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Pien N, Di Francesco D, Copes F, Bartolf-Kopp M, Chausse V, Meeremans M, Pegueroles M, Jüngst T, De Schauwer C, Boccafoschi F, Dubruel P, Van Vlierberghe S, Mantovani D. Polymeric reinforcements for cellularized collagen-based vascular wall models: influence of the scaffold architecture on the mechanical and biological properties. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1285565. [PMID: 38053846 PMCID: PMC10694796 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1285565] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A previously developed cellularized collagen-based vascular wall model showed promising results in mimicking the biological properties of a native vessel but lacked appropriate mechanical properties. In this work, we aim to improve this collagen-based model by reinforcing it using a tubular polymeric (reinforcement) scaffold. The polymeric reinforcements were fabricated exploiting commercial poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), a polymer already used to fabricate other FDA-approved and commercially available devices serving medical applications, through 1) solution electrospinning (SES), 2) 3D printing (3DP) and 3) melt electrowriting (MEW). The non-reinforced cellularized collagen-based model was used as a reference (COL). The effect of the scaffold's architecture on the resulting mechanical and biological properties of the reinforced collagen-based model were evaluated. SEM imaging showed the differences in scaffolds' architecture (fiber alignment, fiber diameter and pore size) at both the micro- and the macrolevel. The polymeric scaffold led to significantly improved mechanical properties for the reinforced collagen-based model (initial elastic moduli of 382.05 ± 132.01 kPa, 100.59 ± 31.15 kPa and 245.78 ± 33.54 kPa, respectively for SES, 3DP and MEW at day 7 of maturation) compared to the non-reinforced collagen-based model (16.63 ± 5.69 kPa). Moreover, on day 7, the developed collagen gels showed stresses (for strains between 20% and 55%) in the range of [5-15] kPa for COL, [80-350] kPa for SES, [20-70] kPa for 3DP and [100-190] kPa for MEW. In addition to the effect on the resulting mechanical properties, the polymeric tubes' architecture influenced cell behavior, in terms of proliferation and attachment, along with collagen gel compaction and extracellular matrix protein expression. The MEW reinforcement resulted in a collagen gel compaction similar to the COL reference, whereas 3DP and SES led to thinner and longer collagen gels. Overall, it can be concluded that 1) the selected processing technique influences the scaffolds' architecture, which in turn influences the resulting mechanical and biological properties, and 2) the incorporation of a polymeric reinforcement leads to mechanical properties closely matching those of native arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Pien
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Canada Research Chair Tier I for the Innovation in Surgery, Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dalila Di Francesco
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Canada Research Chair Tier I for the Innovation in Surgery, Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Copes
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Canada Research Chair Tier I for the Innovation in Surgery, Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Michael Bartolf-Kopp
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Biofabrication and Functional Materials, University of Würzburg and KeyLab Polymers for Medicine of the Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Victor Chausse
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marguerite Meeremans
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Marta Pegueroles
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomasz Jüngst
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Biofabrication and Functional Materials, University of Würzburg and KeyLab Polymers for Medicine of the Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Catharina De Schauwer
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Francesca Boccafoschi
- Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy
| | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Diego Mantovani
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Canada Research Chair Tier I for the Innovation in Surgery, Department of Min-Met-Materials Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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González-Pérez F, Alonso M, González de Torre I, Santos M, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Protease-Sensitive, VEGF-Mimetic Peptide, and IKVAV Laminin-Derived Peptide Sequences within Elastin-Like Recombinamer Scaffolds Provide Spatiotemporally Synchronized Guidance of Angiogenesis and Neurogenesis. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2201646. [PMID: 36099430 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal control of vascularization and innervation is a desired hallmark in advanced tissue regeneration. For this purpose, we design a 3D model scaffold, based on elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) hydrogels. This contains two interior and well-defined areas, small cylinders, with differentiated bioactivities with respect to the bulk. Both are constructed on a protease sensitive ELR with a fast-proteolyzed domain, but one bears a VEGF-mimetic peptide (QK) and the other a laminin-derived pentapeptide (IKVAV), to promote angiogenesis and neurogenesis, respectively. The outer bulk is based on a slow proteolytic sequence and RGD cell adhesion domains. In vitro studies show the effect of QK and IKVAV peptides on the promotion of endothelial cell and axon spreading, respectively. The subcutaneous implantation of the final 3D scaffold demonstrates the ability to spatiotemporally control angiogenesis and neurogenesis in vivo. Specifically, the inner small cylinder containing the QK peptide promotes fast endothelialization, whereas the one with IKVAV peptide promotes fast neurogenesis. Both, vascularization and innervation take place in advance of the bulk scaffold infiltration. This scaffold shows that it is possible to induce vascularization and innervation in predetermined areas of the scaffold well ahead to the bulk infiltration. That significantly increases the efficiency of the regenerative activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González-Pérez
- G.I.R. BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 19, Valladolid, 47011, Spain
| | - Matilde Alonso
- G.I.R. BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 19, Valladolid, 47011, Spain
| | - Israel González de Torre
- G.I.R. BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 19, Valladolid, 47011, Spain
| | - Mercedes Santos
- G.I.R. BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 19, Valladolid, 47011, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- G.I.R. BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Paseo Belén 19, Valladolid, 47011, Spain
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González-Pérez F, Acosta S, Rütten S, Emonts C, Kopp A, Henke HW, Bruners P, Gries T, Rodríguez-Cabello JC, Jockenhoevel S, Fernández-Colino A. Biohybrid elastin-like venous valve with potential for in situ tissue engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:988533. [PMID: 36213079 PMCID: PMC9532864 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.988533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a leading vascular disease whose clinical manifestations include varicose veins, edemas, venous ulcers, and venous hypertension, among others. Therapies targeting this medical issue are scarce, and so far, no single venous valve prosthesis is clinically available. Herein, we have designed a bi-leaflet transcatheter venous valve that consists of (i) elastin-like recombinamers, (ii) a textile mesh reinforcement, and (iii) a bioabsorbable magnesium stent structure. Mechanical characterization of the resulting biohybrid elastin-like venous valves (EVV) showed an anisotropic behavior equivalent to the native bovine saphenous vein valves and mechanical strength suitable for vascular implantation. The EVV also featured minimal hemolysis and platelet adhesion, besides actively supporting endothelialization in vitro, thus setting the basis for its application as an in situ tissue engineering implant. In addition, the hydrodynamic testing in a pulsatile bioreactor demonstrated excellent hemodynamic valve performance, with minimal regurgitation (<10%) and pressure drop (<5 mmHg). No stagnation points were detected and an in vitro simulated transcatheter delivery showed the ability of the venous valve to withstand the implantation procedure. These results present a promising concept of a biohybrid transcatheter venous valve as an off-the-shelf implant, with great potential to provide clinical solutions for CVI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando González-Pérez
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sergio Acosta
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME–Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephan Rütten
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Caroline Emonts
- Institut für Textiltechnik Aachen (ITA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Philipp Bruners
- Klinik für Diagnostische and Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Gries
- Institut für Textiltechnik Aachen (ITA), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - J. Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- Bioforge Lab (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology), CIBER-BBN, Edificio LUCIA, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Stefan Jockenhoevel
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME–Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- AMIBM-Aachen-Maastricht-Institute for Biobased Materials, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Stefan Jockenhoevel, ; Alicia Fernández-Colino,
| | - Alicia Fernández-Colino
- Department of Biohybrid and Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME–Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stefan Jockenhoevel, ; Alicia Fernández-Colino,
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