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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Ellingson MO, Bevan MA. Direct measurements & simplified models of colloidal interactions & diffusion with adsorbed macromolecules. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:6808-6821. [PMID: 39148334 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00662c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
We report total internal reflection microscopy measurements of 3D trajectories of ensembles of micron sized colloidal particles near interfaces with and without adsorbed macromolecules. Evanescent wave scattering reveals nanometer scale motion normal to planar surfaces and sub-diffraction limit lateral motion is resolved via image analysis. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium analyses of particle trajectories reveal self-consistent position dependent energies (energy landscapes) and position dependent diffusivities (diffusivity landscapes) both perpendicular and parallel to interfaces. For bare colloids and surfaces, electrostatic and hydrodynamic interactions are accurately quantified with established analytical theories. For colloids and surfaces with adsorbed macromolecules, conservative forces are accurately quantified with models for interactions between brush layers, whereas directly measured position dependent diffusivities require novel models of spatially varying permeability within adsorbed layers. Agreement between spatially resolved interactions and diffusivities and rigorous simplified models provide a basis to consistently interpret, predict, and design colloidal transport in the presence of adsorbed macromolecules for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael O Ellingson
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engr., Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Michael A Bevan
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engr., Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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3
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Yang S, Stern A, Duncan G. Synthetic mucus biomaterials synergize with antibiofilm agents to combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.09.607383. [PMID: 39149383 PMCID: PMC11326292 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.09.607383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are often highly resistant to antimicrobials causing persistent infections which when not effectively managed can significantly worsen clinical outcomes. As such, alternatives to standard antibiotic therapies have been highly sought after to address difficult-to-treat biofilm-associated infections. We hypothesized a biomaterial-based approach using the innate functions of mucins to modulate bacterial surface attachment and virulence could provide a new therapeutic strategy against biofilms. Based on our testing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, we found synthetic mucus biomaterials can inhibit biofilm formation and significantly reduce the thickness of mature biofilms. In addition, we evaluated if synthetic mucus biomaterials could work synergistically with DNase and/or α-amylase for enhanced biofilm dispersal. Combination treatment with these antibiofilm agents and synthetic mucus biomaterials resulted in up to 3 log reductions in viability of mature P. aeruginosa biofilms. Overall, this work provides a new bio-inspired, combinatorial approach to address biofilms and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Yang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Alexa Stern
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregg Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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4
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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; 36:e2401745. [PMID: 38815174 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401745] [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: 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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5
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Kramer C, Rulff H, Ziegler JF, Mönch PW, Alzain N, Addante A, Kuppe A, Timm S, Schrade P, Bischoff P, Glauben R, Dürr J, Ochs M, Mall MA, Gradzielski M, Siegmund B. Ileal mucus viscoelastic properties differ in Crohn's disease. Mucosal Immunol 2024; 17:713-722. [PMID: 38750968 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, frequently involving the terminal ileum. While colonic mucus alterations in CD patients have been described, terminal ileal mucus and its mechanobiological properties have been neglected. Our study is the first of its kind to decipher the viscoelastic and network properties of ileal mucus. With that aim, oscillatory rheological shear measurements based on an airway mucus protocol that was thoroughly validated for ileal mucus were performed. Our pilot study analyzed terminal ileum mucus from controls (n = 14) and CD patients (n = 14). Mucus network structure was visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Interestingly, a statistically significant increase in viscoelasticity as well as a decrease in mesh size was observed in ileal mucus from CD patients compared to controls. Furthermore, rheological data were analyzed in relation to study participants' clinical characteristics, revealing a noteworthy trend between non-smokers and smokers. In conclusion, this study provides the first data on the viscoelastic properties and structure of human ileal mucus in the healthy state and Crohn's disease, demonstrating significant alterations between groups and highlighting the need for further research on mucus and its effect on the underlying epithelial barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina Kramer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanna Rulff
- Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörn Felix Ziegler
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Wilhelm Mönch
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadra Alzain
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annalisa Addante
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aditi Kuppe
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Timm
- Core Facility Electron Microscopy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Schrade
- Core Facility Electron Microscopy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Bischoff
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Berlin, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rainer Glauben
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Dürr
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Ochs
- Core Facility Electron Microscopy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Functional Anatomy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Britta Siegmund
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Rulff H, Schmidt RF, Wei LF, Fentker K, Kerkhoff Y, Mertins P, Mall MA, Lauster D, Gradzielski M. Comprehensive Characterization of the Viscoelastic Properties of Bovine Submaxillary Mucin (BSM) Hydrogels and the Effect of Additives. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4014-4029. [PMID: 38832927 PMCID: PMC11238336 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive characterization of the viscoelastic and structural properties of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM), which is widely used as a commercial source to conduct mucus-related research. We conducted concentration studies of BSM and examined the effects of various additives, NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, lysozyme, and DNA, on its rheological behavior. A notable connection between BSM concentration and viscoelastic properties was observed, particularly under varying ionic conditions. The rheological spectra could be well described by a fractional Kelvin-Voigt model with a minimum of model parameters. A detailed proteomics analysis provided insight into the protein, especially mucin composition within BSM, showing MUC19 as the main component. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy enabled the visualization of the porous BSM network structure. These investigations give us a more profound comprehension of the BSM properties, especially those pertaining to viscoelasticity, and how they are influenced by concentration and environmental conditions, aspects relevant to the field of mucus research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rulff
- Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert F Schmidt
- Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ling-Fang Wei
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Fentker
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yannic Kerkhoff
- Research Center of Electron Microscopy, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Mertins
- Proteomics Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus A Mall
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charite, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Associated Partner Site, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Lauster
- Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Gradzielski
- Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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7
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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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8
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Zou H, Boboltz A, Cheema Y, Song D, Cahn D, Duncan GA. Synthetic mucus barrier arrays as a nanoparticle formulation screening platform. RSC PHARMACEUTICS 2024; 1:218-226. [PMID: 38899149 PMCID: PMC11185047 DOI: 10.1039/d3pm00057e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
A mucus gel layer lines the luminal surface of tissues throughout the body to protect them from infectious agents and particulates. As a result, nanoparticle drug delivery systems delivered to these sites may become trapped in mucus and subsequently cleared before they can reach target cells. As such, optimizing the properties of nanoparticle delivery vehicles, such as their surface chemistry and size, is essential to improving their penetration through the mucus barrier. In previous work, we developed a mucin-based hydrogel that has viscoelastic properties like that of native mucus which can be further tailored to mimic specific mucosal tissues and disease states. Using this biomimetic hydrogel system, a 3D-printed array containing synthetic mucus barriers was created that is compatible with a 96-well plate enabling its use as a high-throughput screening platform for nanoparticle drug delivery applications. To validate this system, we evaluated several established design parameters to determine their impact on nanoparticle penetration through synthetic mucus barriers. Consistent with the literature, we found nanoparticles of smaller size and coated with a protective PEG layer more efficiently penetrated through synthetic mucus barriers. In addition, we evaluated a mucolytic (tris(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine, TCEP) for use as a permeation enhancer for mucosal drug delivery. In comparison to N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), we found TCEP significantly improved nanoparticle penetration through a disease-like synthetic mucus barrier. Overall, our results establish a new high-throughput screening approach using synthetic mucus barrier arrays to identify promising nanoparticle formulation strategies for drug delivery to mucosal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Zou
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Allison Boboltz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Yahya Cheema
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Devorah Cahn
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
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9
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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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10
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Milian D, Robert de Saint Vincent M, Patarin J, Bodiguel H. Gastropod Slime-Based Gel as an Adjustable Synthetic Model for Human Airway Mucus. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:400-412. [PMID: 38124283 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Airway mucus works as a protective barrier in the human body, as it entraps pathogens that will be later cleared from the airways by ciliary transport or by coughing, thus featuring the rheological properties of a highly stretchable gel. Nonetheless, the study of these physical barrier as well as transport properties remains limited due to the restricted and invasive access to lungs and bronchi to retrieve mucus and to the poor repeatability inherent to native mucus samples. To overcome these limits, we report on a biobased synthetic mucus prepared from snail slime and multibranched thiol cross-linker, which are able to establish disulfide bonds, in analogy with the disulfide bonding of mucins, and therefore build viscoelastoplastic hydrogels. The gel macroscopic properties are tuned by modifying the cross-linker and slime concentrations and can quantitatively match those of native sputum from donors with cystic fibrosis (CF) or non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) both in the small- and large-deformation regimes. Heterogeneous regimes were locally found in the mucus model by passive microrheology, in which both diffusive and non-diffusive motion are present, similar to what is observed in sputa. The biobased synthetic approach proposed in the present study thus allows to produce, with commercially available components, a promising model to native respiratory mucus regarding both mechanical and, to a lesser extent, physicochemical aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Milian
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Rheonova, 1 Allée de Certèze, 38610 Gières, France
| | | | | | - Hugues Bodiguel
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, 38000 Grenoble, France
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11
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Zou H, Boboltz A, Cheema Y, Song D, Duncan GA. Synthetic mucus barrier arrays as a nanoparticle formulation screening platform. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.29.569212. [PMID: 38076819 PMCID: PMC10705391 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.29.569212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
A mucus gel layer lines the luminal surface of tissues throughout the body to protect them from infectious agents and particulates. As a result, nanoparticle drug delivery systems delivered to these sites may become trapped in mucus and subsequently cleared before they can reach target cells. As such, optimizing the properties of nanoparticle delivery vehicles, such as their surface chemistry and size, is essential to improving their penetration through the mucus barrier. In previous work, we developed a mucin-based hydrogel that has viscoelastic properties like that of native mucus which can be further tailored to mimic specific mucosal tissues and disease states. Using this biomimetic hydrogel system, a 3D-printed array containing synthetic mucus barriers was created that is compatible with a 96-well plate enabling its use as a high-throughput screening platform for nanoparticle drug delivery applications. To validate this system, we evaluated several established design parameters to determine their impact on nanoparticle penetration through synthetic mucus barriers. Consistent with the literature, we found nanoparticles of smaller size and coated with a protective PEG layer more efficiently penetrated through synthetic mucus barriers. In addition, we evaluated a mucolytic (tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine, TCEP) for use as a permeation enhancer for mucosal drug delivery. In comparison to N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), we found TCEP significantly improved nanoparticle penetration through a disease-like synthetic mucus barrier. Overall, our results establish a new high-throughput screening approach using synthetic mucus barrier arrays to identify promising nanoparticle formulation strategies for drug delivery to mucosal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Zou
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Allison Boboltz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Yahya Cheema
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregg A. Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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12
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Boboltz A, Yang S, Duncan GA. Engineering in vitro models of cystic fibrosis lung disease using neutrophil extracellular trap inspired biomaterials. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:9419-9430. [PMID: 37701932 PMCID: PMC10591795 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01489d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a muco-obstructive lung disease where inflammatory responses due to chronic infection result in the accumulation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the airways. NETs are web-like complexes comprised mainly of decondensed chromatin that function to capture and kill bacteria. Prior studies have established excess release of NETs in CF airways increases viscoelasticity of mucus secretions and reduces mucociliary clearance. Despite the pivotal role of NETs in CF disease pathogenesis, current in vitro models of this disease do not account for their contribution. Motivated by this, we developed a new approach to study the pathobiological effects of NETs in CF by combining synthetic NET-like biomaterials, composed of DNA and histones, with an in vitro human airway epithelial cell culture model. To determine the impact of synthetic NETs on airway clearance function, we incorporated synthetic NETs into mucin hydrogels and cell culture derived airway mucus to assess their rheological and transport properties. We found that the addition of synthetic NETs significantly increases mucin hydrogel viscoelasticity. As a result, mucociliary transport in vitro was significantly reduced with the addition of mucus containing synthetic NETs. Given the prevalence of bacterial infection in the CF lung, we also evaluated the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mucus with or without synthetic NETs. We found mucus containing synthetic NETs promoted microcolony growth and prolonged bacterial survival. Together, this work establishes a new biomaterial enabled approach to study innate immunity mediated airway dysfunction in CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Boboltz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Sydney Yang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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13
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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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14
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Yang S, Duncan GA. Synthetic mucus biomaterials for antimicrobial peptide delivery. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:1616-1626. [PMID: 37199137 PMCID: PMC10524183 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37559] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the promise of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections, their therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the rapid degradation and low bioavailability of AMPs. To address this, we have developed and characterized a synthetic mucus (SM) biomaterial capable of delivering LL37 AMPs and enhancing their therapeutic effect. LL37 is an AMP that exhibits a wide range of antimicrobial activity against bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. LL37 loaded SM hydrogels demonstrated controlled release with 70%-95% of loaded LL37 over 8 h due to charge-mediated interactions between mucins and LL37 AMPs. Compared to treatment with LL37 alone where antimicrobial activity was reduced after 3 h, LL37-SM hydrogels inhibited P. aeruginosa (PAO1) growth over 12 h. LL37-SM hydrogel treatment reduced PAO1 viability over 6 h whereas a rebound in bacterial growth was observed when treated with LL37 only. These data demonstrate LL37-SM hydrogels enhance antimicrobial activity by preserving LL37 AMP activity and bioavailability. Overall, this work establishes SM biomaterials as a platform for enhanced AMP delivery for antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Yang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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15
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Boboltz AM, Yang S, Duncan GA. Engineering in vitro models of cystic fibrosis lung disease using neutrophil extracellular trap inspired biomaterials. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.26.546583. [PMID: 37425779 PMCID: PMC10327088 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.26.546583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a muco-obstructive lung disease where inflammatory responses due to chronic infection result in the accumulation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the airways. NETs are web-like complexes comprised mainly of decondensed chromatin that function to capture and kill bacteria. Prior studies have established excess release of NETs in CF airways increases viscoelasticity of mucus secretions and reduces mucociliary clearance. Despite the pivotal role of NETs in CF disease pathogenesis, current in vitro models of this disease do not account for their contribution. Motivated by this, we developed a new approach to study the pathobiological effects of NETs in CF by combining synthetic NET-like biomaterials, composed of DNA and histones, with an in vitro human airway epithelial cell culture model. To determine the impact of synthetic NETs on airway clearance function, we incorporated synthetic NETs into mucin hydrogels and cell culture derived airway mucus to assess their rheological and transport properties. We found that the addition of synthetic NETs significantly increases mucin hydrogel and native mucus viscoelasticity. As a result, mucociliary transport in vitro was significantly reduced with the addition of mucus containing synthetic NETs. Given the prevalence of bacterial infection in the CF lung, we also evaluated the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mucus with or without synthetic NETs. We found mucus containing synthetic NETs promoted microcolony growth and prolonged bacterial survival. Together, this work establishes a new biomaterial enabled approach to study innate immunity mediated airway dysfunction in CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Boboltz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Sydney Yang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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16
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Yang S, Duncan G. Synthetic Mucus Biomaterials for Antimicrobial Peptide Delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.07.531025. [PMID: 36945438 PMCID: PMC10028879 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.07.531025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite the promise of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections, their therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the rapid degradation and low bioavailability of AMPs. To address this, we have developed and characterized a synthetic mucus (SM) biomaterial capable of delivering AMPs and enhancing their therapeutic effect. LL37 loaded SM hydrogels demonstrated controlled release of LL37 over 8 hours as a result of charge-mediated interactions between mucins and LL37 AMPs. Compared to treatment with LL37 alone where antimicrobial activity was reduced after 3 hours, LL37-SM hydrogels inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 growth over 12 hours. LL37-SM hydrogel treatment reduced PAO1 viability over 6 hours whereas a rebound in bacterial growth was observed when treated with LL37 only. These data demonstrate LL37-SM hydrogels enhance antimicrobial activity by preserving LL37 AMP activity and bioavailability. Overall, this work establishes SM biomaterials as a platform for enhanced AMP delivery for antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Yang
- University of Maryland, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, College Park, MD
| | - Gregg Duncan
- University of Maryland, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, College Park, MD
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17
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Peters G, Jakubaß B, Weidenfeller K, Kniesburges S, Böhringer D, Wendler O, Mueller SK, Gostian AO, Berry DA, Döllinger M, Semmler M. Synthetic mucus for an ex vivo phonation setup: Creation, application, and effect on excised porcine larynges. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 152:3245. [PMID: 36586828 PMCID: PMC9729017 DOI: 10.1121/10.0015364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Laryngeal mucus hydrates and lubricates the deformable tissue of the vocal folds and acts as a boundary layer with the airflow from the lungs. However, the effects of the mucus' viscoelasticity on phonation remain widely unknown and mucus has not yet been established in experimental procedures of voice research. In this study, four synthetic mucus samples were created on the basis of xanthan with focus on physiological frequency-dependent viscoelastic properties, which cover viscosities and elasticities over 2 orders of magnitude. An established ex vivo experimental setup was expanded by a reproducible and controllable application method of synthetic mucus. The application method and the suitability of the synthetic mucus samples were successfully verified by fluorescence evidence on the vocal folds even after oscillation experiments. Subsequently, the impact of mucus viscoelasticity on the oscillatory dynamics of the vocal folds, the subglottal pressure, and acoustic signal was investigated with 24 porcine larynges (2304 datasets). Despite the large differences of viscoelasticity, the phonatory characteristics remained stable with only minor statistically significant differences. Overall, this study increased the level of realism in the experimental setup for replication of the phonatory process enabling further research on pathological mucus and exploration of therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Peters
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Jakubaß
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katrin Weidenfeller
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Kniesburges
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Böhringer
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Olaf Wendler
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sarina K Mueller
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antoniu-Oreste Gostian
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - David A Berry
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA
| | - Michael Döllinger
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marion Semmler
- Division of Phoniatrics and Pediatric Audiology at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Medical School at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Song D, Iverson E, Kaler L, Boboltz A, Scull MA, Duncan GA. MUC5B mobilizes and MUC5AC spatially aligns mucociliary transport on human airway epithelium. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabq5049. [PMID: 36427316 PMCID: PMC9699686 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq5049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Secreted mucus is a frontline defense against respiratory infection, enabling the capture and swift removal of infectious or irritating agents from the lungs. Airway mucus is composed of two mucins: mucin 5B (MUC5B) and 5AC (MUC5AC). Together, they form a hydrogel that can be actively transported by cilia along the airway surface. In chronic respiratory diseases, abnormal expression of these mucins is directly implicated in dysfunctional mucus clearance. Yet, the role of each mucin in supporting normal mucus transport remains unclear. Here, we generate human airway epithelial tissue cultures deficient in either MUC5B or MUC5AC to understand their individual contributions to mucus transport. We find that MUC5B and MUC5AC deficiency results in impaired and discoordinated mucociliary transport, respectively, demonstrating the importance of each mucin to airway clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Ethan Iverson
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Logan Kaler
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Allison Boboltz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Margaret A. Scull
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregg A. Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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19
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Abstract
![]()
Mucus hydrogels at biointerfaces are crucial for protecting
against
foreign pathogens and for the biological functions of the underlying
cells. Since mucus can bind to and host both viruses and bacteria,
establishing a synthetic model system that can emulate the properties
and functions of native mucus and can be synthesized at large scale
would revolutionize the mucus-related research that is essential for
understanding the pathways of many infectious diseases. The synthesis
of such biofunctional hydrogels in the laboratory is highly challenging,
owing to their complex chemical compositions and the specific chemical
interactions that occur throughout the gel network. In this perspective,
we discuss the basic chemical structures and diverse physicochemical
interactions responsible for the unique properties and functions of
mucus hydrogels. We scrutinize the different approaches for preparing
mucus-inspired hydrogels, with specific examples. We also discuss
recent research and what it reveals about the challenges that must
be addressed and the opportunities to be considered to achieve desirable de novo synthetic mucus hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Bej
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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20
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Meleties M, Martineau RL, Gupta MK, Montclare JK. Particle-Based Microrheology As a Tool for Characterizing Protein-Based Materials. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:2747-2763. [PMID: 35678203 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microrheology based on video microscopy of embedded tracer particles has the potential to be used for high-throughput protein-based materials characterization. This potential is due to a number of characteristics of the techniques, including the suitability for measurement of low sample volumes, noninvasive and noncontact measurements, and the ability to set up a large number of samples for facile, sequential measurement. In addition to characterization of the bulk rheological properties of proteins in solution, for example, viscosity, microrheology can provide insight into the dynamics and self-assembly of protein-based materials as well as heterogeneities in the microenvironment being probed. Specifically, passive microrheology in the form of multiple particle tracking and differential dynamic microscopy holds promise for applications in high-throughput characterization because of the lack of user interaction required while making measurements. Herein, recent developments in the use of multiple particle tracking and differential dynamic microscopy are reviewed for protein characterization and their potential to be applied in a high-throughput, automatable setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Meleties
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, New York 11201, United States
| | - Rhett L Martineau
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States.,Biological and Nanoscale Technologies Division, UES Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Maneesh K Gupta
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, New York 11201, United States.,Department of Radiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York 10016, United States.,Department of Biomaterials, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, New York 10010, United States.,Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
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21
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Abdelghafour MM, Deák Á, Szabó D, Dékány I, Rovó L, Janovák L. Use of Self-Assembled Colloidal Prodrug Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Delivery of Anticancer, Antifibrotic and Antibacterial Mitomycin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126807. [PMID: 35743251 PMCID: PMC9224153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein we present the synthesis of a polymeric prodrug nanomaterial capable of spontaneous, self-assembled nanoparticle formation and of the conjugation (encapsulation) of drugs with amino and/or carboxyl and/or hydroxyl groups via ester and/or amide linkage. Mitomycin C (MMC) a versatile drug with antibiotic, antibacterial and antineoplastic properties, was used to prove this concept. The in vitro drug release experiments showed a fast release for the pure MMC (k = 49.59 h-n); however, a significantly lower MMC dissolution rate (k = 2.25, 1.46, and 1.35 h-n) was obtained for the nanoparticles with increased cross-link density (3, 10, 21%). The successful modification and conjugation reactions were confirmed using FTIR and EDX measurements, while the mucoadhesive properties of the self-assembled particles synthesized in a simple one-pot reaction were proved by rheological measurement. The prepared biocompatible polymeric prodrugs are very promising and applicable as a drug delivery system (DDS) and useful in the area of cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed M. Abdelghafour
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.M.A.); (Á.D.); (I.D.)
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Ágota Deák
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.M.A.); (Á.D.); (I.D.)
| | - Diána Szabó
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos krt. 111, H-6724 Szeged, Hungary; (D.S.); (L.R.)
| | - Imre Dékány
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.M.A.); (Á.D.); (I.D.)
| | - László Rovó
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos krt. 111, H-6724 Szeged, Hungary; (D.S.); (L.R.)
| | - László Janovák
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Rerrich Béla tér 1, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary; (M.M.A.); (Á.D.); (I.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-62-544-210; Fax: +36-62-544-042
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22
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Pednekar DD, Liguori MA, Marques CNH, Zhang T, Zhang N, Zhou Z, Amoako K, Gu H. From Static to Dynamic: A Review on the Role of Mucus Heterogeneity in Particle and Microbial Transport. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:2825-2848. [PMID: 35696291 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mucus layers (McLs) are on the front line of the human defense system that protect us from foreign abiotic/biotic particles (e.g., airborne virus SARS-CoV-2) and lubricates our organs. Recently, the impact of McLs on human health (e.g., nutrient absorption and drug delivery) and diseases (e.g., infections and cancers) has been studied extensively, yet their mechanisms are still not fully understood due to their high variety among organs and individuals. We characterize these variances as the heterogeneity of McLs, which lies in the thickness, composition, and physiology, making the systematic research on the roles of McLs in human health and diseases very challenging. To advance mucosal organoids and develop effective drug delivery systems, a comprehensive understanding of McLs' heterogeneity and how it impacts mucus physiology is urgently needed. When the role of airway mucus in the penetration and transmission of coronavirus (CoV) is considered, this understanding may also enable a better explanation and prediction of the CoV's behavior. Hence, in this Review, we summarize the variances of McLs among organs, health conditions, and experimental settings as well as recent advances in experimental measurements, data analysis, and model development for simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipesh Dinanath Pednekar
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Madison A Liguori
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | | | - Teng Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.,BioInspired Syracuse, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, PR China
| | - Zejian Zhou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Kagya Amoako
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
| | - Huan Gu
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States
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23
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Gyarmati B, Stankovits G, Szilágyi BÁ, Galata DL, Gordon P, Szilágyi A. A robust mucin-containing poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel model for the in vitro characterization of mucoadhesion of solid dosage forms. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 213:112406. [PMID: 35219220 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Mucoadhesion testing at macroscopic scale needs a robust, convenient in vitro method as ex vivo methods suffer from poor reproducibility and ethical problems. Here we synthesized mucin-free poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and mucin-containing PVA hydrogel substrates (Muc/PVA) to measure adhesion of polymer tablets. Freezing-thawing method was used for gelation to avoid chemical cross-linking and to preserve the functionality of mucin. The adhesion of first generation mucoadhesive polymers, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was tested with outstanding reproducibility on individual batches of hydrogels and qualitative agreement with ex vivo literature data. Negatively charged PAA was less adhesive on Muc/PVA surface than on mucin-free PVA whereas HPMC as a neutral polymer displayed similar adhesion strength on both surfaces. Chitosan as a positively charged polymer showed enhanced adhesion on Muc/PVA substrate compared to mucin-free PVA. These results are corroborated by turbidimetric titration which indicated attractive electrostatic interactions between chitosan and mucin in contrast to the lack of attractive interactions for PAA and HPMC. These results prove the role of electronic theory in macroscopic mucoadhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjámin Gyarmati
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gergely Stankovits
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barnabás Áron Szilágyi
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dorián László Galata
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Gordon
- Department of Electronics Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Szilágyi
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3., H-1111 Budapest, Hungary
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24
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Nakahata M, Tominaga N, Saito K, Nishiyama K, Tanino Y, Saiki K, Kojima M, Sakai S. A bio‐synthetic hybrid hydrogel formed under physiological conditions consisting of mucin and a synthetic polymer carrying boronic acid. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2200055. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Nakahata
- Department of Macromolecular Science Graduate School of Science Osaka University 1‐1 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560‐0043 Japan
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Naoki Tominaga
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Keishi Saito
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Keita Nishiyama
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology School of Medicine Keio University 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku Tokyo 160–8582 Japan
| | - Yuya Tanino
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Kiyoshiro Saiki
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Masaru Kojima
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
| | - Shinji Sakai
- Division of Chemical Engineering Department of Materials Engineering Science Graduate School of Engineering Science Osaka University 1–3 Machikaneyama‐cho Toyonaka Osaka 560–8531 Japan
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25
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Watchorn J, Clasky AJ, Prakash G, Johnston IAE, Chen PZ, Gu FX. Untangling Mucosal Drug Delivery: Engineering, Designing, and Testing Nanoparticles to Overcome the Mucus Barrier. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1396-1426. [PMID: 35294187 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mucus is a complex viscoelastic gel and acts as a barrier covering much of the soft tissue in the human body. High vascularization and accessibility have motivated drug delivery to various mucosal surfaces; however, these benefits are hindered by the mucus layer. To overcome the mucus barrier, many nanomedicines have been developed, with the goal of improving the efficacy and bioavailability of drug payloads. Two major nanoparticle-based strategies have emerged to facilitate mucosal drug delivery, namely, mucoadhesion and mucopenetration. Generally, mucoadhesive nanoparticles promote interactions with mucus for immobilization and sustained drug release, whereas mucopenetrating nanoparticles diffuse through the mucus and enhance drug uptake. The choice of strategy depends on many factors pertaining to the structural and compositional characteristics of the target mucus and mucosa. While there have been promising results in preclinical studies, mucus-nanoparticle interactions remain poorly understood, thus limiting effective clinical translation. This article reviews nanomedicines designed with mucoadhesive or mucopenetrating properties for mucosal delivery, explores the influence of site-dependent physiological variation among mucosal surfaces on efficacy, transport, and bioavailability, and discusses the techniques and models used to investigate mucus-nanoparticle interactions. The effects of non-homeostatic perturbations on protein corona formation, mucus composition, and nanoparticle performance are discussed in the context of mucosal delivery. The complexity of the mucosal barrier necessitates consideration of the interplay between nanoparticle design, tissue-specific differences in mucus structure and composition, and homeostatic or disease-related changes to the mucus barrier to develop effective nanomedicines for mucosal delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Watchorn
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Aaron J Clasky
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Gayatri Prakash
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Ian A E Johnston
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Paul Z Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Frank X Gu
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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26
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Kaler L, Iverson E, Bader S, Song D, Scull MA, Duncan GA. Influenza A virus diffusion through mucus gel networks. Commun Biol 2022; 5:249. [PMID: 35318436 PMCID: PMC8941132 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03204-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucus in the lung plays an essential role as a barrier to infection by viral pathogens such as influenza A virus (IAV). Previous work determined mucin-associated sialic acid acts as a decoy receptor for IAV hemagglutinin (HA) binding and the sialic-acid cleaving enzyme, neuraminidase (NA), facilitates virus passage through mucus. However, it has yet to be fully addressed how the physical structure of the mucus gel influences its barrier function and its ability to trap viruses via glycan mediated interactions to prevent infection. To address this, IAV and nanoparticle diffusion in human airway mucus and mucin-based hydrogels is quantified using fluorescence video microscopy. We find the mobility of IAV in mucus is significantly influenced by the mesh structure of the gel and in contrast to prior reports, these effects likely influence virus passage through mucus gels to a greater extent than HA and NA activity. In addition, an analytical approach is developed to estimate the binding affinity of IAV to the mucus meshwork, yielding dissociation constants in the mM range, indicative of weak IAV-mucus binding. Our results provide important insights on how the adhesive and physical barrier properties of mucus influence the dissemination of IAV within the lung microenvironment. Influenza A virus movement in mucus is found to be affected by the mesh structure of the gel network and further analysis reveals weak IAV-mucus binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Kaler
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Ethan Iverson
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Shahed Bader
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Margaret A Scull
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. .,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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27
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Wang S, Tsao CY, Motabar D, Li J, Payne GF, Bentley WE. A Redox-Based Autoinduction Strategy to Facilitate Expression of 5xCys-Tagged Proteins for Electrobiofabrication. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:675729. [PMID: 34220759 PMCID: PMC8250426 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.675729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofabrication utilizes biological materials and biological means, or mimics thereof, for assembly. When interfaced with microelectronics, electrobiofabricated assemblies enable exquisite sensing and reporting capabilities. We recently demonstrated that thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH) could be oxidatively assembled into a thin disulfide crosslinked hydrogel at an electrode surface; with sufficient oxidation, extra sulfenic acid groups are made available for covalent, disulfide coupling to sulfhydryl groups of proteins or peptides. We intentionally introduced a polycysteine tag (5xCys-tag) consisting of five consecutive cysteine residues at the C-terminus of a Streptococcal protein G to enable its covalent coupling to an electroassembled PEG-SH film. We found, however, that its expression and purification from E. coli was difficult, owing to the extra cysteine residues. We developed a redox-based autoinduction methodology that greatly enhanced the yield, especially in the soluble fraction of E. coli extracts. The redox component involved the deletion of oxyRS, a global regulator of the oxidative stress response and the autoinduction component integrated a quorum sensing (QS) switch that keys the secreted QS autoinducer-2 to induction. Interestingly, both methods helped when independently employed and further, when used in combination (i.e., autodinduced oxyRS mutant) the results were best—we found the highest total yield and highest yield in the soluble fraction. We hypothesize that the production host was less prone to severe metabolic perturbations that might reduce yield or drive sequestration of the -tagged protein into inclusion bodies. We expect this methodology will be useful for the expression of many such Cys-tagged proteins, ultimately enabling a diverse array of functionalized devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Dana Motabar
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
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28
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Awate DM, Pola CC, Shumaker E, Gomes CL, Juárez JJ. 3D printed imaging platform for portable cell counting. Analyst 2021; 146:4033-4041. [PMID: 34036979 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00778e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite having widespread application in the biomedical sciences, flow cytometers have several limitations that prevent their application to point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in resource-limited environments. 3D printing provides a cost-effective approach to improve the accessibility of POC devices in resource-limited environments. Towards this goal, we introduce a 3D-printed imaging platform (3DPIP) capable of accurately counting particles and perform fluorescence microscopy. In our 3DPIP, captured microscopic images of particle flow are processed on a custom developed particle counter code to provide a particle count. This prototype uses a machine vision-based algorithm to identify particles from captured flow images and is flexible enough to allow for labeled and label-free particle counting. Additionally, the particle counter code returns particle coordinates with respect to time which can further be used to perform particle image velocimetry. These results can help estimate forces acting on particles, and identify and sort different types of cells/particles. We evaluated the performance of this prototype by counting 10 μm polystyrene particles diluted in deionized water at different concentrations and comparing the results with a commercial Beckman-Coulter Z2 particle counter. The 3DPIP can count particle concentrations down to ∼100 particles per mL with a standard deviation of ±20 particles, which is comparable to the results obtained on a commercial particle counter. Our platform produces accurate results at flow rates up to 9 mL h-1 for concentrations below 1000 particle per mL, while 5 mL h-1 produces accurate results above this concentration limit. Aside from performing flow-through experiments, our instrument is capable of performing static experiments that are comparable to a plate reader. In this configuration, our instrument is able to count between 10 and 250 cells per image, depending on the prepared concentration of bacteria samples (Citrobacter freundii; ATCC 8090). Overall, this platform represents a first step towards the development of an affordable fully 3D printable imaging flow cytometry instrument for use in resource-limited clinical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diwakar M Awate
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Cicero C Pola
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Erica Shumaker
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Carmen L Gomes
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Jaime J Juárez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA. and Center for Multiphase Flow Research and Education, Iowa State University, 2519 Union Drive, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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29
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Barik D, Bejugam PR, Nayak C, Mohanty KT, Singha A, Declercq HA, Dash M. Polymer-Protein Hybrid Network Involving Mucin: A Mineralized Biomimetic Template for Bone Tissue Engineering. Macromol Biosci 2021; 21:e2000381. [PMID: 33871165 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Biomimetic matrices offer a great advantage to understand several biological processes including regeneration. The study involves the development of a hybrid biomimetic scaffold and the uniqueness lies in the use of mucin, as a constituent protein. Through this study, the role of the protein in bone regeneration is deciphered through its development as a 3D model. As a first step towards understanding the protein, the interactions of mucin and collagen are determined by in silico studies considering that collagen is the most abundant protein in the bone microenvironment. Both proteins are reported to be involved in bone biology though the exact role of mucin is a topic of investigation. The in silico studies of collagen-mucin suggest to have a proper affinity toward each other, forming a strong basis for 3D scaffold development. The developed 3D scaffold is a double network system comprising of mucin and collagen and vinyl end functionalized polyethylene glycol. In situ deposition of mineral crystals has been performed enzymatically. Biological evaluation of these mineral deposited scaffolds is done in terms of their bone regeneration potential and a comparison of the two systems with and without mineral deposition is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debyashreeta Barik
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Pruthvi Raj Bejugam
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India
| | - Chumki Nayak
- Department of Physics, Main Campus, Bose Institute, A. P. C Road, Kolkata, 700009, India
| | | | - Achintya Singha
- Department of Physics, Main Campus, Bose Institute, A. P. C Road, Kolkata, 700009, India
| | - Heidi A Declercq
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Tissue Engineering lab, KU Leuven, E. Sabbelaan 53, Kortrijk, 8500, Belgium
| | - Mamoni Dash
- Institute of Life Sciences, Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India
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30
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Song D, Iverson E, Kaler L, Bader S, Scull MA, Duncan GA. Modeling Airway Dysfunction in Asthma Using Synthetic Mucus Biomaterials. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:2723-2733. [PMID: 33871978 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As asthma worsens, occlusion of airways with mucus significantly contributes to airflow obstruction and reduced lung function. Recent evidence from clinical studies has shown mucus obtained from adults and children with asthma possesses altered mucin composition. However, how these changes alter the functional properties of the mucus gel is not yet fully understood. To study this, we have engineered a synthetic mucus biomaterial to closely mimic the properties of native mucus in health and disease. We demonstrate that this model possesses comparable biophysical and transport properties to native mucus ex vivo collected from human subjects and in vitro isolated from human airway epithelial (HAE) tissue cultures. We found by systematically varying mucin composition that mucus gel viscoelasticity is enhanced when predominantly composed of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), as is observed in asthma. As a result, asthma-like synthetic mucus gels are more slowly transported on the surface of HAE tissue cultures and at a similar rate to native mucus produced by HAE cultures stimulated with type 2 cytokine IL-13, known to contribute to airway inflammation and MUC5AC hypersecretion in asthma. We also discovered that the barrier function of asthma-like synthetic mucus toward influenza A virus was impaired as evidenced by the increased frequency of infection in MUC5AC-rich hydrogel-coated HAE cultures. Together, this work establishes a biomaterial-based approach to understand airway dysfunction in asthma and related muco-obstructive lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Ethan Iverson
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Logan Kaler
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Shahed Bader
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Margaret A Scull
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States.,Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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31
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Marczynski M, Jiang K, Blakeley M, Srivastava V, Vilaplana F, Crouzier T, Lieleg O. Structural Alterations of Mucins Are Associated with Losses in Functionality. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:1600-1613. [PMID: 33749252 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Commercial mucin glycoproteins are routinely used as a model to investigate the broad range of important functions mucins fulfill in our bodies, including lubrication, protection against hostile germs, and the accommodation of a healthy microbiome. Moreover, purified mucins are increasingly selected as building blocks for multifunctional materials, i.e., as components of hydrogels or coatings. By performing a detailed side-by-side comparison of commercially available and lab-purified variants of porcine gastric mucins, we decipher key molecular motifs that are crucial for mucin functionality. As two main structural features, we identify the hydrophobic termini and the hydrophilic glycosylation pattern of the mucin glycoprotein; moreover, we describe how alterations in those structural motifs affect the different properties of mucins-on both microscopic and macroscopic levels. This study provides a detailed understanding of how distinct functionalities of gastric mucins are established, and it highlights the need for high-quality mucins-for both basic research and the development of mucin-based medical products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Marczynski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Munich School of Bioengineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching, Germany.,Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Str. 8, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Kun Jiang
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,AIMES - Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew Blakeley
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vaibhav Srivastava
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francisco Vilaplana
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,AIMES - Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oliver Lieleg
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Munich School of Bioengineering, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching, Germany.,Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Ernst-Otto-Fischer Str. 8, 85748 Garching, Germany
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32
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Kwan CS, Cerullo AR, Braunschweig AB. Design and Synthesis of Mucin-Inspired Glycopolymers. Chempluschem 2020; 85:2704-2721. [PMID: 33346954 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202000637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mucins are bottlebrush biopolymers that are glycoproteins on the surfaces of cells and as hydrogels secreted inside and outside the body. Mucin function in biology includes cell-cell recognition, signaling, protection, adhesion, and lubrication. Because of their attractive and diverse properties, mucins have recently become the focus of synthetic efforts by researchers who hope to understand and emulate these biomaterials. This review is focused on the development of methodologies for preparing mucin-inspired synthetic oligomers and glycopolymers, including solid-phase synthesis, polymerization of glycosylated monomers, and post-polymerization grafting of glycans to polymer chains. How these synthetic mucins have been used in health applications is discussed. Natural mucins are formed from a conserved set of monomers that are combined into chains of different sequences and lengths to achieve materials with widely diverse properties. Adopting this design paradigm from natural mucins could lead to next-generation bioinspired synthetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chak-Shing Kwan
- The Advanced Science Research Center at the, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Antonio R Cerullo
- The Advanced Science Research Center at the, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,The PhD program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Adam B Braunschweig
- The Advanced Science Research Center at the, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Hunter College, 695 Park Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,The PhD program in Biochemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA.,The PhD program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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33
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Iverson E, Kaler L, Agostino EL, Song D, Duncan GA, Scull MA. Leveraging 3D Model Systems to Understand Viral Interactions with the Respiratory Mucosa. Viruses 2020; 12:E1425. [PMID: 33322395 PMCID: PMC7763686 DOI: 10.3390/v12121425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory viruses remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the human population, underscoring the importance of ongoing basic research into virus-host interactions. However, many critical aspects of infection are difficult, if not impossible, to probe using standard cell lines, 2D culture formats, or even animal models. In vitro systems such as airway epithelial cultures at air-liquid interface, organoids, or 'on-chip' technologies allow interrogation in human cells and recapitulate emergent properties of the airway epithelium-the primary target for respiratory virus infection. While some of these models have been used for over thirty years, ongoing advancements in both culture techniques and analytical tools continue to provide new opportunities to investigate airway epithelial biology and viral infection phenotypes in both normal and diseased host backgrounds. Here we review these models and their application to studying respiratory viruses. Furthermore, given the ability of these systems to recapitulate the extracellular microenvironment, we evaluate their potential to serve as a platform for studies specifically addressing viral interactions at the mucosal surface and detail techniques that can be employed to expand our understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Iverson
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (E.I.); (E.L.A.)
| | - Logan Kaler
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (L.K.); (G.A.D.)
| | - Eva L. Agostino
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (E.I.); (E.L.A.)
| | - Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;
| | - Gregg A. Duncan
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (L.K.); (G.A.D.)
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;
| | - Margaret A. Scull
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (E.I.); (E.L.A.)
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Joyner K, Yang S, Duncan GA. Microrheology for biomaterial design. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:041508. [PMID: 33415310 PMCID: PMC7775114 DOI: 10.1063/5.0013707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microrheology analyzes the microscopic behavior of complex materials by measuring the diffusion and transport of embedded particle probes. This experimental method can provide valuable insight into the design of biomaterials with the ability to connect material properties and biological responses to polymer-scale dynamics and interactions. In this review, we discuss how microrheology can be harnessed as a characterization method complementary to standard techniques in biomaterial design. We begin by introducing the core principles and instruments used to perform microrheology. We then review previous studies that incorporate microrheology in their design process and highlight biomedical applications that have been supported by this approach. Overall, this review provides rationale and practical guidance for the utilization of microrheological analysis to engineer novel biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Joyner
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Sydney Yang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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Song D, Cahn D, Duncan GA. Mucin Biopolymers and Their Barrier Function at Airway Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:12773-12783. [PMID: 33094612 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In the lung, the airway epithelium produces secreted and tethered mucin biopolymers to form a mucus hydrogel layer and a surface-attached polymer brush layer. These layers work in concert to facilitate the cilia-mediated transport of mucus for the capture and clearance of inhaled materials to prevent lung damage. The mechanisms by which mucin biopolymers protect the lung from injury have been an intense area of study in airway biology for the past several decades. In this feature article, we will discuss how airway mucins achieve these protective barrier functions. We will present the key findings, rooted in polymer and surface science, that have aided in understanding mucin barrier function. In addition, we will describe how this work may influence the design of nanoparticles to overcome the mucus barrier to effective drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Song
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Devorah Cahn
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Gregg A Duncan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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Shirazi J, Donzanti MJ, Nelson KM, Zurakowski R, Fromen CA, Gleghorn JP. Significant Unresolved Questions and Opportunities for Bioengineering in Understanding and Treating COVID-19 Disease Progression. Cell Mol Bioeng 2020; 13:259-284. [PMID: 32837585 PMCID: PMC7384395 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00637-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is a disease that manifests itself in a multitude of ways across a wide range of tissues. Many factors are involved, and though impressive strides have been made in studying this novel disease in a very short time, there is still a great deal that is unknown about how the virus functions. Clinical data has been crucial for providing information on COVID-19 progression and determining risk factors. However, the mechanisms leading to the multi-tissue pathology are yet to be fully established. Although insights from SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV have been valuable, it is clear that SARS-CoV-2 is different and merits its own extensive studies. In this review, we highlight unresolved questions surrounding this virus including the temporal immune dynamics, infection of non-pulmonary tissue, early life exposure, and the role of circadian rhythms. Risk factors such as sex and exposure to pollutants are also explored followed by a discussion of ways in which bioengineering approaches can be employed to help understand COVID-19. The use of sophisticated in vitro models can be employed to interrogate intercellular interactions and also to tease apart effects of the virus itself from the resulting immune response. Additionally, spatiotemporal information can be gleaned from these models to learn more about the dynamics of the virus and COVID-19 progression. Application of advanced tissue and organ system models into COVID-19 research can result in more nuanced insight into the mechanisms underlying this condition and elucidate strategies to combat its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Shirazi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Michael J. Donzanti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Katherine M. Nelson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Ryan Zurakowski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Catherine A. Fromen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Jason P. Gleghorn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
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Histochemical detection of free thiols in glandular cells and tissues of different marine Polychaeta. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 154:315-325. [PMID: 32507976 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01889-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Either through differentiated glands or specialised individual cells, the coating epithelia of soft-bodied marine invertebrates are responsible for the secretion of a broad span of peptidic substances, from protective mucins to biocides. These secretions are characterised by the presence of cysteine-rich proteins and peptides, rendering a distinct histochemical signature of secretory epithelia. Through a histochemical procedure for fluorescence microscopy in paraffin sections, we performed a comparative assessment of the distribution of thiol-rich compounds in multiple epithelia of different species of intertidal Polychaeta, which revealed distinctive patterns of distribution that closely relate to ecology, morphoanatomy and physiology. The presence of free thiols was notorious in mucocytes and enzyme-plus toxin-secreting cells. Consequently, strong signals were recorded in the mucocytes of the parapodia of Nereis splendida, the epidermis and pharynx epithelium of Mysta picta and the venom glands of Glycera alba. The findings show an investment in mucus secretion in foragers such as Nereis and Mysta, especially the latter, which is not a native burrower, as a protective response and as lubricant for locomotion. Additionally, nereidids are believed to secret integumentary toxins for defence. On the other hand, Glycera is an ambush predatorial burrower whose behaviour entirely revolves around the delivery of venom making use of its four jaws. The results showed that the detection of thiol-rich compounds in histological sections can be a tool to identify potential toxin secretion and delivery structures, with important consequences for the bioprospecting of novel bioreactives from marine invertebrates for the purpose of drug discovery.
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