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Wang S, Neufurth M, Schepler H, Muñoz-Espí R, Ushijima H, Schröder HC, Wang X, Müller WEG. Liquid-liquid phase transition as a basis for novel materials for skin repair and regeneration. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:9622-9638. [PMID: 39226118 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb01080a] [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: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Inorganic materials are of increasing interest not only for bone repair but also for other applications in regenerative medicine. In this study, the combined effects of energy-providing, regeneratively active inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) and also morphogenetically active pearl powder on wound healing were investigated. Aragonite, the mineralic constituent of pearl nacre and thermodynamically unstable form of crystalline calcium carbonate, was found to be converted into a soluble state in the presence of a Ca2+-containing wound exudate, particularly upon addition of sodium polyP (Na-polyP), driven by the transfer of Ca2+ ions from aragonite to polyP, leading to liquid-liquid phase separation to form an aqueous Ca-polyP coacervate. This process is further enhanced in the presence of Ca-polyP nanoparticles (Ca-polyP-NP). Kinetic studies revealed that the coacervation of polyP and nacre aragonite in wound exudate is a very rapid process that results in the formation of a stronger gel with a porous structure compared to polyP alone. Coacervate formation, enabled by phase transition of crystalline aragonite in the presence of Na-polyP/Ca-polyP-NP and wound exudate, could also be demonstrated in a hydroxyethyl cellulose-based hydrogel used for wound treatment. Furthermore, it is shown that Na-polyP/Ca-polyP-NP together with nacre aragonite strongly enhances the proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells and promotes microtube formation in the in vitro angiogenesis assay with HUVEC endothelial cells. The latter effect was confirmed by gene expression studies, applying real-time polymerase chain reaction, using the biomarker genes VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α). Division of Escherichia coli is suppressed when suspended in a matrix containing Na-polyP/Ca-polyP-NP and aragonite. The potential medical relevance of these findings is supported by an animal study on genetically engineered diabetic mice (db/db), which demonstrated a marked increase in granulation tissue and microvessel formation in regenerating experimental wounds treated with Ca-polyP-NP compared to controls. Co-administration of aragonite significantly accelerated the wound healing-promoting effect of polyP in db/db mice. Based on these results, we propose that the ability of polyP to form a mixed coacervate with aragonite, in addition to its energy (ATP)-generating function, can decisively contribute to the regenerative activity of this polymer in wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunfeng Wang
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Meik Neufurth
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Hadrian Schepler
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rafael Muñoz-Espí
- Institute of Materials Science (ICMUV), Universitat de València, C/Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna-València, Spain
| | - Hiroshi Ushijima
- Nihon University, Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University-School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Heinz C Schröder
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Werner E G Müller
- ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at the Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Edeline PE, Leclercq M, Le Luyer J, Droit A, Chabrier S. 3D microscopic reconstruction of pearls using combined optical microscopy and photogrammetry. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14180. [PMID: 38898152 PMCID: PMC11186833 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64680-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we introduce an affordable and accessible method that combines optical microscopy and photogrammetry to reconstruct 3D models of Tahitian pearls. We present a novel device designed for acquiring microscopic images around a sphere using translational displacement stages and outline our method for reconstructing these images. We successfully created 3D models of two individual pearl rings, each representing 6.3% of the pearl's surface. Additionally, we generated a combined model representing 10.3% of the pearl's surface. This showcases the potential for reconstructing entire pearls with appropriate instrumentation. We emphasize that our approach extends beyond pearls and spherical objects and can be adapted for various object types using appropriate acquisition devices. We provide a proof of concept demonstrating the feasibility of 3D photogrammetry using optical microscopy. Consequently, our method offers a practical and cost-effective alternative for generating 3D models at a microscopic scale, particularly when detailed internal structure information is unnecessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul-Emmanuel Edeline
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Géopole du Pacifique Sud, Université de Polynésie Française, 98704, Faa'a, Tahiti, Polynésie Française, France
| | - Mickaël Leclercq
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jérémy Le Luyer
- Ifremer, IRD, Institut Louis-Malardé, Université de Polynésie Française, EIO, 98719, Taravao, Tahiti, Polynésie Française, France
- Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, Plouzané, Université de Brest, 29280, Brest, France
| | - Arnaud Droit
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Sébastien Chabrier
- Géopole du Pacifique Sud, Université de Polynésie Française, 98704, Faa'a, Tahiti, Polynésie Française, France.
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Otter LM, Eder K, Kilburn MR, Yang L, O'Reilly P, Nowak DB, Cairney JM, Jacob DE. Growth dynamics and amorphous-to-crystalline phase transformation in natural nacre. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2254. [PMID: 37080977 PMCID: PMC10119311 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Biominerals, such as nacreous bivalve shells, are important archives of environmental information. Most marine calcifiers form their shells from amorphous calcium carbonate, hypothesised to occur via particle attachment and stepwise crystallisation of metastable precursor phases. However, the mechanism of this transformation, including the incorporation of trace elements used for environmental reconstructions, are poorly constrained. Here, using shells of the Mediterranean mussel, we explore the formation of nacre from the meso- to the atomic scale. We use a combination of strontium pulse-chase labelling experiments in aquaculture and correlated micro- to sub-nanoscale analysis to show that nacre grows in a dynamic two-step process with extensional and space-filling growth components. Furthermore, we show that nacre crystallizes via localised dissolution and reprecipitation within nanogranules. Our findings elucidate how stepwise crystallization pathways affect trace element incorporation in natural biominerals, while preserving their intricate hierarchical ultrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Otter
- Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - K Eder
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - M R Kilburn
- Centre for Microscopy Characterisation and Analysis, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - L Yang
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - P O'Reilly
- Molecular Vista Inc., 6840 Via Del Oro, Suite 110, San Jose, CA, 95119, USA
| | - D B Nowak
- Molecular Vista Inc., 6840 Via Del Oro, Suite 110, San Jose, CA, 95119, USA
| | - J M Cairney
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - D E Jacob
- Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Eyal Z, Krounbi L, Joseph OB, Avrahami EM, Pinkas I, Peled-Zehavi H, Gal A. The variability in the structural and functional properties of coccolith base plates. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:336-344. [PMID: 35738389 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Biomineralization processes exert varying levels of control over crystallization, ranging from poorly ordered polycrystalline arrays to intricately shaped single crystals. Coccoliths, calcified scales formed by unicellular algae, are a model for a highly controlled crystallization process. The coccolith crystals nucleate next to an organic oval structure that was termed the base plate, leading to the assumption that the base plate is responsible for the oriented nucleation of the crystals via stereochemical interactions. In recent years, several works focusing on a well-characterized model species demonstrated a fundamental role for indirect interactions that facilitate coccolith crystallization. Here, we develop the tools to extract the base plates from five different species, giving the opportunity to systematically explore the relations between base plate and coccolith properties. We used multiple imaging techniques to evaluate the structural and chemical features of the base plates under native hydrated conditions. The results show a wide range of properties, overlaid on a common rudimentary scaffold that lacks any detectable structural or chemical motifs that can explain direct nucleation control. This work emphasizes that it is the combination between the base plate and the chemical environment inside the cell that cooperatively facilitate the exquisite control over the crystallization process. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Biological organic scaffolds can serve as functional surfaces that guide the formation of inorganic materials. However, in many cases the specific interactions that facilitate such tight regulation are complex and not fully understood. In this work, we elucidate the architecture of such model biological template, an organic scale that directs the assembly of exquisite crystalline arrays of marine microalgae. By using cryo electron microscopy, we reveal the native state organization of these scales from several species. The observed similarities and differences allow us to propose that the chemical microenvironment, rather than stereochemical matching, is the pivotal regulator of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Eyal
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Leilah Krounbi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Oz Ben Joseph
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Emanuel M Avrahami
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Iddo Pinkas
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001 Israel
| | - Hadas Peled-Zehavi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Assaf Gal
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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Xu Z, Wu M, Gao W, Bai H. A sustainable single-component "Silk nacre". SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0946. [PMID: 35559674 PMCID: PMC9106289 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic composite materials constructed by hybridizing multiple components are typically unsustainable due to inadequate recyclability and incomplete degradation. In contrast, biological materials like silk and bamboo assemble pure polymeric components into sophisticated multiscale architectures, achieving both excellent performance and full degradability. Learning from these natural examples of bio-based "single-component" composites will stimulate the development of sustainable materials. Here, we report a single-component "Silk nacre," where nacre's typical "brick-and-mortar" structure has been replicated with silk fibroin only and by a facile procedure combining bidirectional freezing, water vapor annealing, and densification. The biomimetic design endows the Silk nacre with mechanical properties superior to those of homogeneous silk material, as well as to many frequently used polymers. In addition, the Silk nacre shows controllable plasticity and complete biodegradability, representing an alternative substitute to conventional composite materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongpu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Mingrui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Weiwei Gao
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Hao Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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