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Fulton DA, Dura G, Peters DT. The polymer and materials science of the bacterial fimbriae Caf1. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:7229-7246. [PMID: 37791425 PMCID: PMC10628683 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01075a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Fimbriae are long filamentous polymeric protein structures located upon the surface of bacteria. Often implicated in pathogenicity, the biosynthesis and function of fimbriae has been a productive topic of study for many decades. Evolutionary pressures have ensured that fimbriae possess unique structural and mechanical properties which are advantageous to bacteria. These properties are also difficult to engineer with well-known synthetic and natural fibres, and this has raised an intriguing question: can we exploit the unique properties of bacterial fimbriae in useful ways? Initial work has set out to explore this question by using Capsular antigen fragment 1 (Caf1), a fimbriae expressed naturally by Yersina pestis. These fibres have evolved to 'shield' the bacterium from the immune system of an infected host, and thus are rather bioinert in nature. Caf1 is, however, very amenable to structural mutagenesis which allows the incorporation of useful bioactive functions and the modulation of the fibre's mechanical properties. Its high-yielding recombinant synthesis also ensures plentiful quantities of polymer are available to drive development. These advantageous features make Caf1 an archetype for the development of new polymers and materials based upon bacterial fimbriae. Here, we cover recent advances in this new field, and look to future possibilities of this promising biopolymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Fulton
- Chemistry-School of Natural Science and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - Gema Dura
- Chemistry-School of Natural Science and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica Orgánica y Bioquímica Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas-IRICAAvda, C. J. Cela, 10, Ciudad Real 13071, Spain
| | - Daniel T Peters
- Biosciences Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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Bi W, Cai S, Lei T, Wang L. Implementation of blood-brain barrier on microfluidic chip: recent advance and future prospects. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101921. [PMID: 37004842 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The complex structure of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) hinders its modeling and the treatment of brain diseases. The microfluidic technology promotes the development of BBB-on-a-chip platforms, which can be used to reproduce the complex brain microenvironment and physiological reactions. Compared with traditional transwell technology, microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip shows great technical advantages in terms of flexible control of fluid shear stress in the chip and fabrication efficiency of the chip system, which can be enhanced by the development of lithography and three-dimensional (3D) printing. It is convenient to accurately monitor the dynamic changes of biochemical parameters of individual cells in the model by integrating an automatic super-resolution imaging sensing platform. In addition, biomaterials, especially hydrogels and conductive polymers, solve the limitations of microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip by compounding onto microfluidic chip to provide a 3D space and special performance on the microfluidic chip. The microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip promotes the development of basic research, including cell migration, mechanism exploration of neurodegenerative diseases, drug barrier permeability, SARS-CoV-2 pathology. This study summarizes the recent advances, challenges and future prospects of microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip, which can help to promote the development of personalized medicine and drug discovery.
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Spatial-Controlled Coating of Pro-Angiogenic Proteins on 3D Porous Hydrogels Guides Endothelial Cell Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314604. [PMID: 36498931 PMCID: PMC9737628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In tissue engineering, the composition and the structural arrangement of molecular components within the extracellular matrix (ECM) determine the physical and biochemical features of a scaffold, which consequently modulate cell behavior and function. The microenvironment of the ECM plays a fundamental role in regulating angiogenesis. Numerous strategies in tissue engineering have attempted to control the spatial cues mimicking in vivo angiogenesis by using simplified systems. The aim of this study was to develop 3D porous crosslinked hydrogels with different spatial presentation of pro-angiogenic molecules to guide endothelial cell (EC) behavior. Hydrogels with pores and preformed microchannels were made with pharmaceutical-grade pullulan and dextran and functionalized with novel pro-angiogenic protein polymers (Caf1-YIGSR and Caf1-VEGF). Hydrogel functionalization was achieved by electrostatic interactions via incorporation of diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran. Spatial-controlled coating of hydrogels was realized through a combination of freeze-drying and physical absorption with Caf1 molecules. Cells in functionalized scaffolds survived, adhered, and proliferated over seven days. When incorporated alone, Caf1-YIGSR mainly induced cell adhesion and proliferation, whereas Caf1-VEGF promoted cell migration and sprouting. Most importantly, directed cell migration required the presence of both proteins in the microchannel and in the pores, highlighting the need for an adhesive substrate provided by Caf1-YIGSR for Caf1-VEGF to be effective. This study demonstrates the ability to guide EC behavior through spatial control of pro-angiogenic cues for the study of pro-angiogenic signals in 3D and to develop pro-angiogenic implantable materials.
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Dura G, Crespo-Cuadrado M, Waller H, Peters DT, Ferreira-Duarte A, Lakey JH, Fulton DA. Exploiting Meltable Protein Hydrogels to Encapsulate and Culture Cells in 3D. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2200134. [PMID: 35780498 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing realization that 3D cell culture better mimics complex in vivo environments than 2D, lessening aberrant cellular behaviours and ultimately improving the outcomes of experiments. Chemically cross-linked hydrogels which imitate natural extracellular matrix (ECM) are proven cell culture platforms, but the encapsulation of cells within these hydrogel networks requires bioorthogonal cross-linking chemistries which can be cytotoxic, synthetically demanding and costly. Capsular antigen fragment 1 (Caf1) is a bacterial, polymeric, fimbrial protein which can be genetically engineered to imitate ECM. Furthermore, it can, reversibly, thermally interconvert between its polymeric and monomeric forms even when chemically cross-linked within a hydrogel network. We demonstrate that this meltable feature of Caf1 hydrogels can be utilized to encapsulate neonatal human dermal fibroblasts at a range of cell densities (2 × 105 - 2 × 106 cells/mL of hydrogel) avoiding issues with chemical cytotoxicity. These hydrogels supported cell 3D culture for up to 21 days, successfully inducing cellular functions such as proliferation and migration. This work is significant because it further highlights the potential of simple, robust, Caf1-based hydrogels as a cell culture platform. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Dura
- Chemical Nanoscience Laboratory, Chemistry-School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.,Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Orgánica y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias yTecnologías Químicas-IRICA, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. C. J. Cela, 10, Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain
| | - Maria Crespo-Cuadrado
- School of Engineering, Stephenson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
| | - Helen Waller
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Daniel T Peters
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Ana Ferreira-Duarte
- School of Engineering, Stephenson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU
| | - Jeremy H Lakey
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - David A Fulton
- Chemical Nanoscience Laboratory, Chemistry-School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
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