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Liu X, Guo Z, Wang J, Shen W, Jia Z, Jia S, Li L, Wang J, Wang L, Li J, Sun Y, Chen Y, Zhang M, Bai J, Wang L, Li X. Thiolation-Based Protein-Protein Hydrogels for Improved Wound Healing. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303824. [PMID: 38303578 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303824] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
The limitations of protein-based hydrogels, including their insufficient mechanical properties and restricted biological functions, arise from the highly specific functions of proteins as natural building blocks. A potential solution to overcome these shortcomings is the development of protein-protein hydrogels, which integrate structural and functional proteins. In this study, a protein-protein hydrogel formed by crosslinking bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a genetically engineered intrinsically disordered collagen-like protein (CLP) through Ag─S bonding is introduced. The approach involves thiolating lysine residues of BSA and crosslinking CLP with Ag+ ions, utilizing thiolation of BSA and the free-cysteines of CLP. The resulting protein-protein hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties, including notable plasticity, inherent self-healing capabilities, and gel-sol transition in response to redox conditions. In comparison to standalone BSA hydrogels, these protein-protein hydrogels demonstrate enhanced cellular viability, and improved cellular migration. In vivo experiments provide conclusive evidence of accelerated wound healing, observed not only in murine models with streptozotocin (Step)-induced diabetes but also in zebrafish models subjected to UV-burn injuries. Detailed mechanistic insights, combined with assessments of proinflammatory cytokines and the expression of epidermal differentiation-related proteins, robustly validate the protein-protein hydrogel's effectiveness in promoting wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Zhao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Wenting Shen
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety of Shandong Normal University, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, P. R. China
| | - Zhenzhen Jia
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety of Shandong Normal University, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Limiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Jieqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Liping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Yinan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Yufang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Jia Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Liyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
| | - Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, P .R. China
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2
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Jia S, Wang J, Li S, Wang X, Liu Q, Li Y, Shad M, Ma B, Wang L, Li C, Li X. Genetically encoded zinc-binding collagen-like protein hybrid hydrogels for wound repair. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127592. [PMID: 37913885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127592] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOnps) into collagen is a promising strategy for fabricating biomaterials with excellent antibacterial activity, but modifications are necessary due to the low zinc binding affinity of native collagen, which can cause disturbances to the functions of both ZnOnps and collagen and result in heterogeneous effects. To address this issue, we have developed a genetically encoded zinc-binding collagen-like protein, Zn-eCLP3, which was genetically modified by Scl2 collagen-like protein. Our study found that Zn-eCLP3 has a binding affinity for zinc that is 3-fold higher than that of commercialized type I collagen, as determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Using ZnOnps-coordinated Zn-eCLP3 protein and xanthan gum, we prepared a hydrogel that showed significantly stronger antibacterial activity compared to a collagen hydrogel prepared in the same manner. In vitro cytocompatibility tests were conducted to assess the potential of the Zn-eCLP3 hydrogel for wound repair applications. In vivo experiments, which involved an S. aureus-infected mouse trauma model, showed that the application of the Zn-eCLP3 hydrogel resulted in rapid wound regeneration and increased expression of collagen-1α and cytokeratin-14. Our study highlights the potential of Zn-eCLP3 and the hybrid hydrogel for further studies and applications in wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Shubin Li
- Department of Geriatric Medical Center, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, 20 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot 010021, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, China
| | - Yimiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Man Shad
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Bin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Liyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Changyan Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, China.
| | - Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory for Molecular Regulation of the Cell, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, China.
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3
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Jia S, Wang J, Wang X, Liu X, Li S, Li Y, Li J, Wang J, Man S, Guo Z, Sun Y, Jia Z, Wang L, Li X. Genetically encoded in situ gelation redox-responsive collagen-like protein hydrogel for accelerating diabetic wound healing. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:7748-7758. [PMID: 37753880 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01010d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded collagen-like protein-based hydrogels have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in promoting the healing process in diabetic patients. However, the current methods for preparing these hydrogels pose significant challenges due to harsh reaction conditions and the reliance on chemical crosslinkers. In this study, we present a genetically encoded approach that allows for the creation of protein hydrogels without the need for chemical additives. Our design involves the genetic encoding of paired-cysteine residues at the C- and N-terminals of a meticulously engineered collagen-like recombination protein. The protein-based hydrogel undergoes a gel-sol transition in response to redox stimulation, achieving a gel-sol transition. We provide evidence that the co-incubation of the protein hydrogel with 3T3 cells not only enhances cell viability but also promotes cell migration. Moreover, the application of the protein hydrogel significantly accelerates the healing of diabetic wounds by upregulating the expression of collagen-1α (COL-1α) and Cytokeratin 14 (CK-14), while simultaneously reducing oxidant stress in the wound microenvironment. Our study highlights a straightforward strategy for the preparation of redox-responsive protein hydrogels, removing the need for additional chemical agents. Importantly, our findings underscore the potential of this hydrogel system for effectively treating diabetic wounds, offering a promising avenue for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Xing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Shubin Li
- Department of Geriatric Medical Center, Inner Mongolia people's Hospital, 20 Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, 010021, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Yimiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Jiaqi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Jieqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Shad Man
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Zhao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Yinan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Zhenzhen Jia
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety of Shandong Normal University, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, PR China
| | - Liyao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
| | - Xinyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010020, PR China
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Tan Y, Ma L, Cao X, Yi Z, Ma X, Li X. Tunable Stress Relaxing Biomimetic Matrices: Hyaluronan/Hydroxyapatite Hybridization Mediates Assembly of Collagen Fibrils. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:5162-5174. [PMID: 37889885 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The alluring correlations of cellular behaviors with viscoelastic extracellular matrices have driven increasing endeavors directed toward the understanding of mechanical cues on cell growth and differentiation via preparing biomimetic scaffolds/gels with viscoelastic controllability. Indeed, systematic investigations, especially into calcium phosphate-containing biomimetics, are relatively rare. Here, oxidized hyaluronic acid/hydroxyapatite hybrids (OHAHs) were synthesized by hyaluronan-mediated biomimetic mineralization with confined ion diffusion and subsequent oxidization treatment. The collagen self-assembly was applied to fabricate tunable stress relaxing fibrillar matrices in the presence of OHAHs in which the incorporated hyaluronic acid with aldehyde groups acted to improve the component compatibility as well as to supplement the molecular interactions with the occurrence of a Schiff-base reaction. With the addition of varying OHAH contents, the self-assembly behavior of collagen was altered, and the obtained collagen-hybrid (CH) matrices presented a heterogeneous fibrillar structure interspersed with OHAHs, characterized by large fibrillar bundles coexisting with small fibrils. The OHAHs improved the hydrogel stability of pure collagen, and according to rheological and nanoindentation measurements, CH matrices also exhibited tunable stress relaxation rates, following an OHAH concentration-dependent fashion. The proliferation and spreading of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured onto such CH matrices were further found to increase with the stress relaxing rate of the matrices. The present study showed that the introduction of hydroxyapatite incorporated with active hyaluronic acid during collagen reconstitution was a simple and effective strategy to realize the preparation of tunable stress relaxing biomimetic matrices potentially used for further appraising the regulation of mechanical cues on cell behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfei Tan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Lei Ma
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Xiaoyu Cao
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zeng Yi
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Xiaomin Ma
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xudong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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5
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Abalymov A, Pinchasik BE, Akasov RA, Lomova M, Parakhonskiy BV. Strategies for Anisotropic Fibrillar Hydrogels: Design, Cell Alignment, and Applications in Tissue Engineering. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4532-4552. [PMID: 37812143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Efficient cellular alignment in biomaterials presents a considerable challenge, demanding the refinement of appropriate material morphologies, while ensuring effective cell-surface interactions. To address this, biomaterials are continuously researched with diverse coatings, hydrogels, and polymeric surfaces. In this context, we investigate the influence of physicochemical parameters on the architecture of fibrillar hydrogels that significantly orient the topography of flexible hydrogel substrates, thereby fostering cellular adhesion and spatial organization. Our Review comprehensively assesses various techniques for aligning polymer fibrils within hydrogels, specifically interventions applied during and after the cross-linking process. These methodologies include mechanical strains, precise temperature modulation, controlled fluidic dynamics, and chemical modulators, as well as the use of magnetic and electric fields. We highlight the intrinsic appeal of these methodologies in fabricating cell-aligning interfaces and discuss their potential implications within the fields of biomaterials and tissue engineering, particularly concerning the pursuit of optimal cellular alignment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatolii Abalymov
- Science Medical Center, Saratov State University, 410012 Saratov, Russia
| | - Bat-El Pinchasik
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Roman A Akasov
- Sechenov University and Federal Scientific Research Centre "Crystallography and Photonics" of Russian Academy of Sciences, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Lomova
- Science Medical Center, Saratov State University, 410012 Saratov, Russia
| | - Bogdan V Parakhonskiy
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Shin M, Lim J, An J, Yoon J, Choi JW. Nanomaterial-based biohybrid hydrogel in bioelectronics. NANO CONVERGENCE 2023; 10:8. [PMID: 36763293 PMCID: PMC9918666 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-023-00357-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite the broadly applicable potential in the bioelectronics, organic/inorganic material-based bioelectronics have some limitations such as hard stiffness and low biocompatibility. To overcome these limitations, hydrogels capable of bridging the interface and connecting biological materials and electronics have been investigated for development of hydrogel bioelectronics. Although hydrogel bioelectronics have shown unique properties including flexibility and biocompatibility, there are still limitations in developing novel hydrogel bioelectronics using only hydrogels such as their low electrical conductivity and structural stability. As an alternative solution to address these issues, studies on the development of biohybrid hydrogels that incorporating nanomaterials into the hydrogels have been conducted for bioelectronic applications. Nanomaterials complement the shortcomings of hydrogels for bioelectronic applications, and provide new functionality in biohybrid hydrogel bioelectronics. In this review, we provide the recent studies on biohybrid hydrogels and their bioelectronic applications. Firstly, representative nanomaterials and hydrogels constituting biohybrid hydrogels are provided, and next, applications of biohybrid hydrogels in bioelectronics categorized in flexible/wearable bioelectronic devices, tissue engineering, and biorobotics are discussed with recent studies. In conclusion, we strongly believe that this review provides the latest knowledge and strategies on hydrogel bioelectronics through the combination of nanomaterials and hydrogels, and direction of future hydrogel bioelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minkyu Shin
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04170, Republic of Korea
| | - Joungpyo Lim
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04170, Republic of Korea
| | - Joohyun An
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04170, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Yoon
- Department of Biomedical-Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, 14662, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jeong-Woo Choi
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04170, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Haq-Siddiqi NA, Britton D, Kim Montclare J. Protein-engineered biomaterials for cartilage therapeutics and repair. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 192:114647. [PMID: 36509172 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114647] [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: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cartilage degeneration and injury are major causes of pain and disability that effect millions, and yet treatment options for conditions like osteoarthritis (OA) continue to be mainly palliative or involve complete replacement of injured joints. Several biomaterial strategies have been explored to address cartilage repair either by the delivery of therapeutics or as support for tissue repair, however the complex structure of cartilage tissue, its mechanical needs, and lack of regenerative capacity have hindered this goal. Recent advances in synthetic biology have opened new possibilities for engineered proteins to address these unique needs. Engineered protein and peptide-based materials benefit from inherent biocompatibility and nearly unlimited tunability as they utilize the body's natural building blocks to fabricate a variety of supramolecular structures. The pathophysiology and needs of OA cartilage are presented here, along with an overview of the current state of the art and next steps for protein-engineered repair strategies for cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada A Haq-Siddiqi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Dustin Britton
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States; Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York 10003, United States; Department of Radiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York 10016, United States; Department of Biomaterials, NYU College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States.
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8
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Goncalves AG, Hartzell EJ, Sullivan MO, Chen W. Recombinant protein polymer-antibody conjugates for applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 191:114570. [PMID: 36228897 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there are over 100 antibody-based therapeutics on the market for the treatment of various diseases. The increasing importance of antibody treatment is further highlighted by the recent FDA emergency use authorization of certain antibody therapies for COVID-19 treatment. Protein-based materials have gained momentum for antibody delivery due to their biocompatibility, tunable chemistry, monodispersity, and straightforward synthesis and purification. In this review, we discuss progress in engineering the molecular features of protein-based biomaterials, in particular recombinant protein polymers, for introducing novel functionalities and enhancing the delivery properties of antibodies and related binding protein domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio G Goncalves
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Emily J Hartzell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Wilfred Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
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9
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Design of synthetic collagens that assemble into supramolecular banded fibers as a functional biomaterial testbed. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6761. [PMID: 36351904 PMCID: PMC9646729 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34127-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagens are the most abundant proteins of the extracellular matrix, and the hierarchical folding and supramolecular assembly of collagens into banded fibers is essential for mediating cell-matrix interactions and tissue mechanics. Collagen extracted from animal tissues is a valuable commodity, but suffers from safety and purity issues, limiting its biomaterials applications. Synthetic collagen biomaterials could address these issues, but their construction requires molecular-level control of folding and supramolecular assembly into ordered banded fibers, comparable to those of natural collagens. Here, we show an innovative class of banded fiber-forming synthetic collagens that recapitulate the morphology and some biological properties of natural collagens. The synthetic collagens comprise a functional-driver module that is flanked by adhesive modules that effectively promote their supramolecular assembly. Multiscale simulations support a plausible molecular-level mechanism of supramolecular assembly, allowing precise design of banded fiber morphology. We also experimentally demonstrate that synthetic fibers stimulate osteoblast differentiation at levels comparable to natural collagen. This work thus deepens understanding of collagen biology and disease by providing a ready source of safe, functional biomaterials that bridge the current gap between the simplicity of peptide biophysical models and the complexity of in vivo animal systems.
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Meganathan I, Pachaiyappan M, Aarthy M, Radhakrishnan J, Mukherjee S, Shanmugam G, You J, Ayyadurai N. Recombinant and genetic code expanded collagen-like protein as a tailorable biomaterial. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:2698-2721. [PMID: 36189465 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh00652a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Collagen occurs in nature with a dedicated triple helix structure and is the most preferred biomaterial in commercialized medical products. However, concerns on purity, disease transmission, and the reproducibility of animal derived collagen restrict its applications and warrants alternate recombinant sources. The expression of recombinant collagen in different prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts has been reported with varying degrees of success, however, it is vital to elucidate the structural and biological characteristics of natural collagen. The recombinant production of biologically functional collagen is restricted by its high molecular weight and post-translational modification (PTM), especially the hydroxylation of proline to hydroxyproline. Hydroxyproline plays a key role in the structural stability and higher order self-assembly to form fibrillar matrices. Advancements in synthetic biology and recombinant technology are being explored for improving the yield and biomimicry of recombinant collagen. It emerges as reliable, sustainable source of collagen, promises tailorable properties and thereby custom-made protein biomaterials. Remarkably, the evolutionary existence of collagen-like proteins (CLPs) has been identified in single-cell organisms. Interestingly, CLPs exhibit remarkable ability to form stable triple helical structures similar to animal collagen and have gained increasing attention. Strategies to expand the genetic code of CLPs through the incorporation of unnatural amino acids promise the synthesis of highly tunable next-generation triple helical proteins required for the fabrication of smart biomaterials. The review outlines the importance of collagen, sources and diversification, and animal and recombinant collagen-based biomaterials and highlights the limitations of the existing collagen sources. The emphasis on genetic code expanded tailorable CLPs as the most sought alternate for the production of functional collagen and its advantages as translatable biomaterials has been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilamaran Meganathan
- Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India.
| | - Mohandass Pachaiyappan
- Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India.
| | - Mayilvahanan Aarthy
- Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India.
| | - Janani Radhakrishnan
- Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Smriti Mukherjee
- Division of Organic and Bio-organic Chemistry, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India
| | - Ganesh Shanmugam
- Division of Organic and Bio-organic Chemistry, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Jingjing You
- Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Niraikulam Ayyadurai
- Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - CLRI, Chennai, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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11
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Wang J, Hu J, Yuan X, Li Y, Song L, Xu F. Recombinant collagen hydrogels induced by disulfide bonds. J Biomed Mater Res A 2022; 110:1774-1785. [PMID: 35836355 PMCID: PMC9544300 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With the characteristics of low toxicity and biodegradability, recombinant collagen‐like proteins have been chemically and genetically engineered as a scaffold for cell adhesion and proliferation. However, most of the existing hydrogels crosslinked with peptides or polymers are not pure collagen, limiting their utility as biomaterials. A major roadblock in the development of biomaterials is the need for high purity collagen that can self‐assemble into hydrogels under mild conditions. In this work, we designed a recombinant protein, S‐VCL‐S, by introducing cysteine residues into the Streptococcus pyogenes collagen‐like protein at both the N‐and C‐termini of the collagen with a trimerization domain (V) and a collagen domain (CL). The S‐VCL‐S protein was properly folded in complete triple helices and formed self‐supporting hydrogels without polymer modifications. In addition, the introduction of cysteines was found to play a key role in the properties of the hydrogels, including their microstructure, pore size, mechanical properties, and drug release capability. Moreover, two/three‐dimensional cell‐culture assays showed that the hydrogels are noncytotoxic and can promote long‐term cell viability. This study explored a crosslinking collagen hydrogel based on disulfide bonds and provides a design strategy for collagen‐based biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of BiotechnologyJiangnan UniversityWuxiChina
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control TechnologyJiangsu Institute of Parasitic DiseasesWuxiChina
| | - Jinyuan Hu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of BiotechnologyJiangnan UniversityWuxiChina
| | - Xuan Yuan
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control TechnologyJiangsu Institute of Parasitic DiseasesWuxiChina
| | - Yingnan Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of BiotechnologyJiangnan UniversityWuxiChina
| | - Lijun Song
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control TechnologyJiangsu Institute of Parasitic DiseasesWuxiChina
| | - Fei Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of BiotechnologyJiangnan UniversityWuxiChina
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12
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Luo R, Wan Y, Luo X, Liu G, Li Z, Chen J, Su D, Lu N, Luo Z. A Rapid Self-Assembly Peptide Hydrogel for Recruitment and Activation of Immune Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27020419. [PMID: 35056735 PMCID: PMC8779634 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly peptide nanotechnology has attracted much attention due to its regular and orderly structure and diverse functions. Most of the existing self-assembly peptides can form aggregates with specific structures only under specific conditions and their assembly time is relatively long. They have good biocompatibility but no immunogenicity. To optimize it, a self-assembly peptide named DRF3 was designed. It contains a hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface, using two N-terminal arginines, leucine, and two c-terminal aspartate and glutamic acid. Meanwhile, the c-terminal of the peptide was amidated, so that peptide segments were interconnected to increase diversity. Its characterization, biocompatibility, controlled release effect on antigen, immune cell recruitment ability, and antitumor properties were examined here. Congo red/aniline blue staining revealed that peptide hydrogel DRF3 could be immediately gelled in PBS. The stable β-sheet secondary structure of DRF3 was confirmed by circular dichroism spectrum and IR spectra. The observation results of cryo-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that DRF3 formed nanotubule-like and vesicular structures in PBS, and these structures interlaced with each other to form ordered three-dimensional nanofiber structures. Meanwhile, DRF3 showed excellent biocompatibility, could sustainably and slowly release antigens, recruit dendritic cells and promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. In addition, DRF3 has a strong inhibitory effect on clear renal cell carcinoma (786-0). These results provide a reliable basis for the application of peptide hydrogels in biomedical and preclinical trials.
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