1
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Wang AS, Villegas-Novoa C, Wang Y, Sims CE, Allbritton NL. Mucus-coated, magnetically-propelled fecal surrogate to mimic fecal shear forces on colonic epithelium. Biomaterials 2024; 309:122577. [PMID: 38677221 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122577] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The relationship between the mechanical forces associated with bowel movement and colonic mucosal physiology is understudied. This is partly due to the limited availability of physiologically relevant fecal models that can exert these mechanical stimuli in in vitro colon models in a simple-to-implement manner. In this report, we created a mucus-coated fecal surrogate that was magnetically propelled to produce a controllable sweeping mechanical stimulation on primary intestinal epithelial cell monolayers. The mucus layer was derived from purified porcine stomach mucins, which were first modified with reactive vinyl sulfone (VS) groups followed by reaction with a thiol crosslinker (PEG-4SH) via a Michael addition click reaction. Formation of mucus hydrogel network was achieved at the optimal mixing ratio at 2.5 % w/v mucin-VS and 0.5 % w/v PEG-4SH. The artificial mucus layer possessed similar properties as the native mucus in terms of its storage modulus (66 Pa) and barrier function (resistance to penetration by 1-μm microbeads). This soft, but mechanically resilient mucus layer was covalently linked to a stiff fecal hydrogel surrogate (based on agarose and magnetic particles, with a storage modulus of 4600 Pa). The covalent bonding between the mucus and agarose ensured its stability in the subsequent fecal sliding movement when tested at travel distances as long as 203 m. The mucus layer served as a lubricant and protected epithelial cells from the moving fecal surrogate over a 1 h time without cell damage. To demonstrate its utility, this mucus-coated fecal surrogate was used to mechanically stimulate a fully differentiated, in vitro primary colon epithelium, and the physiological stimulated response of mucin-2 (MUC2), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and serotonin (5HT) secretion was quantified. Compared with a static control, mechanical stimulation caused a significant increase in MUC2 secretion into luminal compartment (6.4 × ), a small but significant increase in IL-8 secretion (2.5 × and 3.5 × , at both luminal and basal compartments, respectively), and no detectable alteration in 5HT secretion. This mucus-coated fecal surrogate is expected to be useful in in vitro colon organ-on-chips and microphysiological systems to facilitate the investigation of feces-induced mechanical stimulation on intestinal physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Yuli Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christopher E Sims
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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2
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Proksch J, Dal Colle MCS, Heinz F, Schmidt RF, Gottwald J, Delbianco M, Keller BG, Gradzielski M, Alexiev U, Koksch B. Impact of glycan nature on structure and viscoelastic properties of glycopeptide hydrogels. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3599. [PMID: 38567550 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Mucus is a complex biological hydrogel that acts as a barrier for almost everything entering or exiting the body. It is therefore of emerging interest for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Besides water, the most abundant components are the large and densely glycosylated mucins, glycoproteins of up to 20 MDa and carbohydrate content of up to 80 wt%. Here, we designed and explored a library of glycosylated peptides to deconstruct the complexity of mucus. Using the well-characterized hFF03 coiled-coil system as a hydrogel-forming peptide scaffold, we systematically probed the contribution of single glycans to the secondary structure as well as the formation and viscoelastic properties of the resulting hydrogels. We show that glycan-decoration does not affect α-helix and coiled-coil formation while it alters gel stiffness. By using oscillatory macrorheology, dynamic light scattering microrheology, and fluorescence lifetime-based nanorheology, we characterized the glycopeptide materials over several length scales. Molecular simulations revealed that the glycosylated linker may extend into the solvent, but more frequently interacts with the peptide, thereby likely modifying the stability of the self-assembled fibers. This systematic study highlights the interplay between glycan structure and hydrogel properties and may guide the development of synthetic mucus mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Proksch
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlene C S Dal Colle
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Frederick Heinz
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert F Schmidt
- Stranski-Laboratorium für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Martina Delbianco
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Bettina G Keller
- Stranski-Laboratorium für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Gradzielski
- Stranski-Laboratorium für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Alexiev
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Beate Koksch
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Porfiryeva NN, Zlotver I, Davidovich-Pinhas M, Sosnik A. Mucus-Mimicking Mucin-Based Hydrogels by Tandem Chemical and Physical Crosslinking. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2400028. [PMID: 38511568 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal tissues represent a major interface between the body and the external environment and are covered by a highly hydrated mucins gel called mucus. Mucus lubricates, protects and modulates the moisture levels of the tissue and is capitalized in transmucosal drug delivery. Pharmaceutical researchers often use freshly excised animal mucosal membranes to assess mucoadhesion and muco-penetration of pharmaceutical formulations which may struggle with limited accessibility, reproducibility, and ethical questions. Aiming to develop a platform for the rationale study of the interaction of drugs and delivery systems with mucosal tissues, in this work mucus-mimicking mucin-based hydrogels are synthesized by the tandem chemical and physical crosslinking of mucin aqueous solutions. Chemical crosslinking is achieved with glutaraldehyde (0.3% and 0.75% w/v), while physical crosslinking by one or two freeze-thawing cycles. Hydrogels after one freeze-thawing cycle show water content of 97.6-98.1%, density of 0.0529-0.0648 g cm⁻3, and storage and loss moduli of ≈40-60 and ≈3-5 Pa, respectively, that resemble the properties of native gastrointestinal mucus. The mechanical stability of the hydrogels increases over the number of freeze-thawing cycles. Overall results highlight the potential of this simple, reproducible, and scalable method to produce artificial mucus-mimicking hydrogels for different applications in pharmaceutical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia N Porfiryeva
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Nanomaterials Science, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Ivan Zlotver
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Nanomaterials Science, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Maya Davidovich-Pinhas
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Alejandro Sosnik
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Nanomaterials Science, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
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4
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Trachsel L, Stewart KA, Konar D, Hillman JD, Moerschel JA, Sumerlin BS. β-Triketones as Reactive Handles for Polymer Diversification via Dynamic Catalyst-Free Diketoenamine Click Chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:16257-16267. [PMID: 38832509 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The spontaneous condensation of amines with β-triketones (TK), forming β,β'-diketoenamines (DKE) and releasing water as the sole byproduct, exhibits many of the hallmarks of "click" reactions. Such characteristics render TKs as a highly advantageous platform for efficient polymer diversification, even in biological contexts. Leveraging reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and photoiniferter polymerization of novel TK-containing vinylic monomers, we synthesized polymers containing pendent TKs with excellent control of molecular weights, even in excess of 106 g mol-1. Under mild, catalyst-free conditions, poly(β-triketone methacrylate) could be modified with a diverse scope of amines containing a plethora of functional groups. The high efficiency of this functionalization approach was further emphasized when grafting-to with poly(ethylene glycol)-amine resulting in bottlebrushes with molecular weights reaching 2.0 × 107 g mol-1. Critically, while the formed DKE linkages are stable under ambient conditions, they undergo catalyst-free, dynamic transamination at elevated temperatures, paving the way for associative covalent adaptable networks. Overall, we introduce pendent triketone moieties into methacrylate and acrylamide polymers, establishing a novel postpolymerization modification technique that facilitates catalyst-free ligation of amines under highly permissible conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucca Trachsel
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Kevin A Stewart
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Debabrata Konar
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Jason D Hillman
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Jack A Moerschel
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200 Gainesville , Florida 32611-7200, United States
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5
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Bej R, Stevens CA, Nie C, Ludwig K, Degen GD, Kerkhoff Y, Pigaleva M, Adler JM, Bustos NA, Page TM, Trimpert J, Block S, Kaufer BB, Ribbeck K, Haag R. Mucus-Inspired Self-Healing Hydrogels: A Protective Barrier for Cells against Viral Infection. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2401745. [PMID: 38815174 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Mucus is a dynamic biological hydrogel, composed primarily of the glycoprotein mucin, exhibits unique biophysical properties and forms a barrier protecting cells against a broad-spectrum of viruses. Here, this work develops a polyglycerol sulfate-based dendronized mucin-inspired copolymer (MICP-1) with ≈10% repeating units of activated disulfide as cross-linking sites. Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) analysis of MICP-1 reveals an elongated single-chain fiber morphology. MICP-1 shows potential inhibitory activity against many viruses such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and SARS-CoV-2 (including variants such as Delta and Omicron). MICP-1 produces hydrogels with viscoelastic properties similar to healthy human sputum and with tuneable microstructures using linear and branched polyethylene glycol-thiol (PEG-thiol) as cross-linkers. Single particle tracking microrheology, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) are used to characterize the network structures. The synthesized hydrogels exhibit self-healing properties, along with viscoelastic properties that are tuneable through reduction. A transwell assay is used to investigate the hydrogel's protective properties against viral infection against HSV-1. Live-cell microscopy confirms that these hydrogels can protect underlying cells from infection by trapping the virus, due to both network morphology and anionic multivalent effects. Overall, this novel mucin-inspired copolymer generates mucus-mimetic hydrogels on a multi-gram scale. These hydrogels can be used as models for disulfide-rich airway mucus research, and as biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Bej
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Corey Alfred Stevens
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Chuanxiong Nie
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Ludwig
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - George D Degen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Yannic Kerkhoff
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marina Pigaleva
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia M Adler
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Strasse 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole A Bustos
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Taylor M Page
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jakob Trimpert
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Strasse 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Block
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt B Kaufer
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Strasse 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Ribbeck
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Arenhoevel J, Schmitt AC, Kerkhoff Y, Ahmadi V, Quaas E, Ludwig K, Achazi K, Nie C, Bej R, Haag R. Mucin-Inspired Polymeric Fibers for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Inhibition. Macromol Biosci 2024:e2400120. [PMID: 38801012 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mucus lines the epithelial cells at the biological interface and is the first line of defense against multiple viral infections. Mucins, the gel-forming components of mucus, are high molecular weight glycoproteins and crucial for preventing infections by binding pathogens. Consequently, mimicking mucins is a promising strategy for new synthetic virus inhibitors. In this work, synthetic mucin-inspired polymers (MIPs) as potential inhibitors of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) are investigated. By using a telechelic reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique, a new dendronized polysulfate p(G1AAm-OSO3)PDS with an amide-backbone similar to the native mucin glycoproteins is synthesized. p(G1AAm-OSO3)PDS shows mucin-like elongated fiber structure, as revealed in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) imaging, and its HSV-1 inhibition activity together with its previously reported methacrylate analogue p(G1MA-OSO3)PDS is tested. Both of the sulfated MIPs show strong HSV-1 inhibition in plaque reduction assays with IC50 values in lower nanomolar range (<3 × 10-9 m) and demonstrate a high cell compatibility (CC50 > 1.0 mg mL-1) with lower anticoagulant activity than heparin. In addition, the prophylactic and therapeutic activity of both MIPs is assessed in pre- and post-infection inhibition assays and clearly visualize their high potential for application using fluorescent microscopy imaging of infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Arenhoevel
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ann-Cathrin Schmitt
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yannic Kerkhoff
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vahid Ahmadi
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Quaas
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Ludwig
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Achazi
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chuanxiong Nie
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raju Bej
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Tan E, Wan T, Pan Q, Duan J, Zhang S, Wang R, Gao P, Lv J, Wang H, Li D, Ping Y, Cheng Y. Dual-responsive nanocarriers for efficient cytosolic protein delivery and CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy of inflammatory skin disorders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl4336. [PMID: 38630829 PMCID: PMC11023524 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl4336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Developing protein drugs that can target intracellular sites remains a challenge due to their inadequate membrane permeability. Efficient carriers for cytosolic protein delivery are required for protein-based drugs, cancer vaccines, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapies. Here, we report a screening process to identify highly efficient materials for cytosolic protein delivery from a library of dual-functionalized polymers bearing both boronate and lipoic acid moieties. Both ligands were found to be crucial for protein binding, endosomal escape, and intracellular protein release. Polymers with higher grafting ratios exhibit remarkable efficacies in cytosolic protein delivery including enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, and Cas9 ribonucleoprotein while preserving their activity. Optimal polymer successfully delivered Cas9 ribonucleoprotein targeting NLRP3 to disrupt NLRP3 inflammasomes in vivo and ameliorate inflammation in a mouse model of psoriasis. Our study presents a promising option for the discovery of highly efficient materials tailored for cytosolic delivery of specific proteins and complexes such as Cas9 ribonucleoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Echuan Tan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Tao Wan
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 311121, China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qi Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianan Duan
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Song Zhang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Ruijue Wang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Peng Gao
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jia Lv
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Hui Wang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuan Ping
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 311121, China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yiyun Cheng
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
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8
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McCoy R, Oldroyd S, Yang W, Wang K, Hoven D, Bulmer D, Zilbauer M, Owens RM. In Vitro Models for Investigating Intestinal Host-Pathogen Interactions. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306727. [PMID: 38155358 PMCID: PMC10885678 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as a major threat worldwide due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of novel pathogens. In vitro models that can adequately mimic in vivo gastrointestinal physiology are in high demand to elucidate mechanisms behind pathogen infectivity, and to aid the design of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. There exists a trade-off between simple and high throughput models and those that are more complex and physiologically relevant. The complexity of the model used shall be guided by the biological question to be addressed. This review provides an overview of the structure and function of the intestine and the models that are developed to emulate this. Conventional models are discussed in addition to emerging models which employ engineering principles to equip them with necessary advanced monitoring capabilities for intestinal host-pathogen interrogation. Limitations of current models and future perspectives on the field are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reece McCoy
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
| | - Sophie Oldroyd
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
| | - Woojin Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
| | - Kaixin Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
| | - Darius Hoven
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
| | - David Bulmer
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 1PDUK
| | - Matthias Zilbauer
- Wellcome‐MRC Cambridge Stem Cell InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 0AWUK
| | - Róisín M. Owens
- Department of Chemical Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0ASUK
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9
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Trachsel L, Konar D, Hillman JD, Davidson CLG, Sumerlin BS. Diversification of Acrylamide Polymers via Direct Transamidation of Unactivated Tertiary Amides. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:1627-1634. [PMID: 38189246 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Postpolymerization modification offers a versatile strategy for synthesizing complex macromolecules, yet modifying acrylamide polymers like poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) is notoriously challenging due to the inherent stability and low reactivity of amide bonds. In this study, we unveil a novel approach for the direct transamidation of PDMA, leveraging recent advances in the transamidation of unactivated tertiary amide substrates. By exploiting photoiniferter polymerization, we extended this direct transamidation approach to ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) PDMA, showcasing the unprecedented postpolymerization modification of synthetic polymers exceeding 106 g/mol. We also designed acrylamide copolymers comprising both the moderately reactive N-methyl-N-phenyl tertiary amides, along with the less reactive, fully alkyl-substituted N,N-dimethyl amides inherent to PDMA. This disparate reactivity enabled a sequential, chemoselective transamidation by initially targeting the more reactive pendant aryl amides with less nucleophilic aromatic amines, and second, transamidating the untouched N,N-dimethyl amide moieties with more nucleophilic aliphatic amines, yielding a uniquely diversified acrylamide copolymer. This work not only broadens the scope of postpolymerization modification strategies by pioneering direct transamidation of unactivated amides but also provides a robust platform for the design of intricate macromolecules, particularly in the realm of UHMW polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucca Trachsel
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Debabrata Konar
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Jason D Hillman
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Cullen L G Davidson
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
| | - Brent S Sumerlin
- George & Josephine Butler Polymer Research Laboratory, Center for Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, PO Box 117200, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States
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10
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Zhang Y, Li R, Trick TC, Nosiglia MA, Palmquist MS, Wong ML, Dorsainvil JM, Tran SL, Danielson MK, Barnes JC. Saltwater-Induced Rapid Gelation of Photoredox-Responsive Mucomimetic Hydrogels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2307356. [PMID: 38124527 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Shear-thinning hydrogels represent an important class of injectable soft materials that are often used in a wide range of biomedical applications. Creation of new shear-thinning materials often requires that factors such as viscosity, injection rate/force, and needle gauge be evaluated to achieve efficient delivery, while simultaneously protecting potentially sensitive cargo. Here, a new approach to establishing shear-thinning hydrogels is reported where a host-guest cross-linked network initially remains soluble in deionized water but is kinetically trapped as a viscous hydrogel once exposed to saltwater. The shear-thinning properties of the hydrogel is then "switched on" in response to heating or exposure to visible light. These hydrogels consist of polynorbornene-based bottlebrush copolymers with porphyrin- and oligoviologen-containing side chains that are cross-linked through the reversible formation of β-cyclodextrin-adamantane inclusion complexes. The resultant viscous hydrogels display broad adhesive properties across polar and nonpolar substrates, mimicking that of natural mucous and thus making it easier to distribute onto a wide range of surfaces. Additional control over the hydrogel's mechanical properties (storage/loss moduli) and performance (adhesion) is achieved post-injection using a low-energy (blue light) photoinduced electron-transfer process. This work envisions these injectable copolymers and multimodal hydrogels can serve as versatile next-generation biomaterials capable of light-based mechanical manipulation post-injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Ruihan Li
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Tarryn C Trick
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mark A Nosiglia
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mark S Palmquist
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mason L Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | | | - Sheila L Tran
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mary K Danielson
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jonathan C Barnes
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
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11
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Graf J, Trautmann-Rodriguez M, Sabnis S, Kloxin AM, Fromen CA. On the path to predicting immune responses in the lung: Modeling the pulmonary innate immune system at the air-liquid interface (ALI). Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 191:106596. [PMID: 37770004 PMCID: PMC10658361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Chronic respiratory diseases and infections are among the largest contributors to death globally, many of which still have no cure, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory syncytial virus among others. Pulmonary therapeutics afford untapped potential for treating lung infection and disease through direct delivery to the site of action. However, the ability to innovate new therapeutic paradigms for respiratory diseases will rely on modeling the human lung microenvironment and including key cellular interactions that drive disease. One key feature of the lung microenvironment is the air-liquid interface (ALI). ALI interface modeling techniques, using cell-culture inserts, organoids, microfluidics, and precision lung slices (PCLS), are rapidly developing; however, one major component of these models is lacking-innate immune cell populations. Macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, among others, represent key lung cell populations, acting as the first responders during lung infection or injury. Innate immune cells respond to and modulate stromal cells and bridge the gap between the innate and adaptive immune system, controlling the bodies response to foreign pathogens and debris. In this article, we review the current state of ALI culture systems with a focus on innate immune cells and suggest ways to build on current models to add complexity and relevant immune cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Graf
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | | | - Simone Sabnis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - April M Kloxin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
| | - Catherine A Fromen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
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12
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Moncure P, Millstone JE, Laaser JE. Role of Ligand Shell Density in the Diffusive Behavior of Nanoparticles in Hydrogels. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9366-9377. [PMID: 37857360 PMCID: PMC10626584 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The diffusion coefficients of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether thiol (PEGSH)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (NPs) with different effective grafting densities were measured in polyacrylamide hydrogels. The NP core size was held constant, and the NPs were functionalized with mixtures of short oligomeric ligands (254 Da PEGSH) and longer (either 1 or 2 kDa PEGSH) ligands. The ratio of short and long ligands was varied such that the grafting density of the high-molecular-weight (MW) ligand ranged from approximately 1 to 100 high-MW ligands/NP. The diffusion coefficients of the NPs were then measured in gels with varying average mesh sizes. The measured diffusion coefficients decreased with higher MW ligand density. Interestingly, the diffusion coefficients for NPs with high effective grafting densities were well-predicted by their hydrodynamic diameters, but the diffusion coefficients for NPs with low effective grafting densities were higher than expected from their hydrodynamic diameters. These results suggest that crowding in the NP ligand shell influences the mechanism of diffusion, with lower grafting densities allowing ligand chain relaxations that facilitate movement through the gel. This work brings new insights into the factors that dictate how NPs move through hydrogels and will inform the development of models for applications such as drug delivery in complex viscoelastic biological materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige
J. Moncure
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jill E. Millstone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Laaser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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13
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Kang J, Zhang X, Yang X, Yang X, Wang S, Song W. Mucosa-Inspired Electro-Responsive Lubricating Supramolecular-Covalent Hydrogel. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2307705. [PMID: 37742109 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Enabling the living capability of secreting liquids dynamically triggered by external stimuli while maintaining the bulk frame is a significant challenge for mucosa-inspired hydrogels. A mucosa-inspired electro-responsive hydrogel is developed in this study using the synergy between electro-responsive silk fibroin supramolecular non-covalent networks and covalent polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol polymer networks. The formed supramolecular-covalent hydrogel exhibits a partial gel-sol transition upon the application of an electric field, and the liquid layer on the hydrogel surface near the cathode is used to mimic the mucus-secreting capability to regulate lubrication. The electro-responsive lubricating process can operate under a safe voltage and exhibits good reversibility. It is also a universal strategy to construct an electro-responsive hydrogel by introducing an electro-responsive supramolecular network into the polymer network. This mucosa-inspired electro-responsive supramolecular-covalent hydrogel offers a promising method for designing soft actuators or robots that can regulate lubrication using an electric strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianye Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xuewei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xuhao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Shutao Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Wenlong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
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14
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Donahue R, Sahoo JK, Rudolph S, Chen Y, Kaplan DL. Mucosa-Mimetic Materials for the Study of Intestinal Homeostasis and Disease. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2300301. [PMID: 37329337 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300301] [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: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mucus is a viscoelastic hydrogel that lines and protects the epithelial surfaces of the body that houses commensal microbiota and functions in host defense against pathogen invasion. As a first-line physical and biochemical barrier, intestinal mucus is involved in immune surveillance and spatial organization of the microbiome, while dysfunction of the gut mucus barrier is implicated in several diseases. Mucus can be collected from a variety of mammalian sources for study, however, established methods are challenging in terms of scale and efficiency, as well as with regard to rheological similarity to native human mucus. Therefore, there is a need for mucus-mimetic hydrogels that more accurately reflect the physical and chemical profile of the in vivo human epithelial environment to enable the investigation of the role of mucus in human disease and interactions with the intestinal microbiome. This review will evaluate the material properties of synthetic mucus mimics to date designed to address the above need, with a focus toward an improved understanding of the biochemical and immunological functions of these biopolymers related to utility for research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Donahue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Sara Rudolph
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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15
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Vinod A, Tadmor R, Katoshevski D, Gutmark EJ. Gels That Serve as Mucus Simulants: A Review. Gels 2023; 9:555. [PMID: 37504435 PMCID: PMC10379079 DOI: 10.3390/gels9070555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucus is a critical part of the human body's immune system that traps and carries away various particulates such as anthropogenic pollutants, pollen, viruses, etc. Various synthetic hydrogels have been developed to mimic mucus, using different polymers as their backbones. Common to these simulants is a three-dimensional gel network that is physically crosslinked and is capable of loosely entrapping water within. Two of the challenges in mimicking mucus using synthetic hydrogels include the need to mimic the rheological properties of the mucus and its ability to capture particulates (its adhesion mechanism). In this paper, we review the existing mucus simulants and discuss their rheological, adhesive, and tribological properties. We show that most, but not all, simulants indeed mimic the rheological properties of the mucus; like mucus, most hydrogel mucus simulants reviewed here demonstrated a higher storage modulus than its loss modulus, and their values are in the range of that found in mucus. However, only one mimics the adhesive properties of the mucus (which are critical for the ability of mucus to capture particulates), Polyvinyl alcohol-Borax hydrogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Appu Vinod
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Rafael Tadmor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - David Katoshevski
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ephraim J Gutmark
- Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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