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Zanrè E, Dalla Valle E, D’Angelo E, Sensi F, Agostini M, Cimetta E. Recent Advancements in Hydrogel Biomedical Research in Italy. Gels 2024; 10:248. [PMID: 38667667 PMCID: PMC11048829 DOI: 10.3390/gels10040248] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels have emerged as versatile biomaterials with remarkable applications in biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we present an overview of recent and ongoing research in Italy, focusing on extracellular matrix-derived, natural, and synthetic hydrogels specifically applied to biomedicine and tissue engineering. The analyzed studies highlight the versatile nature and wide range of applicability of hydrogel-based studies. Attention is also given to the integration of hydrogels within bioreactor systems, specialized devices used in biological studies to culture cells under controlled conditions, enhancing their potential for regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and drug delivery. Despite the abundance of literature on this subject, a comprehensive overview of Italian contributions to the field of hydrogels-based biomedical research is still missing and is thus our focus for this review. Consolidating a diverse range of studies, the Italian scientific community presents a complete landscape for hydrogel use, shaping the future directions of biomaterials research. This review aspires to serve as a guide and map for Italian researchers interested in the development and use of hydrogels in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Zanrè
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (E.Z.); (E.D.V.)
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Eva Dalla Valle
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (E.Z.); (E.D.V.)
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Edoardo D’Angelo
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
- General Surgery 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Sensi
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Marco Agostini
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
- General Surgery 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Cimetta
- Department of Industrial Engineering (DII), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (E.Z.); (E.D.V.)
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), 35127 Padova, Italy; (E.D.); (F.S.); (M.A.)
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Hidalgo-Alvarez V, Madl CM. Leveraging Biomaterial Platforms to Study Aging-Related Neural and Muscular Degeneration. Biomolecules 2024; 14:69. [PMID: 38254669 PMCID: PMC10813704 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010069] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex multifactorial process that results in tissue function impairment across the whole organism. One of the common consequences of this process is the loss of muscle mass and the associated decline in muscle function, known as sarcopenia. Aging also presents with an increased risk of developing other pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration. Muscular and neuronal degeneration cause mobility issues and cognitive impairment, hence having a major impact on the quality of life of the older population. The development of novel therapies that can ameliorate the effects of aging is currently hindered by our limited knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and the use of models that fail to recapitulate the structure and composition of the cell microenvironment. The emergence of bioengineering techniques based on the use of biomimetic materials and biofabrication methods has opened the possibility of generating 3D models of muscular and nervous tissues that better mimic the native extracellular matrix. These platforms are particularly advantageous for drug testing and mechanistic studies. In this review, we discuss the developments made in the creation of 3D models of aging-related neuronal and muscular degeneration and we provide a perspective on the future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher M. Madl
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
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Ni R, Luo Y, Jiang L, Mao X, Feng Y, Tuersun S, Hu Z, Zhu Y. Repairing gastric ulcer with hyaluronic acid/extracellular matrix composite through promoting M2-type polarization of macrophages. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125556. [PMID: 37364804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of gastric ulcer and perforation using synthetic and biomaterials has been a clinical challenge. In this work, a drug-carrying layer of hyaluronic acid was combined with a gastric submucosal decellularized extracellular matrix called gHECM. The regulation of macrophage polarization by the extracellular matrix's components was then investigated. This work proclaims how gHECM responds to inflammation and aids in the regeneration of the gastric lining by altering the phenotype of surrounding macrophages and stimulating the body's whole immune response. In a nutshell, gHECM promotes tissue regeneration by changing the phenotype of macrophages around the site of injury. In particular, gHECM reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreases the percentage of M1 macrophages, and further encourages differentiation of macrophage subpopulation to the M2 phenotype and the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, which could block the NF-κB pathway. Activated macrophages are capable of immediately delivering through spatial barriers, modulating the peripheral immune system, influencing the inflammatory microenvironment, and ultimately promoting the recovery of inflammation and healing of ulcers. They contribute to the secreted cytokines that act on local tissues or enhance the chemotactic ability of macrophages through paracrine secretion. In this study, we focused on the immunological regulatory network of macrophage polarization to further develop the mechanisms behind this process. Nevertheless, the signaling pathways involved in this process need to be further explored and identified. We think that our research will encourage more investigation into how the decellularized matrix affects immune modulation and will help the decellularized matrix perform better as a new class of natural biomaterials for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renhao Ni
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yang Luo
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Lingjing Jiang
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xufeng Mao
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315020, China
| | - Yuyao Feng
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China
| | | | - Zeming Hu
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yabin Zhu
- Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo 315211, China.
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Spagnol G, Sensi F, De Tommasi O, Marchetti M, Bonaldo G, Xhindoli L, Noventa M, Agostini M, Tozzi R, Saccardi C. Patient Derived Organoids (PDOs), Extracellular Matrix (ECM), Tumor Microenvironment (TME) and Drug Screening: State of the Art and Clinical Implications of Ovarian Cancer Organoids in the Era of Precision Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072059. [PMID: 37046719 PMCID: PMC10093183 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate of all gynecological malignancies due to the high prevalence of advanced stages of diagnosis and the high rate of recurrence. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of OC tumors contributes to the rapid development of resistance to conventional chemotherapy. In recent years, in order to overcome these problems, targeted therapies have been introduced in various types of tumors, including gynecological cancer. However, the lack of predictive biomarkers showing different clinical benefits limits the effectiveness of these therapies. This requires the development of preclinical models that can replicate the histological and molecular characteristics of OC subtypes. In this scenario, organoids become an important preclinical model for personalized medicine. In fact, patient-derived organoids (PDO) recapture tumor heterogeneity with the possibility of performing drug screening. However, to best reproduce the patient’s characteristics, it is necessary to develop a specific extracellular matrix (ECM) and introduce a tumor microenvironment (TME), which both represent an actual object of study to improve drug screening, particularly when used in targeted therapy and immunotherapy to guide therapeutic decisions. In this review, we summarize the current state of the art for the screening of PDOs, ECM, TME, and drugs in the setting of OC, as well as discussing the clinical implications and future perspectives for the research of OC organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Spagnol
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Sensi
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, 35129 Padua, Italy
| | - Orazio De Tommasi
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Marchetti
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Giulio Bonaldo
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Livia Xhindoli
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Noventa
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Agostini
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, 35129 Padua, Italy
- General Surgery 3, Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Roberto Tozzi
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Saccardi
- Department of Women and Children’s Health, Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Carraro E, Rossi L, Maghin E, Canton M, Piccoli M. 3D in vitro Models of Pathological Skeletal Muscle: Which Cells and Scaffolds to Elect? Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:941623. [PMID: 35898644 PMCID: PMC9313593 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.941623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is a fundamental tissue of the human body with great plasticity and adaptation to diseases and injuries. Recreating this tissue in vitro helps not only to deepen its functionality, but also to simulate pathophysiological processes. In this review we discuss the generation of human skeletal muscle three-dimensional (3D) models obtained through tissue engineering approaches. First, we present an overview of the most severe myopathies and the two key players involved: the variety of cells composing skeletal muscle tissue and the different components of its extracellular matrix. Then, we discuss the peculiar characteristics among diverse in vitro models with a specific focus on cell sources, scaffold composition and formulations, and fabrication techniques. To conclude, we highlight the efficacy of 3D models in mimicking patient-specific myopathies, deepening muscle disease mechanisms or investigating possible therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Carraro
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lucia Rossi
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Edoardo Maghin
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Marcella Canton
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Martina Piccoli
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Martina Piccoli,
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