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Lamanna J, Gloria G, Villa A, Malgaroli A. Anomalous diffusion of synaptic vesicles and its influences on spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission. J Physiol 2024; 602:2873-2898. [PMID: 38723211 DOI: 10.1113/jp284926] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurons in the central nervous system communicate with each other by activating billions of tiny synaptic boutons distributed along their fine axons. These presynaptic varicosities are very crowded environments, comprising hundreds of synaptic vesicles. Only a fraction of these vesicles can be recruited in a single release episode, either spontaneous or evoked by action potentials. Since the seminal work by Fatt and Katz, spontaneous release has been modelled as a memoryless process. Nevertheless, at central synapses, experimental evidence indicates more complex features, including non-exponential distributions of release intervals and power-law behaviour in their rate. To describe these features, we developed a probabilistic model of spontaneous release based on Brownian motion of synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic environment. To account for different diffusion regimes, we based our simulations on fractional Brownian motion. We show that this model can predict both deviation from the Poisson hypothesis and power-law features in experimental quantal release series, thus suggesting that the vesicular motion by diffusion could per se explain the emergence of these properties. We demonstrate the efficacy of our modelling approach using electrophysiological recordings at single synaptic boutons and ultrastructural data. When this approach was used to simulate evoked responses, we found that the replenishment of the readily releasable pool driven by Brownian motion of vesicles can reproduce the characteristic binomial release distributions seen experimentally. We believe that our modelling approach supports the idea that vesicle diffusion and readily releasable pool dynamics are crucial factors for the physiological functioning of neuronal communication. KEY POINTS: We developed a new probabilistic model of spontaneous and evoked vesicle fusion based on simple biophysical assumptions, including the motion of vesicles before they dock to the release site. We provide closed-form equations for the interval distribution of spontaneous releases in the special case of Brownian diffusion of vesicles, showing that a power-law heavy tail is generated. Fractional Brownian motion (fBm) was exploited to simulate anomalous vesicle diffusion, including directed and non-directed motion, by varying the Hurst exponent. We show that our model predicts non-linear features observed in experimental spontaneous quantal release series as well as ultrastructural data of synaptic vesicles spatial distribution. Evoked exocytosis based on a diffusion-replenished readily releasable pool might explain the emergence of power-law behaviour in neuronal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Gloria
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Malgaroli
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Turro, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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2
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Nanotopography and Microconfinement Impact on Primary Hippocampal Astrocyte Morphology, Cytoskeleton and Spontaneous Calcium Wave Signalling. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020293. [PMID: 36672231 PMCID: PMC9856934 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes' organisation affects the functioning and the fine morphology of the brain, both in physiological and pathological contexts. Although many aspects of their role have been characterised, their complex functions remain, to a certain extent, unclear with respect to their contribution to brain cell communication. Here, we studied the effects of nanotopography and microconfinement on primary hippocampal rat astrocytes. For this purpose, we fabricated nanostructured zirconia surfaces as homogenous substrates and as micrometric patterns, the latter produced by a combination of an additive nanofabrication and micropatterning technique. These engineered substrates reproduce both nanotopographical features and microscale geometries that astrocytes encounter in their natural environment, such as basement membrane topography, as well as blood vessels and axonal fibre topology. The impact of restrictive adhesion manifests in the modulation of several cellular properties of single cells (morphological and actin cytoskeletal changes) and the network organisation and functioning. Calcium wave signalling was observed only in astrocytes grown in confined geometries, with an activity enhancement in cells forming elongated agglomerates with dimensions typical of blood vessels or axon fibres. Our results suggest that calcium oscillation and wave propagation are closely related to astrocytic morphology and actin cytoskeleton organisation.
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3
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Lamanna J, Ferro M, Spadini S, Malgaroli A. Exploiting the molecular diversity of the synapse to investigate neuronal communication: A guide through the current toolkit. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:6141-6161. [PMID: 36239030 PMCID: PMC10100385 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15848] [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: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Chemical synapses are tiny and overcrowded environments, deeply embedded inside brain tissue and enriched with thousands of protein species. Many efforts have been devoted to developing custom approaches for evaluating and modifying synaptic activity. Most of these methods are based on the engineering of one or more synaptic protein scaffolds used to target active moieties to the synaptic compartment or to manipulate synaptic functioning. In this review, we summarize the most recent methodological advances and provide a description of the involved proteins as well as the operation principle. Furthermore, we highlight their advantages and limitations in relation to studies of synaptic transmission in vitro and in vivo. Concerning the labelling methods, the most important challenge is how to extend the available approaches to the in vivo setting. On the other hand, for those methods that allow manipulation of synaptic function, this limit has been overcome using optogenetic approaches that can be more easily applied to the living brain. Finally, future applications of these methods to neuroscience, as well as new potential routes for development, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Ferro
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Spadini
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Malgaroli
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Turro, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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4
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Sharma R, Kumar S, Bhawna, Gupta A, Dheer N, Jain P, Singh P, Kumar V. An Insight of Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering from Fabrication to Applications. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 19:927-960. [PMID: 35661124 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-022-00459-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering is a research domain that deals with the growth of various kinds of tissues with the help of synthetic composites. With the culmination of nanotechnology and bioengineering, tissue engineering has emerged as an exciting domain. Recent literature describes its various applications in biomedical and biological sciences, such as facilitating the growth of tissue and organs, gene delivery, biosensor-based detection, etc. It deals with the development of biomimetics to repair, restore, maintain and amplify or strengthen several biological functions at the level of tissue and organs. Herein, the synthesis of nanocomposites based on polymers, along with their classification as conductive hydrogels and bioscaffolds, is comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, their implementation in numerous tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications is also described. The limitations of tissue engineering are also discussed here. The present review highlights and summarizes the latest progress in the tissue engineering domain directed at functionalized nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.,Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Bhawna
- Department of Chemistry, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.,Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Akanksha Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
| | - Neelu Dheer
- Department of Chemistry, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Pallavi Jain
- Department of Chemistry, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Delhi NCR Campus, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prashant Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. .,Special Centre for Nano Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India.
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5
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Spadini S, Racchetti G, Adiletta A, Lamanna J, Moro AS, Ferro M, Zimarino V, Malgaroli A. A novel integrated approach to estimate the mitochondrial content of neuronal cells and brain tissues. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 363:109351. [PMID: 34481832 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109351] [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: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondria and their dynamics fuel most cellular processes both in physiological and pathological conditions. In the central nervous system, mitochondria sustain synaptic transmission and plasticity via multiple mechanisms which include their redistribution and/or expansion to higher energy demanding sites, sustaining activity changes and promoting morphological circuit adaptations. NEW METHOD To be able to evaluate changes in mitochondrial number and protein phenotype, we propose a novel methodological approach where the simultaneous analysis of both mitochondrial DNA and protein content is performed on each individual microsample, avoiding non-homogeneous loss of material. RESULTS We validated this method on neuronal-like cells and tissue samples and obtained estimates for the mitochondrial/genomic DNA ratio as well as for the abundance of protein counterparts. When the mitochondrial content per cell was evaluated in different brain areas, our results matched the known regional variation in aerobic-anaerobic metabolism. When long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced on hippocampal neurons, we detected increases in the abundance of mitochondria that correlated with the degree of synaptic enhancement. CONCLUSIONS Our approach can be effectively used to study the mitochondrial content andits changes in different brain cells and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Spadini
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Racchetti
- Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Adiletta
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Stefano Moro
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Ferro
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Department of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Zimarino
- Division of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Malgaroli
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy; Faculty of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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6
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Pasquardini L, Roncador A, Prusakova V, Vanzetti L, Potrich C, Lunelli L, Pederzolli C, Iannotta S, Macchi P, Dirè S. Functionalization of TiO 2 sol-gel derived films for cell confinement. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 204:111787. [PMID: 33962371 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The neuroscience field has increased enormously over the last decades, achieving the possible real application of neuronal cultures not only for reproducing neural architectures resembling in vivo tissues, but also for the development of functional devices. In this context, surface patterning for cell confinement is crucial, and new active materials together with new protocols for preparing substrates suitable for confining cells, guiding their processes in the desired configuration are extremely appreciated. Here, TiO2 sol-gel derived films were selected as proof-of-concept materials to grow neurons in suitable confined configurations, taking advantage of the biocompatible properties of modified TiO2 substrates. TiO2 sol-gel derived films were made compatible with the growth of neurons thanks to a stable and controlled poly-lysine coating, obtained by silanization chemistry and streptavidin-biotin interactions. Moreover, a spotting protocol, here described and optimized, allowed the simple preparation of arrays of neurons, where cell adhesion was guided in specific areas and the neurites development driven in the desired arrangement. The resulting arrays were successfully tested for the growth and differentiation of neurons, demonstrating the possible adhesion of cells in specific areas of the film, therefore paving the way to applications such as the direct growth of excitable cells nearby electrodes of devices, with an evident enhancement of cell-electrodes communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pasquardini
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - A Roncador
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - V Prusakova
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - L Vanzetti
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Center for Sensors & Devices, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - C Potrich
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Center for Sensors & Devices, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy; Istituto di Biofisica, Unitá di Trento, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IBF-CNR), Via alla Cascata 56/C 18, 38123 Trento, Italy.
| | - L Lunelli
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Center for Sensors & Devices, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy; Istituto di Biofisica, Unitá di Trento, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IBF-CNR), Via alla Cascata 56/C 18, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - C Pederzolli
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), Center for Sensors & Devices, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - S Iannotta
- Istituto dei Materiali per l'Elettronica ed il Magnetismo, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IMEM-CNR), Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - P Macchi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - S Dirè
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
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7
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Chen C, Rengarajan V, Kjar A, Huang Y. A matrigel-free method to generate matured human cerebral organoids using 3D-Printed microwell arrays. Bioact Mater 2021; 6:1130-1139. [PMID: 33134606 PMCID: PMC7577195 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The current methods of generating human cerebral organoids rely excessively on the use of Matrigel or other external extracellular matrices (ECM) for cell micro-environmental modulation. Matrigel embedding is problematic for long-term culture and clinical applications due to high inconsistency and other limitations. In this study, we developed a novel microwell culture platform based on 3D printing. This platform, without using Matrigel or external signaling molecules (i.e., SMAD and Wnt inhibitors), successfully generated matured human cerebral organoids with robust formation of high-level features (i.e., wrinkling/folding, lumens, neuronal layers). The formation and timing were comparable or superior to the current Matrigel methods, yet with improved consistency. The effect of microwell geometries (curvature and resolution) and coating materials (i.e., mPEG, Lipidure, BSA) was studied, showing that mPEG outperformed all other coating materials, while curved-bottom microwells outperformed flat-bottom ones. In addition, high-resolution printing outperformed low-resolution printing by creating faithful, isotropically-shaped microwells. The trend of these effects was consistent across all developmental characteristics, including EB formation efficiency and sphericity, organoid size, wrinkling index, lumen size and thickness, and neuronal layer thickness. Overall, the microwell device that was mPEG-coated, high-resolution printed, and bottom curved demonstrated the highest efficacy in promoting organoid development. This platform provided a promising strategy for generating uniform and mature human cerebral organoids as an alternative to Matrigel/ECM-embedding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrew Kjar
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA
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8
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Previdi A, Piazzoni C, Borghi F, Schulte C, Lorenzelli L, Giacomozzi F, Bucciarelli A, Malgaroli A, Lamanna J, Moro A, Racchetti G, Podestà A, Lenardi C, Milani P. Micropatterning of Substrates for the Culture of Cell Networks by Stencil-Assisted Additive Nanofabrication. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12010094. [PMID: 33477416 PMCID: PMC7829752 DOI: 10.3390/mi12010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The fabrication of in vitro neuronal cell networks where cells are chemically or electrically connected to form functional circuits with useful properties is of great interest. Standard cell culture substrates provide ensembles of cells that scarcely reproduce physiological structures since their spatial organization and connectivity cannot be controlled. Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition (SCBD) has been used as an effective additive method for the large-scale fabrication of interfaces with extracellular matrix-mimicking surface nanotopography and reproducible morphological properties for cell culture. Due to the high collimation of SCBD, it is possible to exploit stencil masks for the fabrication of patterned films and reproduce features as small as tens of micrometers. Here, we present a protocol to fabricate micropatterned cell culture substrates based on the deposition of nanostructured cluster-assembled zirconia films by stencil-assisted SCBD. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by the fabrication of micrometric patterns able to confine primary astrocytes. Calcium waves propagating in the astrocyte networks are shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Previdi
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Claudio Piazzoni
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Francesca Borghi
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Carsten Schulte
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Leandro Lorenzelli
- Center for Materials and Microsystems (CMM), Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy; (L.L.); (F.G.); (A.B.)
| | - Flavio Giacomozzi
- Center for Materials and Microsystems (CMM), Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy; (L.L.); (F.G.); (A.B.)
| | - Alessio Bucciarelli
- Center for Materials and Microsystems (CMM), Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Trento, Italy; (L.L.); (F.G.); (A.B.)
| | - Antonio Malgaroli
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (J.L.); (A.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Jacopo Lamanna
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (J.L.); (A.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Andrea Moro
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (J.L.); (A.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Gabriella Racchetti
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience and Communication (BNC), Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (J.L.); (A.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Cristina Lenardi
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
| | - Paolo Milani
- CIMaINa and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy; (A.P.); (C.P.); (F.B.); (C.S.); (A.P.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Gentile F. Cell aggregation on nanorough surfaces. J Biomech 2020; 115:110134. [PMID: 33248702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ability to control adhesion and the spatial organization of cells over nanoscale surfaces is essential in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, the growth of organoids and spheroids as an in-vitro-model of human development and disease. Nonetheless, despite the several different works that have explored the influence of nanotopography on cell adhesion and clustering, little is known about how the forces arising from membrane conformational change developing during cell adaptation to a nanorough surface, and the cell-cell adhesion forces, interact to guide cell assembly. Here, starting from the works of Decuzzi and Ferrari, who examined how the energy of a cell varies while adhering to a nanoscale surface, and of Armstrong and collaborators, who developed a continuous model of cell-cell adhesion and morphogenesis, we provide a description of how nanotopography can modulate cellular clustering. In simulations where the parameters of the model were varied over large intervals, we found that nanoroughness may induce cell aggregation from a homogenous, uniform state, also for weak cell-cell adhesion. Results of the model are relevant in bio-engineering and biomedical nanotechnology, and may be of interest for those involved in the design and fabrication of biomaterials and scaffolds for tissue formation and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gentile
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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10
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Chighizola M, Previdi A, Dini T, Piazzoni C, Lenardi C, Milani P, Schulte C, Podestà A. Adhesion force spectroscopy with nanostructured colloidal probes reveals nanotopography-dependent early mechanotransductive interactions at the cell membrane level. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:14708-14723. [PMID: 32618323 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr01991g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mechanosensing, the ability of cells to perceive and interpret the microenvironmental biophysical cues (such as the nanotopography), impacts strongly cellular behaviour through mechanotransductive processes and signalling. These events are predominantly mediated by integrins, the principal cellular adhesion receptors located at the cell/extracellular matrix (ECM) interface. Because of the typical piconewton force range and nanometre length scale of mechanotransductive interactions, achieving a detailed understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics occurring at the cell/microenvironment interface is challenging; sophisticated interdisciplinary methodologies are required. Moreover, an accurate control over the nanotopographical features of the microenvironment is essential, in order to systematically investigate and precisely assess the influence of the different nanotopographical motifs on the mechanotransductive process. In this framework, we were able to study and quantify the impact of microenvironmental nanotopography on early cellular adhesion events by means of adhesion force spectroscopy based on innovative colloidal probes mimicking the nanotopography of natural ECMs. These probes provided the opportunity to detect nanotopography-specific modulations of the molecular clutch force loading dynamics and integrin clustering at the level of single binding events, in the critical time window of nascent adhesion formation. Following this approach, we found that the nanotopographical features are responsible for an excessive force loading in single adhesion sites after 20-60 s of interaction, causing a drop in the number of adhesion sites. However, by manganese treatment we demonstrated that the availability of activated integrins is a critical regulatory factor for these nanotopography-dependent dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chighizola
- C.I.Ma.I.Na. and Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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11
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Schulte C. Cluster-assembled nanostructured materials for cell biology. CLUSTER BEAM DEPOSITION OF FUNCTIONAL NANOMATERIALS AND DEVICES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-08-102515-4.00010-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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12
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Chighizola M, Dini T, Lenardi C, Milani P, Podestà A, Schulte C. Mechanotransduction in neuronal cell development and functioning. Biophys Rev 2019; 11:701-720. [PMID: 31617079 PMCID: PMC6815321 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00587-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many details remain still elusive, it became increasingly evident in recent years that mechanosensing of microenvironmental biophysical cues and subsequent mechanotransduction are strongly involved in the regulation of neuronal cell development and functioning. This review gives an overview about the current understanding of brain and neuronal cell mechanobiology and how it impacts on neurogenesis, neuronal migration, differentiation, and maturation. We will focus particularly on the events in the cell/microenvironment interface and the decisive extracellular matrix (ECM) parameters (i.e. rigidity and nanometric spatial organisation of adhesion sites) that modulate integrin adhesion complex-based mechanosensing and mechanotransductive signalling. It will also be outlined how biomaterial approaches mimicking essential ECM features help to understand these processes and how they can be used to control and guide neuronal cell behaviour by providing appropriate biophysical cues. In addition, principal biophysical methods will be highlighted that have been crucial for the study of neuronal mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Chighizola
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Tania Dini
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Lenardi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Milani
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Carsten Schulte
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (C.I.Ma.I.Na.) and Department of Physics ``Aldo Pontremoli'', Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 16, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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