopCatcher was appended with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mimetic peptide QK to form QK-SnpC. QK-SnpC formed a spontaneous covalent bond with SnoopTag peptide with 40% reaction efficiency, both in solution, in a PEG gel containing SnoopTag peptide, and in a PEG gel with both SnoopTag and SpyTag sites. QK-SnpC added to cell culture media enhanced endothelial cell proliferation compared to a negative control, and was statistically indistinguishable from the positive control of 130 pM VEGF165. Endothelial cells seeded onto PEG gels presenting both RGDS-SC and QK-SnpC showed ∼50% of cells actively proliferating (defined as Ki67+), compared to ∼31% of cells seeded on gels presenting RGDS-SC alone. These results show that complementary nondiffusing biochemical signals can be linked into PEG-DA hydrogels simultaneously using 'Catcher-based ligation strategies, thereby inducing more nuanced cell-material interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Hammer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
| | - Jennifer L West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0281, United States
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11
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Abstract
The specific microenvironment that cells reside in fundamentally impacts their broader function in tissues and organs. At its core, this microenvironment is composed of precise arrangements of cells that encourage homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell interactions, biochemical signaling through soluble factors like cytokines, hormones, and autocrine, endocrine, or paracrine secretions, and the local extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides physical support and mechanobiological stimuli, and further regulates biochemical signaling through cell-ECM interactions like adhesions and growth factor sequestering. Each cue provided in the microenvironment dictates cellular behavior and, thus, overall potential to perform tissue and organ specific function. It follows that in order to recapitulate physiological cell responses and develop constructs capable of replacing damaged tissue, we must engineer the cellular microenvironment very carefully. Many great strides have been made toward this goal using various three-dimensional (3D) tissue culture scaffolds and specific media conditions. Among the various 3D biomimetic scaffolds, synthetic hydrogels have emerged as a highly tunable and tissue-like biomaterial well-suited for implantable tissue-engineered constructs. Because many synthetic hydrogel materials are inherently bioinert, they minimize unintentional cell responses and thus are good candidates for long-term implantable grafts, patches, and organs. This review will provide an overview of commonly used biomaterials for forming synthetic hydrogels for tissue engineering applications and techniques for modifying them to with bioactive properties to elicit the desired cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asli Z Unal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive, Campus Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Jennifer L West
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 101 Science Drive, Campus Box 90281, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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12
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Using Tools from Optogenetics to Create Light-Responsive Biomaterials: LOVTRAP-PEG Hydrogels for Dynamic Peptide Immobilization. Ann Biomed Eng 2019; 48:1885-1894. [PMID: 31720906 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-019-02407-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogel materials have become a versatile platform for in vitro cell culture due to their ability to simulate many aspects of native tissues. However, precise spatiotemporal presentation of peptides and other biomolecules has remained challenging. Here we report the use of light-sensing proteins (LSPs), more commonly used in optogenetics research, as light-activated reversible binding sites within synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels. We used LOVTRAP, a two component LSP system consisting of LOV2, a protein domain that can cycle reversibly between "light" and "dark" conformations in response to blue light, and a z-affibody, Zdark (Zdk), that binds the dark state of LOV2, to spatiotemporally control the presentation of a recombinant protein within PEG hydrogels. By immobilizing LOV2 within PEG gels, we were able to capture a recombinant fluorescent protein (used as a model biomolecule) containing a Zdk domain, and then release the Zdk fusion protein using blue light. Zdk was removed from LOV2-containing PEG gels using focused blue light, resulting in a 30% reduction of fluorescence compared to unexposed regions of the gel. Additionally, the reversible binding capability of LOVTRAP was observed in our system, enabling our LOV2 gels to capture and release Zdk at least three times. By adding a Zdk domain to a recombinant peptide or protein, dynamic, spatially constrained displays of non-diffusing ligands within a PEG gel could feasibly be achieved using LOV2.
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13
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Bisht J, LeValley P, Noren B, McBride R, Kharkar P, Kloxin A, Gatlin J, Oakey J. Light-inducible activation of cell cycle progression in Xenopus egg extracts under microfluidic confinement. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:3499-3511. [PMID: 31544194 PMCID: PMC7819639 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00569b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free Xenopus egg extract is a widely used and biochemically tractable model system that allows recapitulation and elucidation of fundamental cellular processes. Recently, the introduction of microfluidic extract manipulation has enabled compartmentalization of bulk extract and a newfound ability to study organelles on length scales that recapitulate key features of cellular morphology. While the microfluidic confinement of extracts has produced a compelling platform for the in vitro study of cell processes at physiologically-relevant length scales, it also imposes experimental limitations by restricting dynamic control over extract properties. Here, we introduce photodegradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels as a vehicle to passively and selectively manipulate extract composition through the release of proteins encapsulated within the hydrogel matrix. Photopatterned PEG hydrogels, passive to both extract and encapsulated proteins, serve as protein depots within microfluidic channels, which are subsequently flooded with extract. Illumination by ultraviolet light (UV) degrades the hydrogel structures and releases encapsulated protein. We show that an engineered fluorescent protein with a nuclear localization signal (GST-GFP-NLS) retains its ability to localize within nearby nuclei following UV-induced release from hydrogel structures. When diffusion is considered, the kinetics of nuclear accumulation are similar to those in experiments utilizing conventional, bulk fluid handling. Similarly, the release of recombinant cyclin B Δ90, a mutant form of the master cell cycle regulator cyclin B which lacks the canonical destruction box, was able to induce the expected cell cycle transition from interphase to mitosis. This transition was confirmed by the observation of nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD), a phenomenological hallmark of mitosis, and the induction of mitosis-specific biochemical markers. This approach to extract manipulation presents a versatile and customizable route to regulating the spatial and temporal dynamics of cellular events in microfluidically confined cell-free extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitender Bisht
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
- Cell Organization and Division Group, Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Paige LeValley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
- Cell Organization and Division Group, Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Benjamin Noren
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
- Cell Organization and Division Group, Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - Ralph McBride
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
| | - Prathamesh Kharkar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - April Kloxin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716
| | - Jesse Gatlin
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
- Cell Organization and Division Group, Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
| | - John Oakey
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071
- Cell Organization and Division Group, Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
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14
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Huebsch N. Translational mechanobiology: Designing synthetic hydrogel matrices for improved in vitro models and cell-based therapies. Acta Biomater 2019; 94:97-111. [PMID: 31129361 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.05.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogels have ideal physiochemical properties to serve as reductionist mimics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) for studies on cellular mechanosensing. These studies range from basic observation of correlations between ECM mechanics and cell fate changes to molecular dissection of the underlying mechanisms. Despite intensive work on hydrogels to study mechanobiology, many fundamental questions regarding mechanosensing remain unanswered. In this review, I first discuss historical motivation for studying cellular mechanobiology, and challenges impeding this effort. I next overview recent efforts to engineer hydrogel properties to study cellular mechanosensing. Finally, I focus on in vitro modeling and cell-based therapies as applications of hydrogels that will exploit our ability to create micro-environments with physiologically relevant elasticity and viscoelasticity to control cell biology. These translational applications will not only use our current understanding of mechanobiology but will also bring new tools to study the fundamental problem of how cells sense their mechanical environment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrogels are an important tool for understanding how our cells can sense their mechanical environment, and to exploit that understanding in regenerative medicine. In the current review, I discuss historical work linking mechanics to cell behavior in vitro, and highlight the role hydrogels played in allowing us to understand how cells monitor mechanical cues. I then highlight potential translational applications of hydrogels with mechanical properties similar to those of the tissues where cells normally reside in our bodies, and discuss how these types of studies can provide clues to help us enhance our understanding of mechanosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Huebsch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, United States.
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15
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Stejskalová A, Oliva N, England FJ, Almquist BD. Biologically Inspired, Cell-Selective Release of Aptamer-Trapped Growth Factors by Traction Forces. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1806380. [PMID: 30614086 PMCID: PMC6375388 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201806380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Biomaterial scaffolds that are designed to incorporate dynamic, spatiotemporal information have the potential to interface with cells and tissues to direct behavior. Here, a bioinspired, programmable nanotechnology-based platform is described that harnesses cellular traction forces to activate growth factors, eliminating the need for exogenous triggers (e.g., light), spatially diffuse triggers (e.g., enzymes, pH changes), or passive activation (e.g., hydrolysis). Flexible aptamer technology is used to create modular, synthetic mimics of the Large Latent Complex that restrains transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). This flexible nanotechnology-based approach is shown here to work with both platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-165), integrate with glass coverslips, polyacrylamide gels, and collagen scaffolds, enable activation by various cells (e.g., primary human dermal fibroblasts, HMEC-1 endothelial cells), and unlock fundamentally new capabilities such as selective activation of growth factors by differing cell types (e.g., activation by smooth muscle cells but not fibroblasts) within clinically relevant collagen sponges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stejskalová
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London,
London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nuria Oliva
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London,
London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London,
London SW7 2AZ, UK; Grup d’Enginyeria de Materials (GEMAT), Institut
Químic de Sarri, Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Augusta 390, Barcelona 08017,
Spain
| | - Frances J. England
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London,
London SW7 2AZ, UK
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16
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Abstract
The conjugation of biomolecules can impart materials with the bioactivity necessary to modulate specific cell behaviors. While the biological roles of particular polypeptide, oligonucleotide, and glycan structures have been extensively reviewed, along with the influence of attachment on material structure and function, the key role played by the conjugation strategy in determining activity is often overlooked. In this review, we focus on the chemistry of biomolecule conjugation and provide a comprehensive overview of the key strategies for achieving controlled biomaterial functionalization. No universal method exists to provide optimal attachment, and here we will discuss both the relative advantages and disadvantages of each technique. In doing so, we highlight the importance of carefully considering the impact and suitability of a particular technique during biomaterial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Spicer
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles Väg 2, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - E. Thomas Pashuck
- NJ
Centre for Biomaterials, Rutgers University, 145 Bevier Road, Piscataway, New Jersey United States
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles Väg 2, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, United Kingdom
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