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Blázquez-Carmona P, Ruiz-Mateos R, Barrasa-Fano J, Shapeti A, Martín-Alfonso JE, Domínguez J, Van Oosterwyck H, Reina-Romo E, Sanz-Herrera JA. Quantitative atlas of collagen hydrogels reveals mesenchymal cancer cell traction adaptation to the matrix nanoarchitecture. Acta Biomater 2024; 185:281-295. [PMID: 38992411 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.07.002] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Collagen-based hydrogels are commonly used in mechanobiology to mimic the extracellular matrix. A quantitative analysis of the influence of collagen concentration and properties on the structure and mechanics of the hydrogels is essential for tailored design adjustments for specific in vitro conditions. We combined focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy and rheology to provide a detailed quantitative atlas of the mechanical and nanoscale three-dimensional structural alterations that occur when manipulating different hydrogel's physicochemistry. Moreover, we study the effects of such alterations on the phenotype of breast cancer cells and their mechanical interactions with the extracellular matrix. Regardless of the microenvironment's pore size, porosity or mechanical properties, cancer cells are able to reach a stable mesenchymal-like morphology. Additionally, employing 3D traction force microscopy, a positive correlation between cellular tractions and ECM mechanics is observed up to a critical threshold, beyond which tractions plateau. This suggests that cancer cells in a stable mesenchymal state calibrate their mechanical interactions with the ECM to keep their migration and invasiveness capacities unaltered. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The paper presents a thorough study on the mechanical microenvironment in breast cancer cells during their interaction with collagen based hydrogels of different compositions. The hydrogels' microstructure were obtained using state-of-the-art 3D microscopy, namely focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM). FIB-SEM was originally applied in this work to reconstruct complex fibered collagen microstructures within the nanometer range, to obtain key microarchitectural parameters. The mechanical microenvironment of cells was recovered using Traction Force Microscopy (TFM). The obtained results suggest that cells calibrate tractions such that they depend on mechanical, microstructural and physicochemical characteristics of the hydrogels, hence revealing a steric hindrance. We hypothesize that cancer cells studied in this paper tune their mechanical state to keep their migration and invasiveness capacities unaltered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Blázquez-Carmona
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla. Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS). C. Antonio Maura Montaner, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Raquel Ruiz-Mateos
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla. Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS). C. Antonio Maura Montaner, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300. B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Apeksha Shapeti
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300. B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - José Enrique Martín-Alfonso
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva. Avda. de las Fuerzas Armadas s/n, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | - Jaime Domínguez
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla. Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS). C. Antonio Maura Montaner, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300. B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Esther Reina-Romo
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla. Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS). C. Antonio Maura Montaner, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Antonio Sanz-Herrera
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla. Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS). C. Antonio Maura Montaner, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
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2
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López-Serrano C, Côté-Paradis Y, Habenstein B, Loquet A, Le Coz C, Ruel J, Laroche G, Durrieu MC. Integrating Mechanics and Bioactivity: A Detailed Assessment of Elasticity and Viscoelasticity at Different Scales in 2D Biofunctionalized PEGDA Hydrogels for Targeted Bone Regeneration. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:39165-39180. [PMID: 39041490 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c10755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Methods for promoting and controlling the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in vitro before in vivo transplantation are crucial for the advancement of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, we developed poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties, including elasticity and viscoelasticity, coupled with bioactivity achieved through the immobilization of a mixture of RGD and a mimetic peptide of the BMP-2 protein. Despite the key relevance of hydrogel mechanical properties for cell culture, a standard for its characterization has not been proposed, and comparisons between studies are challenging due to the different techniques employed. Here, a comprehensive approach was employed to characterize the elasticity and viscoelasticity of these hydrogels, integrating compression testing, rheology, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) microindentation. Distinct mechanical behaviors were observed across different PEGDA compositions, and some consistent trends across multiple techniques were identified. Using a photoactivated cross-linker, we controlled the functionalization density independently of the mechanical properties. X-ray photoelectrin spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy were employed to evaluate the functionalization density of the materials before the culturing of hMSCs on them. The cells cultured on all functionalized hydrogels expressed an early osteoblast marker (Runx2) after 2 weeks, even in the absence of a differentiation-inducing medium compared to our controls. Additionally, after only 1 week of culture with osteogenic differentiation medium, cells showed accelerated differentiation, with clear morphological differences observed among cells in the different conditions. Notably, cells on stiff but stress-relaxing hydrogels exhibited an overexpression of the osteocyte marker E11. This suggests that the combination of the functionalization procedure with the mechanical properties of the hydrogel provides a potent approach to promoting the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina López-Serrano
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Yeva Côté-Paradis
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Birgit Habenstein
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, US1, UAR 3033, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, IECB, US1, UAR 3033, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Cédric Le Coz
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, UMR 5629, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Jean Ruel
- Département de Génie Mécanique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Gaétan Laroche
- Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1 V 0A6, Canada
- Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
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3
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Simsek AN, Koch MD, Sanfilippo JE, Gitai Z, Gompper G, Sabass B. Type-IV pili tune an adhesion-migration trade-off during surface colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.09.538458. [PMID: 37215001 PMCID: PMC10197611 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.538458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogenicity relies on both firm surface adhesion and cell dissemination. How twitching bacteria resolve the fundamental contradiction between adhesion and migration is unknown. To address this question, we employ live-cell imaging of type-IV pili (T4P) and therewith construct a comprehensive mathematical model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa migration. The data show that only 10% to 50% of T4P bind to substrates and contribute to migration through random extension and retraction. Individual T4P do not display a measurable sensory response to surfaces, but their number increases on cellular surface contact. Attachment to surfaces is mediated, besides T4P, by passive adhesive forces acting on the cell body. Passive adhesions slow down cell migration and result in local random motion on short time scales, which is followed by directionally persistent, superdiffusive motion on longer time scales. Moreover, passive adhesions strongly enhance surface attachment under shear flow. Δ pilA mutants, which produce no T4P, robustly stick to surfaces under shear flow. In contrast, rapidly migrating Δ pilH cells, which produce an excessive number of T4P, are easily detached by shear. Wild-type cells sacrifice migration speed for robust surface attachment by maintaining a low number of active pili. The different cell strains pertain to disjunct regimes in a generic adhesion-migration trait space. Depending on the nature of the adhesion structures, adhesion and migration are either compatible or a trade-off is required for efficient bacterial surface colonization under different conditions.
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Morton LD, Castilla-Casadiego DA, Palmer AC, Rosales AM. Crosslinker structure modulates bulk mechanical properties and dictates hMSC behavior on hyaluronic acid hydrogels. Acta Biomater 2023; 155:258-270. [PMID: 36423819 PMCID: PMC9805514 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogels are attractive platforms due in part to their highly tunable mechanics, which impact cell behavior and secretory profile. These mechanics are often controlled by altering the number of crosslinks or the total polymer concentration in the gel, leading to structure-property relationships that inherently couple network connectivity to the overall modulus. In contrast, the native extracellular matrix (ECM) contains structured biopolymers that enable stiff gels even at low polymer content, facilitating 3D cell culture and permeability of soluble factors. To mimic the hierarchical order of natural ECM, this work describes a synthetic hydrogel system in which mechanics are tuned using the structure of sequence-defined peptoid crosslinkers, while fixing network connectivity. Peptoid crosslinkers with different secondary structures are investigated: 1) a helical, molecularly stiff peptoid, 2) a non-helical, less stiff peptoid, and 3) an unstructured, relatively flexible peptoid. Bulk hydrogel storage modulus increases when crosslinkers of higher chain stiffness are used. In-vitro studies assess the viability, proliferation, cell morphology, and immunomodulatory activity of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on each hydrogel substrate. Matrix mechanics regulate the morphology of hMSCs on the developed substrates, and all of the hydrogels studied upregulate IDO production over culture on TCP. Softer substrates further this upregulation to a plateau. Overall, this system offers a biomimetic strategy for decoupling hydrogel storage modulus from network connectivity, enabling systematic study of biomaterial properties on hMSC behavior and enhancement of cellular functionality for therapeutic applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Various strategies to tune hydrogel mechanics have been developed to control human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) behavior and regulate their immunomodulatory potential. However, these strategies typically couple mechanics to network connectivity, which in turn changes other hydrogel properties such as permeability that may have unintended effects on hMSC behavior. This work presents a strategy to tune hydrogel mechanics using crosslinkers with different secondary structure and molecular rigidity. This strategy successfully decouples hydrogel moduli from crosslinker stoichiometry and mimics the hierarchical nature of the native extracellular matrix. The moduli of the developed hydrogels led to significant impacts on hMSC morphology and proliferation, and increased immunomodulatory potential, indicating that molecular rigidity is a promising avenue to control engineered ECM mechanics for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan D Morton
- Mcketta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - David A Castilla-Casadiego
- Mcketta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - Ajay C Palmer
- Mcketta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
| | - Adrianne M Rosales
- Mcketta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, United States.
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5
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Jansen LE, Kim H, Hall CL, McCarthy TP, Lee MJ, Peyton SR. A poly(ethylene glycol) three-dimensional bone marrow hydrogel. Biomaterials 2022; 280:121270. [PMID: 34890973 PMCID: PMC8890749 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels made from synthetic polymers have emerged as in vitro cell culture platforms capable of representing the extracellular geometry, modulus, and water content of tissues in a tunable fashion. Hydrogels made from these otherwise non-bioactive polymers can be decorated with short peptides derived from proteins naturally found in tissues to support cell viability and direct phenotype. We identified two key limitations that limit the ability of this class of materials to recapitulate real tissue. First, these environments typically display between 1 and 3 bioactive peptides, which vastly underrepresents the diversity of proteins found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of real tissues. Second, peptides chosen are ubiquitous in ECM and not derived from proteins found in specific tissues, per se. To overcome this critical limitation in hydrogel design and functionality, we developed an approach to incorporate the complex and specific protein signature of bone marrow into a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel. This bone marrow hydrogel mimics the elasticity of marrow and has 20 bone marrow-specific and cell-instructive peptides. We propose this tissue-centric approach as the next generation of 3D hydrogel design for applications in tissue engineering and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Jansen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
| | - Hyuna Kim
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
| | - Christopher L Hall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
| | - Thomas P McCarthy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
| | - Michael J Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA; Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst 240 Thatcher Way, Life Sciences Laboratory N531, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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6
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Particle movements provoke avalanche-like compaction in soft colloid filter cakes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12836. [PMID: 34145324 PMCID: PMC8213765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92119-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During soft matter filtration, colloids accumulate in a compressible porous cake layer on top of the membrane surface. The void size between the colloids predominantly defines the cake-specific permeation resistance and the corresponding filtration efficiency. While higher fluxes are beneficial for the process efficiency, they compress the cake and increase permeation resistance. However, it is not fully understood how soft particles behave during cake formation and how their compression influences the overall cake properties. This study visualizes the formation and compression process of soft filter cakes in microfluidic model systems. During cake formation, we analyze single-particle movements inside the filter cake voids and how they interact with the whole filter cake morphology. During cake compression, we visualize reversible and irreversible compression and distinguish the two phenomena. Finally, we confirm the compression phenomena by modeling the soft particle filter cake using a CFD-DEM approach. The results underline the importance of considering the compression history when describing the filter cake morphology and its related properties. Thus, this study links single colloid movements and filter cake compression to the overall cake behavior and narrows the gap between single colloid events and the filtration process.
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7
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Shave MK, Xu Z, Raman V, Kalasin S, Tuominen MT, Forbes NS, Santore MM. Escherichia coli Swimming back Toward Stiffer Polyetheylene Glycol Coatings, Increasing Contact in Flow. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:17196-17206. [PMID: 33821607 PMCID: PMC8503937 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial swimming in flow near surfaces is critical to the spread of infection and device colonization. Understanding how material properties affect flagella- and motility-dependent bacteria-surface interactions is a first step in designing new medical devices that mitigate the risk of infection. We report that, on biomaterial coatings such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels and end-tethered layers that prevent adhesive bacteria accumulation, the coating mechanics and hydration control the near-surface travel and dynamic surface contact of E. coli cells in gentle shear flow (order 10 s-1). Along relatively stiff (order 1 MPa) PEG hydrogels or end-tethered layers of PEG chains of similar polymer correlation length, run-and-tumble E. coli travel nanometrically close to the coating's surface in the flow direction in distinguishable runs or "engagements" that persist for several seconds, after which cells leave the interface. The duration of these engagements was greater along stiff hydrogels and end-tethered layers compared with softer, more-hydrated hydrogels. Swimming cells that left stiff hydrogels or end-tethered layers proceeded out to distances of a few microns and then returned to engage the surface again and again, while cells engaging the soft hydrogel tended not to return after leaving. As a result of differences in the duration of engagements and tendency to return to stiff hydrogel and end-tethered layers, swimming E. coli experienced 3 times the integrated dynamic surface contact with stiff coatings compared with softer hydrogels. The striking similarity of swimming behaviors near 16-nm-thick end-tethered layers and 100-μm-thick stiff hydrogels argues that only the outermost several nanometers of a highly hydrated coating influence cell travel. The range of material stiffnesses, cell-surface distance during travel, and time scales of travel compared with run-and-tumble time scales suggests the influence of the coating derives from its interactions with flagella and its potential to alter flagellar bundling. Given that restriction of flagellar rotation is known to trigger increased virulence, bacteria influenced by surfaces in one region may become predisposed to form a biofilm downstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly K. Shave
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Zhou Xu
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Vishnu Raman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Surachate Kalasin
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Mark T. Tuominen
- Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Neil S. Forbes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Maria M. Santore
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
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8
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Choi G, Ko H, Jang H, Hwang I, Seong M, Sun K, Park HH, Park TE, Kim J, Jeong HE. Biofouling-resistant tubular fluidic devices with magneto-responsive dynamic walls. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:1715-1723. [PMID: 33538288 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01979h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biofouling of tubular fluidic devices limits the stability, accuracy, and long-term uses of lab-on-a-chip systems. Healthcare-associated infection by biofilm formations on body-indwelling and extracorporeal tubular medical devices is also a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients. Although diverse antifouling techniques have been developed to prevent bacterial contamination of fluidic devices based on antimicrobial materials or nanoscale architectures, they still have limitations in biocompatibility, long-term activity, and durability. In this study, a new conceptual tubular fluidic device model that can effectively suppress bacterial contamination based on dynamic surface motions without using bactericidal materials or nanostructures is proposed. The fluidic device is composed of a magneto-responsive multilayered composite. The composite tube can generate dynamic surface deformation with controlled geometries along its inner wall in response to a remote magnetic field. The magnetic field-derived surface wave induces the generation of vortices near the inner wall surface of the tube, enabling sweeping of bacterial cells from the surface. As a result, the dynamic composite tube could effectively prevent biofilm formation for an extended time of 14 days without surface modification with chemical substances or nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geonjun Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hangil Ko
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyejin Jang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Insol Hwang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Minho Seong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kahyun Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Ha Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wonkwang University, Jeonbuk 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Eun Park
- School of Life Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jangho Kim
- Department of Rural and Biosystems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hoon Eui Jeong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Yang S, Valencia FR, Sabass B, Plotnikov SV. Quantitative Analysis of Myofibroblast Contraction by Traction Force Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2299:181-195. [PMID: 34028744 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1382-5_14] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Myofibroblasts play important roles in physiological processes such as wound healing and tissue repair. While high contractile forces generated by the actomyosin network enable myofibroblasts to physically contract the wound and bring together injured tissue, prolonged and elevated levels of contraction also drive the progression of fibrosis and cancer. However, quantitative mapping of these forces has been difficult due to their extremely low magnitude ranging from 100 pN/μm2 to 2 nN/μm2. Here, we provide a protocol to measure cellular forces exerted on two-dimensional compliant elastic hydrogels. We describe the fabrication of polyacrylamide hydrogels labeled with fluorescent fiducial markers, functionalization of substrates with ECM proteins, setting up the experiment, and imaging procedures. We demonstrate the application of this technique for quantitative analysis of traction forces exerted by myofibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuying Yang
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fernando R Valencia
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Benedikt Sabass
- Theoretical Physics of Living Matter, Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute of Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Juelich, Juelich, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergey V Plotnikov
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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10
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Li Y, Khuu N, Prince E, Tao H, Zhang N, Chen Z, Gevorkian A, McGuigan AP, Kumacheva E. Matrix Stiffness-Regulated Growth of Breast Tumor Spheroids and Their Response to Chemotherapy. Biomacromolecules 2020; 22:419-429. [PMID: 33136364 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are an important factor contributing to therapy failure in cancer patients. Current in vitro breast cancer spheroid models examining the role of mechanical properties on spheroid response to chemotherapy are limited by the use of two-dimensional cell culture, as well as simultaneous variation in hydrogel matrix stiffness and other properties, e.g., hydrogel composition, pore size, and cell adhesion ligand density. In addition, currently used hydrogel matrices do not replicate the filamentous ECM architecture in a breast tumor microenvironment. Here, we report a collagen-alginate hydrogel with a filamentous architecture and a 20-fold variation in stiffness, achieved independently of other properties, used for the evaluation of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer spheroid response to doxorubicin. The variation in hydrogel mechanical properties was achieved by altering the degree of cross-linking of alginate molecules. We show that soft hydrogels promote the growth of larger MCF-7 tumor spheroids with a lower fraction of proliferating cells and enhance spheroid resistance to doxorubicin. Notably, the stiffness-dependent chemotherapeutic response of the spheroids was temporally mediated: it became apparent at sufficiently long cell culture times, when the matrix stiffness has influenced the spheroid growth. These findings highlight the significance of decoupling matrix stiffness from other characteristics in studies of chemotherapeutic resistance of tumor spheroids and in development of drug screening platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, People's Republic of China
| | - Nancy Khuu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Huachen Tao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ningtong Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Alison P McGuigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada.,The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
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11
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Barney LE, Hall CL, Schwartz AD, Parks AN, Sparages C, Galarza S, Platt MO, Mercurio AM, Peyton SR. Tumor cell-organized fibronectin maintenance of a dormant breast cancer population. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz4157. [PMID: 32195352 PMCID: PMC7065904 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz4157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Tumors can undergo long periods of dormancy, with cancer cells entering a largely quiescent, nonproliferative state before reactivation and outgrowth. To understand the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating tumor dormancy, we created an in vitro cell culture system with carefully controlled ECM substrates to observe entrance into and exit from dormancy with live imaging. We saw that cell populations capable of surviving entrance into long-term dormancy were heterogeneous, containing quiescent, cell cycle-arrested, and actively proliferating cells. Cell populations capable of entering dormancy formed an organized, fibrillar fibronectin matrix via αvβ3 and α5β1 integrin adhesion, ROCK-generated tension, and TGFβ2 stimulation, and cancer cell outgrowth after dormancy required MMP-2-mediated fibronectin degradation. We propose this approach as a useful, in vitro method to study factors important in regulating dormancy, and we used it here to elucidate a role for fibronectin deposition and MMP activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Barney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Christopher L. Hall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Alyssa D. Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Akia N. Parks
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Christopher Sparages
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Sualyneth Galarza
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology/Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Arthur M. Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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12
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Chahal AS, Schweikle M, Lian AM, Reseland JE, Haugen HJ, Tiainen H. Osteogenic potential of poly(ethylene glycol)-amorphous calcium phosphate composites on human mesenchymal stem cells. J Tissue Eng 2020; 11:2041731420926840. [PMID: 32537121 PMCID: PMC7268109 DOI: 10.1177/2041731420926840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic hydrogel-amorphous calcium phosphate composites are promising candidates to substitute biologically sourced scaffolds for bone repair. While the hydrogel matrix serves as a template for stem cell colonisation, amorphous calcium phosphate s provide mechanical integrity with the potential to stimulate osteogenic differentiation. Here, we utilise composites of poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels and differently stabilised amorphous calcium phosphate to investigate potential effects on attachment and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. We found that functionalisation with integrin binding motifs in the form of RGD tripeptide was necessary to allow adhesion of large numbers of cells in spread morphology. Slow dissolution of amorphous calcium phosphate mineral in the scaffolds over at least 21 days was observed, resulting in the release of calcium and zinc ions into the cell culture medium. While we qualitatively observed an increasingly mineralised extracellular matrix along with calcium deposition in the presence of amorphous calcium phosphate-loaded scaffolds, we did not observe significant changes in the expression of selected osteogenic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman S Chahal
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Manuel Schweikle
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aina-Mari Lian
- Oral Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Janne E Reseland
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håvard J Haugen
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanna Tiainen
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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13
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Vania V, Wang L, Tjakra M, Zhang T, Qiu J, Tan Y, Wang G. The interplay of signaling pathway in endothelial cells-matrix stiffness dependency with targeted-therapeutic drugs. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165645. [PMID: 31866415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been one of the major causes of human deaths in the world. The study of CVDs has focused on cell chemotaxis for decades. With the advances in mechanobiology, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the influence of mechanical stimuli on arterial pathophysiology and endothelial dysfunction that is a hallmark of atherosclerosis development. An increasing number of drugs have been exploited to decrease the stiffness of vascular tissue for CVDs therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be explored. This review aims to summarize how matrix stiffness mediates atherogenesis through various important signaling pathways in endothelial cells and cellular mechanophenotype, including RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Hippo pathways. We also highlight the roles of putative mechanosensitive non-coding RNAs in matrix stiffness-mediated atherogenesis. Finally, we describe the usage of tunable hydrogel and its future strategy to improve our knowledge underlying matrix stiffness-mediated CVDs mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki Vania
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Marco Tjakra
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Juhui Qiu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
| | - Youhua Tan
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Guixue Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants, Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
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14
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Emerging Concepts and Tools in Cell Mechanomemory. Ann Biomed Eng 2019; 48:2103-2112. [DOI: 10.1007/s10439-019-02412-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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15
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Rebollar L, Panzer MJ. Zwitterionic Copolymer‐Supported Ionogel Electrolytes: Impacts of Varying the Zwitterionic Group and Ionic Liquid Identities. ChemElectroChem 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.201900378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Rebollar
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford Massachusetts 02155 USA
| | - Matthew J. Panzer
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford Massachusetts 02155 USA
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16
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Park HH, Sun K, Seong M, Kang M, Park S, Hong S, Jung H, Jang J, Kim J, Jeong HE. Lipid-Hydrogel-Nanostructure Hybrids as Robust Biofilm-Resistant Polymeric Materials. ACS Macro Lett 2019; 8:64-69. [PMID: 35619411 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive efforts toward developing antibiofilm materials, efficient prevention of biofilm formation remains challenging. Approaches based on a single strategy using either bactericidal material, antifouling coatings, or nanopatterning have shown limited performance in the prevention of biofilm formation. This study presents a hybrid strategy based on a lipid-hydrogel-nanotopography hybrid for the development of a highly efficient and durable biofilm-resistant material. The hybrid material consists of nanostructured antifouling, biocompatible polyethylene glycol-based polymer grafted with an antifouling zwitterionic polymer of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine. Based on the unique composite nanostructures, the lipid-hydrogel-nanostructure hybrid exhibits superior dual functionalities of antifouling and bactericidal activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, compared with those of surfaces with simple nanostructures or antifouling coatings. Additionally, it preserves the robust antibiofilm activity even when the material is damaged under external mechanical stimuli thanks to the polymeric composite nanostructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Ha Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Kahyun Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Minho Seong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Minsu Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunho Park
- Department of Rural and Biosystems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongkyeol Hong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hosup Jung
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesung Jang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jangho Kim
- Department of Rural and Biosystems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoon Eui Jeong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
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17
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Pitakchatwong C, Chirachanchai S. pH Variation as a Simple and Selective Pathway for Obtaining Nanoparticle or Nanocapsule Polysaccharides. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:15820-15826. [PMID: 30509073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The fabrication of polysaccharides to be nanoparticles or nanocapsules is quite specific due to various parameters and factors. The present work demonstrates a simple pathway to selectively prepare the ionic polysaccharide flakes to be nanoparticles or nanocapsules. The systematic studies on the model cases of cationic polysaccharide (i.e., chitosan) and anionic polysaccharide (i.e., alginate) confirm that p Ka is the key point to tune the polysaccharides to be nanoparticles or nanocapsules. When the ionic polysaccharides were in an oil/water emulsion system, the pH close to p Ka leads to the densely packed polysaccharide chains under the hydrogen bond networks, and as a result the cross-link occurs all through the chains to be nanoparticles. On the other hand, when pH was adjusted to the lower or higher than p Ka depending on the types of ionic polysaccharide, the polysaccharide chains are under charge-charge repulsive force, resulting in the alignment of polysaccharide chains to be hollow nanospheres, and at that time the cross-link initiates the formation of nanocapsules. The present work, for the first time, clarifies that pH variation is the key to selectively prepare nanoparticles or nanocapsules, and this is important for delivery systems, coatings, sensors, and so forth.
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18
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Schwartz AD, Hall CL, Barney LE, Babbitt CC, Peyton SR. Integrin α 6 and EGFR signaling converge at mechanosensitive calpain 2. Biomaterials 2018; 178:73-82. [PMID: 29909039 PMCID: PMC6211197 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cells sense and respond to mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) via integrins. ECM stiffness is known to enhance integrin clustering and response to epidermal growth factor (EGF), but we lack information on when or if these mechanosensitive growth factor receptors and integrins converge intracellularly. Towards closing this knowledge gap, we combined a biomaterial platform with transcriptomics, molecular biology, and functional assays to link integrin-mediated mechanosensing and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. We found that high integrin α6 expression controlled breast cancer cell adhesion and motility on soft, laminin-coated substrates, and this mimicked the response of cells to EGF stimulation. The mechanisms that drove both mechanosensitive cell adhesion and motility converged on calpain 2, an intracellular protease important for talin cleavage and focal adhesion turnover. EGF stimulation enhanced adhesion and motility on soft substrates, but required integrin α6 and calpain 2 signaling. In sum, we identified a new role for integrin α6 mechanosensing in breast cancer, wherein cell adhesion to laminin on soft substrates mimicked EGF stimulation. We identified calpain 2, downstream of both integrin α6 engagement and EGFR phosphorylation, as a common intracellular signaling node, and implicate integrin α6 and calpain 2 as potential targets to inhibit the migration of cancer cells in stiff tumor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - C L Hall
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - L E Barney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - C C Babbitt
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - S R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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19
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Jansen LE, Amer LD, Chen EYT, Nguyen TV, Saleh LS, Emrick T, Liu WF, Bryant SJ, Peyton SR. Zwitterionic PEG-PC Hydrogels Modulate the Foreign Body Response in a Modulus-Dependent Manner. Biomacromolecules 2018; 19:2880-2888. [PMID: 29698603 PMCID: PMC6190668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b00444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Reducing the foreign body response (FBR) to implanted biomaterials will enhance their performance in tissue engineering. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are increasingly popular for this application due to their low cost, ease of use, and the ability to tune their compliance via molecular weight and cross-linking densities. PEG hydrogels can elicit chronic inflammation in vivo, but recent evidence has suggested that extremely hydrophilic, zwitterionic materials and particles can evade the immune system. To combine the advantages of PEG-based hydrogels with the hydrophilicity of zwitterions, we synthesized hydrogels with comonomers PEG and the zwitterion phosphorylcholine (PC). Recent evidence suggests that stiff hydrogels elicit increased immune cell adhesion to hydrogels, which we attempted to reduce by increasing hydrogel hydrophilicity. Surprisingly, hydrogels with the highest amount of zwitterionic comonomer elicited the highest FBR. Lowering the hydrogel modulus (165 to 3 kPa), or PC content (20 to 0 wt %), mitigated this effect. A high density of macrophages was found at the surface of implants associated with a high FBR, and mass spectrometry analysis of the proteins adsorbed to these gels implicated extracellular matrix, immune response, and cell adhesion protein categories as drivers of macrophage recruitment. Overall, we show that modulus regulates macrophage adhesion to zwitterionic-PEG hydrogels, and demonstrate that chemical modifications to hydrogels should be studied in parallel with their physical properties to optimize implant design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke D Amer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | - Esther Y-T Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | | | - Leila S Saleh
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
| | | | - Wendy F Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , University of California, Irvine , Irvine , California 92697 , United States
| | - Stephanie J Bryant
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering , University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
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20
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Luzhansky ID, Schwartz AD, Cohen JD, MacMunn JP, Barney LE, Jansen LE, Peyton SR. Anomalously diffusing and persistently migrating cells in 2D and 3D culture environments. APL Bioeng 2018; 2:026112. [PMID: 31069309 PMCID: PMC6324209 DOI: 10.1063/1.5019196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Appropriately chosen descriptive models of cell migration in biomaterials will allow researchers to characterize and ultimately predict the movement of cells in engineered systems for a variety of applications in tissue engineering. The persistent random walk (PRW) model accurately describes cell migration on two-dimensional (2D) substrates. However, this model inherently cannot describe subdiffusive cell movement, i.e., migration paths in which the root mean square displacement increases more slowly than the square root of the time interval. Subdiffusivity is a common characteristic of cells moving in confined environments, such as three-dimensional (3D) porous scaffolds, hydrogel networks, and in vivo tissues. We demonstrate that a generalized anomalous diffusion (AD) model, which uses a simple power law to relate the mean square displacement to time, more accurately captures individual cell migration paths across a range of engineered 2D and 3D environments than does the more commonly used PRW model. We used the AD model parameters to distinguish cell movement profiles on substrates with different chemokinetic factors, geometries (2D vs 3D), substrate adhesivities, and compliances. Although the two models performed with equal precision for superdiffusive cells, we suggest a simple AD model, in lieu of PRW, to describe cell trajectories in populations with a significant subdiffusive fraction, such as cells in confined, 3D environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor D. Luzhansky
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Alyssa D. Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Joshua D. Cohen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - John P. MacMunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Lauren E. Barney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Lauren E. Jansen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
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21
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Chahal AS, Schweikle M, Heyward CA, Tiainen H. Attachment and spatial organisation of human mesenchymal stem cells on poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018; 84:46-53. [PMID: 29734041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Strategies that enable hydrogel substrates to support cell attachment typically incorporate either entire extracellular matrix proteins or synthetic peptide fragments such as the RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) motif. Previous studies have carefully analysed how material characteristics can affect single cell morphologies. However, the influence of substrate stiffness and ligand presentation on the spatial organisation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have not yet been examined. In this study, we assessed how hMSCs organise themselves on soft (E = 7.4-11.2 kPa) and stiff (E = 27.3-36.8 kPa) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels with varying concentrations of RGD (0.05-2.5 mM). Our results indicate that hMSCs seeded on soft hydrogels clustered with reduced cell attachment and spreading area, irrespective of RGD concentration and isoform. On stiff hydrogels, in contrast, cells spread with high spatial coverage for RGD concentrations of 0.5 mM or higher. In conclusion, we identified that an interplay of hydrogel stiffness and the availability of cell attachment motifs are important factors in regulating hMSC organisation on PEG hydrogels. Understanding how cells initially interact and colonise the surface of this material is a fundamental prerequisite for the design of controlled platforms for tissue engineering and mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman S Chahal
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Manuel Schweikle
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Catherine A Heyward
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanna Tiainen
- Department of Biomaterials, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
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22
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Brooks EA, Jansen LE, Gencoglu MF, Yurkevicz AM, Peyton SR. Complementary, Semiautomated Methods for Creating Multidimensional PEG-Based Biomaterials. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:707-718. [PMID: 33418758 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tunable biomaterials that mimic selected features of the extracellular matrix (ECM) such as its stiffness, protein composition, and dimensionality are increasingly popular for studying how cells sense and respond to ECM cues. In the field, there exists a significant trade-off for how complex and how well these biomaterials represent the in vivo microenvironment versus how easy they are to make and how adaptable they are to automated fabrication techniques. To address this need to integrate more complex biomaterials design with high-throughput screening approaches, we present several methods to fabricate synthetic biomaterials in 96-well plates and demonstrate that they can be adapted to semiautomated liquid handling robotics. These platforms include (1) glass bottom plates with covalently attached ECM proteins and (2) hydrogels with tunable stiffness and protein composition with either cells seeded on the surface or (3) laden within the three-dimensional hydrogel matrix. This study includes proof-of-concept results demonstrating control over breast cancer cell line phenotypes via these ECM cues in a semiautomated fashion. We foresee the use of these methods as a mechanism to bridge the gap between high-throughput cell-matrix screening and engineered ECM-mimicking biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Brooks
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, N540 Life Sciences Laboratories, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9364, United States
| | - Lauren E Jansen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, N540 Life Sciences Laboratories, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9364, United States
| | - Maria F Gencoglu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, N540 Life Sciences Laboratories, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9364, United States
| | - Annali M Yurkevicz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, N540 Life Sciences Laboratories, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9364, United States
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, N540 Life Sciences Laboratories, 240 Thatcher Road, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-9364, United States
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23
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Peyton SR, Gencoglu MF, Galarza S, Schwartz AD. Biomaterials in Mechano-oncology: Means to Tune Materials to Study Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1092:253-287. [PMID: 30368757 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95294-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
ECM stiffness is emerging as a prognostic marker of tumor aggression or potential for relapse. However, conflicting reports muddle the question of whether increasing or decreasing stiffness is associated with aggressive disease. This chapter discusses this controversy in more detail, but the fact that tumor stiffening plays a key role in cancer progression and in regulating cancer cell behaviors is clear. The impact of having in vitro biomaterial systems that could capture this stiffening during tumor evolution is very high. These cell culture platforms could help reveal the mechanistic underpinnings of this evolution, find new therapeutic targets to inhibit the cross talk between tumor development and ECM stiffening, and serve as better, more physiologically relevant platforms for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Maria F Gencoglu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Sualyneth Galarza
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa D Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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24
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Zhang T, Silverstein MS. Highly porous, emulsion-templated, zwitterionic hydrogels: amplified and accelerated uptakes with enhanced environmental sensitivity. Polym Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1039/c8py00588e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Highly porous, emulsion-templated, zwitterionic hydrogels exhibited amplified and accelerated uptakes, enhanced environmental sensitivity, anti-polyelectrolyte behavior, and dual-pH sensitive uptakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa
- Israel
- College of Textile and Clothing Engineering
| | - Michael S. Silverstein
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa
- Israel
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25
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Schwartz AD, Barney LE, Jansen LE, Nguyen TV, Hall CL, Meyer AS, Peyton SR. A biomaterial screening approach reveals microenvironmental mechanisms of drug resistance. Integr Biol (Camb) 2017; 9:912-924. [PMID: 29159332 PMCID: PMC5725273 DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00128b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Traditional drug screening methods lack features of the tumor microenvironment that contribute to resistance. Most studies examine cell response in a single biomaterial platform in depth, leaving a gap in understanding how extracellular signals such as stiffness, dimensionality, and cell-cell contacts act independently or are integrated within a cell to affect either drug sensitivity or resistance. This is critically important, as adaptive resistance is mediated, at least in part, by the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the tumor microenvironment. We developed an approach to screen drug responses in cells cultured on 2D and in 3D biomaterial environments to explore how key features of ECM mediate drug response. This approach uncovered that cells on 2D hydrogels and spheroids encapsulated in 3D hydrogels were less responsive to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-targeting drugs sorafenib and lapatinib, but not cytotoxic drugs, compared to single cells in hydrogels and cells on plastic. We found that transcriptomic differences between these in vitro models and tumor xenografts did not reveal mechanisms of ECM-mediated resistance to sorafenib. However, a systems biology analysis of phospho-kinome data uncovered that variation in MEK phosphorylation was associated with RTK-targeted drug resistance. Using sorafenib as a model drug, we found that co-administration with a MEK inhibitor decreased ECM-mediated resistance in vitro and reduced in vivo tumor burden compared to sorafenib alone. In sum, we provide a novel strategy for identifying and overcoming ECM-mediated resistance mechanisms by performing drug screening, phospho-kinome analysis, and systems biology across multiple biomaterial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa D Schwartz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 686 N Pleasant St. 159 Goessmann Laboratory, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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26
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Tran YH, Rasmuson MJ, Emrick T, Klier J, Peyton SR. Strain-stiffening gels based on latent crosslinking. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:9007-9014. [PMID: 29164222 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01888f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Gels represent an increasingly important class of soft materials with applications ranging from regenerative medicine to commodity materials. However, gels typically exhibit relative mechanical weakness, which worsens under repeated strain. Here we report a new class of responsive gels with latent crosslinking moieties that exhibit strain-stiffening behavior. This property results from the lability of disulfides, initially isolated in a protected state, then activated to crosslink on-demand. The thiol groups are induced to form inter-chain crosslinks when subjected to mechanical compression, resulting in a gel that strengthens under strain. Molecular shielding design elements regulate the strain-sensitivity and spontaneous crosslinking tendencies of the polymer network. These strain-responsive gels represent a rational design of new advanced materials with on-demand stiffening properties and potential applications in elastomers, adhesives, foams, films, and fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen H Tran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9303, USA.
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27
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Wu J, He C, He H, Cheng C, Zhu J, Xiao Z, Zhang H, Li X, Zheng J, Xiao J. Importance of zwitterionic incorporation into polymethacrylate-based hydrogels for simultaneously improving optical transparency, oxygen permeability, and antifouling properties. J Mater Chem B 2017; 5:4595-4606. [DOI: 10.1039/c7tb00757d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of zwitterionic SBMA into HEMA hydrogels enables to improve optical transparency, oxygen permeability, and antifouling property for contact lenses-based ophthalmic applications.
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28
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Ahmed N, Schober J, Hill L, Zustiak SP. Custom Multiwell Plate Design for Rapid Assembly of Photopatterned Hydrogels. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2016; 22:543-51. [DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2015.0522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Joseph Schober
- Department of Pharmacy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, Illinois
| | - Lindsay Hill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Silviya P. Zustiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
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29
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Biochemical and biomechanical drivers of cancer cell metastasis, drug response and nanomedicine. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:1489-1494. [PMID: 27238384 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis, drug resistance and recurrence in cancer are regulated by the tumor microenvironment. This review describes recent advances in understanding how cancer cells respond to extracellular environmental cues via integrins, how to build engineered microenvironments to study these interactions in vitro and how nanomaterials can be used to detect and target tumor microenvironments.
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30
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Bou S, Ellis AV, Ebara M. Synthetic stimuli-responsive 'smart' fibers. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 39:113-119. [PMID: 27017142 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Bou
- Flinders Centre for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia; Biomaterials Unit, International Centre for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Amanda V Ellis
- Flinders Centre for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Mitsuhiro Ebara
- Biomaterials Unit, International Centre for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Graduate School of Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan.
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31
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Zander ZK, Hua G, Wiener CG, Vogt BD, Becker ML. Control of Mesh Size and Modulus by Kinetically Dependent Cross-Linking in Hydrogels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2015; 27:6283-8. [PMID: 26332364 PMCID: PMC5951290 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201501822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Kinetically controlled cross-linking processes produce mechanically distinguishable hydrogels using identical precursor chemistry. The oxime ligation demonstrates tunable reaction kinetics with pH and buffer strength, which induce changes in the structural features of hydrogels and determine their mechanical properties. Small-angle neutron scattering and swelling studies provide an insight into how structural properties correlate with mechanical properties for this hydrogel system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Zander
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Geng Hua
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Clinton G Wiener
- Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Bryan D Vogt
- Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Matthew L Becker
- Department of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
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32
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Kolewe KW, Peyton SR, Schiffman JD. Fewer Bacteria Adhere to Softer Hydrogels. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:19562-9. [PMID: 26291308 PMCID: PMC4631609 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b04269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Clinically, biofilm-associated infections commonly form on intravascular catheters and other hydrogel surfaces. The overuse of antibiotics to treat these infections has led to the spread of antibiotic resistance and underscores the importance of developing alternative strategies that delay the onset of biofilm formation. Previously, it has been reported that during surface contact, bacteria can detect surfaces through subtle changes in the function of their motors. However, how the stiffness of a polymer hydrogel influences the initial attachment of bacteria is unknown. Systematically, we investigated poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and agar hydrogels that were 20 times thicker than the cumulative size of bacterial cell appendages, as a function of Young's moduli. Soft (44.05-308.5 kPa), intermediate (1495-2877 kPa), and stiff (5152-6489 kPa) hydrogels were synthesized. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus attachment onto the hydrogels was analyzed using confocal microscopy after 2 and 24 h incubation periods. Independent of hydrogel chemistry and incubation time, E. coli and S. aureus attachment correlated positively to increasing hydrogel stiffness. For example, after a 24 h incubation period, there were 52 and 82% fewer E. coli adhered to soft PEGDMA hydrogels than to the intermediate and stiff PEGDMA hydrogels, respectively. A 62 and 79% reduction in the area coverage by the Gram-positive microbe S. aureus occurred after 24 h incubation on the soft versus intermediate and stiff PEGDMA hydrogels. We suggest that hydrogel stiffness is an easily tunable variable that could potentially be used synergistically with traditional antimicrobial strategies to reduce early bacterial adhesion and therefore the occurrence of biofilm-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristopher W. Kolewe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003–9303
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003–9303
| | - Jessica D. Schiffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003–9303
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33
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Herrick WG, Rattan S, Nguyen TV, Grunwald MS, Barney CW, Crosby AJ, Peyton SR. Smooth Muscle Stiffness Sensitivity is Driven by Soluble and Insoluble ECM Chemistry. Cell Mol Bioeng 2015; 8:333-348. [PMID: 26495043 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-015-0397-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Smooth muscle cell (SMC) invasion into plaques and subsequent proliferation is a major factor in the progression of atherosclerosis. During disease progression, SMCs experience major changes in their microenvironment, such as what integrin-binding sites are exposed, the portfolio of soluble factors available, and the elasticity and modulus of the surrounding vessel wall. We have developed a hydrogel biomaterial platform to examine the combined effect of these changes on SMC phenotype. We were particularly interested in how the chemical microenvironment affected the ability of SMCs to sense and respond to modulus. To our surprise, we observed that integrin binding and soluble factors are major drivers of several critical SMC behaviors, such as motility, proliferation, invasion, and differentiation marker expression, and these factors modulated the effect of stiffness on proliferation and migration. Overall, modulus only modestly affected behaviors other than proliferation, relative to integrin binding and soluble factors. Surprisingly, pathological behaviors (proliferation, motility) are not inversely related to SMC marker expression, in direct conflict with previous studies on substrates coupled with single extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. A high-throughput bead-based ELISA approach and inhibitor studies revealed that differentiation marker expression is mediated chiefly via focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling, and we propose that integrin binding and FAK drive the transition from a migratory to a proliferative phenotype. We emphasize the importance of increasing the complexity of in vitro testing platforms to capture these subtleties in cell phenotypes and signaling, in order to better recapitulate important features of in vivo disease and elucidate potential context-dependent therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Herrick
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 686 N. Pleasant Street, 159 Goessmann Laboratory, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Shruti Rattan
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Conte Polymer Research Center, 120 Governors Dr., Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Thuy V Nguyen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 686 N. Pleasant Street, 159 Goessmann Laboratory, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Michael S Grunwald
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 686 N. Pleasant Street, 159 Goessmann Laboratory, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Alfred J Crosby
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Conte Polymer Research Center, 120 Governors Dr., Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Shelly R Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 686 N. Pleasant Street, 159 Goessmann Laboratory, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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34
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Syed S, Karadaghy A, Zustiak S. Simple polyacrylamide-based multiwell stiffness assay for the study of stiffness-dependent cell responses. J Vis Exp 2015:52643. [PMID: 25866916 PMCID: PMC4401385 DOI: 10.3791/52643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, most of the in vitro cell research is performed on rigid tissue culture polystyrene (~1 GPa), while most cells in the body are attached to a matrix that is elastic and much softer (0.1-100 kPa). Since such stiffness mismatch greatly affects cell responses, there is a strong interest in developing hydrogel materials that span a wide range of stiffness to serve as cell substrates. Polyacrylamide gels, which are inexpensive and cover the stiffness range of all soft tissues in the body, are the hydrogel of choice for many research groups. However, polyacrylamide gel preparation is lengthy, tedious, and only suitable for small batches. Here, we describe an assay which by utilizing a permanent flexible plastic film as a structural support for the gels, enables the preparation of polyacrylamide gels in a multiwell plate format. The technique is faster, more efficient, and less costly than current methods and permits the preparation of gels of custom sizes not otherwise available. As it doesn't require any specialized equipment, the method could be easily adopted by any research laboratory and would be particularly useful in research focused on understanding stiffness-dependent cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Syed
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Saint Louis University
| | - Amin Karadaghy
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Saint Louis University
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35
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Zustiak SP. The role of matrix compliance on cell responses to drugs and toxins: towards predictive drug screening platforms. Macromol Biosci 2015; 15:589-99. [PMID: 25654999 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201400507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Revised: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Since the birth of tissue engineering, it has been redefined to include not only the development of tissues for clinical use, but also in vitro models for the study of tissue physiology and pathology. Great strides have been accomplished in the design of in vitro tissue models, yet one area in which they are underrepresented, but where they can have an immediate impact, is the development of platforms for drug screening. By providing more in vivo-like cell environments, such models could address the growing concerns about drug failures due to lack of efficacy or unexpected side effects. This review aims to address the interface between substrate compliance and cell responsiveness to toxins and drugs since compliance has been established as a major determinate of overall cell fate. Here, results from 2D substrates and 3D matrices are discussed. Additionally, examples of biomaterial-based high-throughput stiffness assays in drug screening are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silviya Petrova Zustiak
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Saint Louis University, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, 3507 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63103, USA.
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36
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Grevesse T, Versaevel M, Gabriele S. Preparation of hydroxy-PAAm hydrogels for decoupling the effects of mechanotransduction cues. J Vis Exp 2014. [PMID: 25225964 DOI: 10.3791/51010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well established that many cellular functions are regulated by interactions of cells with physicochemical and mechanical cues of their extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. Eukaryotic cells constantly sense their local microenvironment through surface mechanosensors to transduce physical changes of ECM into biochemical signals, and integrate these signals to achieve specific changes in gene expression. Interestingly, physicochemical and mechanical parameters of the ECM can couple with each other to regulate cell fate. Therefore, a key to understanding mechanotransduction is to decouple the relative contribution of ECM cues on cellular functions. Here we present a detailed experimental protocol to rapidly and easily generate biologically relevant hydrogels for the independent tuning of mechanotransduction cues in vitro. We chemically modified polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAAm) to surmount their intrinsically non-adhesive properties by incorporating hydroxyl-functionalized acrylamide monomers during the polymerization. We obtained a novel PAAm hydrogel, called hydroxy-PAAm, which permits immobilization of any desired nature of ECM proteins. The combination of hydroxy-PAAm hydrogels with microcontact printing allows to independently control the morphology of single-cells, the matrix stiffness, the nature and the density of ECM proteins. We provide a simple and rapid method that can be set up in every biology lab to study in vitro cell mechanotransduction processes. We validate this novel two-dimensional platform by conducting experiments on endothelial cells that demonstrate a mechanical coupling between ECM stiffness and the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Grevesse
- Laboratoire Interfaces et Fluides Complexes, Université de Mons
| | - Marie Versaevel
- Laboratoire Interfaces et Fluides Complexes, Université de Mons
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- Laboratoire Interfaces et Fluides Complexes, Université de Mons;
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37
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Sorafenib resistance and JNK signaling in carcinoma during extracellular matrix stiffening. Biomaterials 2014; 35:5749-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.03.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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38
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McRae Page S, Parelkar S, Gerasimenko A, Shin DY, Peyton SR, Emrick T. Promoting cell adhesion on slippery phosphorylcholine hydrogel surfaces. J Mater Chem B 2013; 2:620-624. [PMID: 32261278 DOI: 10.1039/c3tb21493a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The growing interest in regenerative medicine has created a need for superior polymer matrices that suit multiple physical, mechanical, and biological requirements. While the phospholipid bilayer of a cell membrane is considered optimal for interacting with biologics, polymeric materials composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) offer a cell membrane-like synthetic alternative. In this work, thiol-containing phosphorylcholine polymers were synthesized by radical copolymerization of a lipoic acid-functionalized methacrylate with MPC. The canonical cell adhesion oligopeptide (GRGDS) was incorporated into the polymers by copolymerization of a GRGDS-containing methacrylamide prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. The relative amounts of phosphorylcholine, lipoic acid and oligopeptide were controlled by the monomer feed ratios, and the polymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and aqueous gel permeation chromatography (GPC). These multifunctional polymers formed hydrogels rapidly (<10 minutes) by Michael addition when poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA) was added at pH 9 - an initiator-free gelation performed in a completely aqueous environment. Two cell lines, live mouse skeletal muscle myoblasts (C2C12) and human ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cells, were observed to specifically attach, spread and proliferate only on hydrogels containing the GRGDS peptide sequence, with a notable dependence on peptide concentration. The remarkable hydrophilicity and biocompatibility attributed to polyMPC combined with the facile gelation conditions of these polymers affords a platform of new bio-cooperative materials suitable for cell studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha McRae Page
- Polymer Science & Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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39
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Missirlis D, Spatz JP. Combined effects of PEG hydrogel elasticity and cell-adhesive coating on fibroblast adhesion and persistent migration. Biomacromolecules 2013; 15:195-205. [PMID: 24274760 DOI: 10.1021/bm4014827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The development and use of synthetic, cross-linked, macromolecular substrates with tunable elasticity has been instrumental in revealing the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to their mechanical microenvironment. We here describe a hydrogel based on radical-free, cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) to study the effects of both substrate elasticity and type of adhesive coating on fibroblast adhesion and migration. Hydrogel elasticity was controlled through the structure and concentration of branched precursors, which efficiently react via Michael-type addition to produce the polymer network. We found that cell spreading and focal adhesion characteristics are dependent on elasticity for all types of coatings (RGD peptide, fibronectin, vitronectin), albeit with significant differences in magnitude. Importantly, fibroblasts migrated slower but more persistently on stiffer hydrogels, with the effects being more pronounced on fibronectin-coated substrates. Therefore, our results validate the hydrogels presented in this study as suitable for future mechanosensing studies and indicate that cell adhesion, polarity, and associated migration persistence are tuned by substrate elasticity and biochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Missirlis
- Department of New Materials and Biosystems, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems , Heisenbergstr. 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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40
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Lin F, Yu J, Tang W, Zheng J, Defante A, Guo K, Wesdemiotis C, Becker ML. Peptide-functionalized oxime hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties and gelation behavior. Biomacromolecules 2013; 14:3749-58. [PMID: 24050500 DOI: 10.1021/bm401133r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate the formation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) based hydrogels via oxime ligation and the photoinitiated thiol-ene 3D patterning of peptides within the hydrogel matrix postgelation. The gelation process and final mechanical strength of the hydrogels can be tuned using pH and the catalyst concentration. The time scale to reach the gel point and complete gelation can be shortened from hours to seconds using both pH and aniline catalyst, which facilitates the tuning of the storage modulus from 0.3 to over 15 kPa. Azide- and alkene-functionalized hydrogels were also synthesized, and we have shown the post gelation "click"-type Huisgen 1,3 cycloaddition and thiolene-based radical reactions for spatially defined peptide incorporation. These materials are the initial demonstration for translationally relevant hydrogel materials that possess tunable mechanical regimes attractive to soft tissue engineering and possess atom neutral chemistries attractive for post gelation patterning in the presence or absence of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Lin
- Departments of †Polymer Science and ‡Chemistry, The University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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