Tissue Reorganization in Response to Mechanical Load Increases Functionality

Radial matrix constraint influences tissue contraction and promotes maturation of bi-layered skin equivalents

Human skin equivalents (HSEs) serve as important tools for mechanistic studies with human skin cells, drug discovery, pre-clinical applications in the field of tissue engineering and for skin transplantation on skin defects. Besides the cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components used for HSEs, physical constraints applied on the scaffold during HSEs maturation influence tissue organization, functionality, and homogeneity. In this study, we introduce a 3D-printed culture insert that exposes bi-layered HSEs to a static radial constraint through matrix adhesion. We examine the effect of various diameters of the ring-shaped culture insert on the HSE's characteristics and compare them to state-of-the-art unconstrained and planar constrained HSEs. We show that radial matrix constraint of HSEs regulates tissue contraction, promotes fibroblast and matrix organization that is similar to human skin in vivo and improves keratinocyte differentiation, epidermal stratification, and basement membrane formation depending on the culture insert diameter. Together, these data demonstrate that the degree of HSE's contraction is an important design consideration in skin tissue engineering. Therefore, this study can help to mimic various in vivo skin conditions and to increase the control of relevant tissue properties.

Computational simulation of applying mechanical vibration to mesenchymal stem cell for mechanical modulation toward bone tissue engineering

Evaluation of cell response to mechanical stimuli at in vitro conditions is known as one of the important issues for modulating cell behavior. Mechanical stimuli, including mechanical vibration and oscillatory fluid flow, act as important biophysical signals for the mechanical modulation of stem cells. In the present study, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) consists of cytoplasm, nucleus, actin, and microtubule. Also, integrin and primary cilium were considered as mechanoreceptors. In this study, the combined effect of vibration and oscillatory fluid flow on the cell and its components were investigated using numerical modeling. The results of the FEM and FSI model showed that the cell response (stress and strain values) at the frequency of 30 H z mechanical vibration has the highest value. The achieved results on shear stress caused by the fluid flow on the cell showed that the cell experiences shear stress in the range of 0 . 1 - 10 Pa . Mechanoreceptors that bind separately to the cell surface, can be highly stimulated by hydrodynamic pressure and, therefore, can play a role in the mechanical modulation of MSCs at in vitro conditions. The results of this research can be effective in future studies to optimize the conditions of mechanical stimuli applied to the cell culture medium and to determine the mechanisms involved in mechanotransduction.

Collagen-Based Biomimetic Systems to Study the Biophysical Tumour Microenvironment

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a pericellular network of proteins and other molecules that provides mechanical support to organs and tissues. ECM biophysical properties such as topography, elasticity and porosity strongly influence cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. The cell's perception of the biophysical microenvironment (mechanosensing) leads to altered gene expression or contractility status (mechanotransduction). Mechanosensing and mechanotransduction have profound implications in both tissue homeostasis and cancer. Many solid tumours are surrounded by a dense and aberrant ECM that disturbs normal cell functions and makes certain areas of the tumour inaccessible to therapeutic drugs. Understanding the cell-ECM interplay may therefore lead to novel and more effective therapies. Controllable and reproducible cell culturing systems mimicking the ECM enable detailed investigation of mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways. Here, we discuss ECM biomimetic systems. Mainly focusing on collagen, we compare and contrast structural and molecular complexity as well as biophysical properties of simple 2D substrates, 3D fibrillar collagen gels, cell-derived matrices and complex decellularized organs. Finally, we emphasize how the integration of advanced methodologies and computational methods with collagen-based biomimetics will improve the design of novel therapies aimed at targeting the biophysical and mechanical features of the tumour ECM to increase therapy efficacy.

Reconstruction of Vascular and Urologic Tubular Grafts by Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering is one of the most promising scientific breakthroughs of the late 20th century. Its objective is to produce in vitro tissues or organs to repair and replace damaged ones using various techniques, biomaterials, and cells. Tissue engineering emerged to substitute the use of native autologous tissues, whose quantities are sometimes insufficient to correct the most severe pathologies. Indeed, the patient’s health status, regulations, or fibrotic scars at the site of the initial biopsy limit their availability, especially to treat recurrence. This new technology relies on the use of biomaterials to create scaffolds on which the patient’s cells can be seeded. This review focuses on the reconstruction, by tissue engineering, of two types of tissue with tubular structures: vascular and urological grafts. The emphasis is on self-assembly methods which allow the production of tissue/organ substitute without the use of exogenous material, with the patient’s cells producing their own scaffold. These continuously improved techniques, which allow rapid graft integration without immune rejection in the treatment of severely burned patients, give hope that similar results will be observed in the vascular and urological fields.

Mechanical homeostasis in tissue equivalents: a review

There is substantial evidence that growth and remodeling of load bearing soft biological tissues is to a large extent controlled by mechanical factors. Mechanical homeostasis, which describes the natural tendency of such tissues to establish, maintain, or restore a preferred mechanical state, is thought to be one mechanism by which such control is achieved across multiple scales. Yet, many questions remain regarding what promotes or prevents homeostasis. Tissue equivalents, such as collagen gels seeded with living cells, have become an important tool to address these open questions under well-defined, though limited, conditions. This article briefly reviews the current state of research in this area. It summarizes, categorizes, and compares experimental observations from the literature that focus on the development of tension in tissue equivalents. It focuses primarily on uniaxial and biaxial experimental studies, which are well-suited for quantifying interactions between mechanics and biology. The article concludes with a brief discussion of key questions for future research in this field.

The useful agent to have an ideal biological scaffold

Tissue engineering which is applied in regenerative medicine has three basic components: cells, scaffolds and growth factors. This multidisciplinary field can regulate cell behaviors in different conditions using scaffolds and growth factors. Scaffolds perform this regulation with their structural, mechanical, functional and bioinductive properties and growth factors by attaching to and activating their receptors in cells. There are various types of biological extracellular matrix (ECM) and polymeric scaffolds in tissue engineering. Recently, many researchers have turned to using biological ECM rather than polymeric scaffolds because of its safety and growth factors. Therefore, selection the right scaffold with the best properties tailored to clinical use is an ideal way to regulate cell behaviors in order to repair or improve damaged tissue functions in regenerative medicine. In this review we first divided properties of biological scaffold into intrinsic and extrinsic elements and then explain the components of each element. Finally, the types of scaffold storage methods and their advantages and disadvantages are examined.

In Vivo and In Vitro Mechanical Loading of Mouse Achilles Tendons and Tenocytes-A Pilot Study

Mechanical force is a key factor for the maintenance, adaptation, and function of tendons. Investigating the impact of mechanical loading in tenocytes and tendons might provide important information on in vivo tendon mechanobiology. Therefore, the study aimed at understanding if an in vitro loading set up of tenocytes leads to similar regulations of cell shape and gene expression, as loading of the Achilles tendon in an in vivo mouse model. In vivo: The left tibiae of mice (n = 12) were subject to axial cyclic compressive loading for 3 weeks, and the Achilles tendons were harvested. The right tibiae served as the internal non-loaded control. In vitro: tenocytes were isolated from mice Achilles tendons and were loaded for 4 h or 5 days (n = 6 per group) based on the in vivo protocol. Histology showed significant differences in the cell shape between in vivo and in vitro loading. On the molecular level, quantitative real-time PCR revealed significant differences in the gene expression of collagen type I and III and of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Tendon-associated markers showed a similar expression profile. This study showed that the gene expression of tendon markers was similar, whereas significant changes in the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) related genes were detected between in vivo and in vitro loading. This first pilot study is important for understanding to which extent in vitro stimulation set-ups of tenocytes can mimic in vivo characteristics.

Structural and Biomechanical Characterization of a Scaffold-Free Skin Equivalent Model via Biophysical Methods

AIMS

Among in vitro skin models, the scaffold-free skin equivalent (SFSE), without exogenous material, is interesting for pharmacotoxicological studies. Our aim was to adapt in vivo biophysical methods to study the structure, thickness, and extracellular matrix of our in vitro model without any chemical fixation needed as for histology.

METHODS

We evaluated 3 batches of SFSE and characterized them by histology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunofluorescence. In parallel, we investigated 3 biophysical methods classically used for in vivo evaluation, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser scanning microscopy (LSM) imaging devices as well as the cutometer suction to study the biomechanical properties.

RESULTS

OCT allowed the evaluation of SFSE total thickness and its different compartments. LSM has a greater resolution enabling an evaluation at the cell scale and the orientation of collagen fibers. The viscoelasticity measurement by cutometry was possible on our thin skin model and might be linked with mature collagen bundles visible in TEM and LSM and with elastic fibers seen in immunofluorescence.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrated the simplicity and sensitivity of these different in vivo biophysical devices on our thin skin model. These noninvasive tools allow to study the morphology and the biomechanics of in vitro models.

A computational model to predict cell traction-mediated prestretch in the mitral valve

Prestretch is observed in many soft biological tissues, directly influencing the mechanical behavior of the tissue in question. The development of this prestretch occurs through complex growth and remodeling phenomena, which yet remain to be elucidated. In the present study it was investigated whether local cell-mediated traction forces can explain the development of global anisotropic tissue prestretch in the mitral valve. Towards this end, a model predicting actin stress fiber-generated traction forces was implemented in a finite element framework of the mitral valve. The overall predicted magnitude of prestretch induced valvular contraction after release of in vivo boundary constraints was in good agreement with data reported on valvular retraction after excision from the heart. Next, by using a systematic variation of model parameters and structural properties, a more anisotropic prestretch development in the valve could be obtained, which was also similar to physiological values. In conclusion, this study shows that cell-generated traction forces could explain prestretch magnitude and anisotropy in the mitral valve.

Increased Cell Traction-Induced Prestress in Dynamically Cultured Microtissues

Prestress is a phenomenon present in many cardiovascular tissues and has profound implications on their in vivo functionality. For instance, the in vivo mechanical properties are altered by the presence of prestress, and prestress also influences tissue growth and remodeling processes. The development of tissue prestress typically originates from complex growth and remodeling phenomena which yet remain to be elucidated. One particularly interesting mechanism in which prestress develops is by active traction forces generated by cells embedded in the tissue by means of their actin stress fibers. In order to understand how these traction forces influence tissue prestress, many have used microfabricated, high-throughput, micrometer scale setups to culture microtissues which actively generate prestress to specially designed cantilevers. By measuring the displacement of these cantilevers, the prestress response to all kinds of perturbations can be monitored. In the present study, such a microfabricated tissue gauge platform was combined with the commercially available Flexcell system to facilitate dynamic cyclic stretching of microtissues. First, the setup was validated to quantify the dynamic microtissue stretch applied during the experiments. Next, the microtissues were subjected to a dynamic loading regime for 24 h. After this interval, the prestress increased to levels over twice as high compared to static controls. The prestress in these tissues was completely abated when a ROCK-inhibitor was added, showing that the development of this prestress can be completely attributed to the cell-generated traction forces. Finally, after switching the microtissues back to static loading conditions, or when removing the ROCK-inhibitor, prestress magnitudes were restored to original values. These findings show that intrinsic cell-generated prestress is a highly controlled parameter, where the actin stress fibers serve as a mechanostat to regulate this prestress. Since almost all cardiovascular tissues are exposed to a dynamic loading regime, these findings have important implications for the mechanical testing of these tissues, or when designing cardiovascular tissue engineering therapies.

Cell Seeding on UV-C-Treated 3D Polymeric Templates Allows for Cost-Effective Production of Small-Caliber Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels

There is a strong clinical need to develop small-caliber tissue-engineered blood vessels for arterial bypass surgeries. Such substitutes can be engineered using the self-assembly approach in which cells produce their own extracellular matrix (ECM), creating a robust vessel without exogenous material. However, this approach is currently limited to the production of flat sheets that need to be further rolled into the final desired tubular shape. In this study, human fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells were seeded directly on UV-C-treated cylindrical polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG) mandrels of 4.8 mm diameter. UV-C treatment induced surface modification, confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, was necessary to ensure proper cellular attachment and optimized ECM secretion/assembly. This novel approach generated solid tubular conduits with high level of cohesion between concentric cellular layers and enhanced cell-driven circumferential alignment that can be manipulated after 21 days of culture. This simple and cost-effective mandrel-seeded approach also allowed for endothelialization of the construct and the production of perfusable trilayered tissue-engineered blood vessels with a closed lumen. This study lays the foundation for a broad field of possible applications enabling custom-made reconstructed tissues of specialized shapes using a surface treated 3D structure as a template for tissue engineering.

Implications of Extracellular Matrix Production by Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells for Development of Wound Healing Therapies

The synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the healing of acute and chronic wounds. Consequently, the use of ECM as treatment for chronic wounds has been of special interest—both in terms of inducing ECM production by resident cells and applying ex vivo produced ECM. For these purposes, using adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) could be of use. ASCs are recognized to promote wound healing of otherwise chronic wounds, possibly through the reduction of inflammation, induction of angiogenesis, and promotion of fibroblast and keratinocyte growth. However, little is known regarding the importance of ASC-produced ECM for wound healing. In this review, we describe the importance of ECM for wound healing, and how ECM production by ASCs may be exploited in developing new therapies for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Cell layer-electrospun mesh composites for coronary artery bypass grafts

This work investigates the potential of cell layer-electrospun mesh constructs as coronary artery bypass grafts. These cell-mesh constructs were generated by first culturing a confluent layer of 10T½ smooth muscle progenitor cells on a high strength electrospun mesh with uniaxially aligned fibers. Cell-laden mesh sheets were then wrapped around a cylindrical mandrel such that the mesh fibers were aligned circumferentially. The resulting multi-layered constructs were then cultured for 4 wks in media supplemented with TGF-β1 and ascorbic acid to support 10T½ differentiation toward a smooth muscle cell-like fate as well as to support elastin and collagen production. The underlying hypothesis of this work was that extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by the cell layers would act as an adhesive agent between the individual mesh layers, providing strength to the construct as well as a source for structural elasticity at low strains. In addition, the structural anisotropy of the mesh would inherently guide desired circumferential cell and ECM alignment. Results demonstrate that the cell-mesh constructs exhibited a J-shaped circumferential stress-strain response similar to that of native coronary artery, while also displaying acceptable tensile strength. Furthermore, associated 10T½ cells and deposited collagen fibers showed a high degree of circumferential alignment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2200-2209, 2016.

Heading in the Right Direction: Understanding Cellular Orientation Responses to Complex Biophysical Environments

The aim of cardiovascular regeneration is to mimic the biological and mechanical functioning of tissues. For this it is crucial to recapitulate the in vivo cellular organization, which is the result of controlled cellular orientation. Cellular orientation response stems from the interaction between the cell and its complex biophysical environment. Environmental biophysical cues are continuously detected and transduced to the nucleus through entwined mechanotransduction pathways. Next to the biochemical cascades invoked by the mechanical stimuli, the structural mechanotransduction pathway made of focal adhesions and the actin cytoskeleton can quickly transduce the biophysical signals directly to the nucleus. Observations linking cellular orientation response to biophysical cues have pointed out that the anisotropy and cyclic straining of the substrate influence cellular orientation. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms governing cellular orientation responses in case of cues applied separately and in combination. This review provides the state-of-the-art knowledge on the structural mechanotransduction pathway of adhesive cells, followed by an overview of the current understanding of cellular orientation responses to substrate anisotropy and uniaxial cyclic strain. Finally, we argue that comprehensive understanding of cellular orientation in complex biophysical environments requires systematic approaches based on the dissection of (sub)cellular responses to the individual cues composing the biophysical niche.

Potential of Newborn and Adult Stem Cells for the Production of Vascular Constructs Using the Living Tissue Sheet Approach

Bypass surgeries using native vessels rely on the availability of autologous veins and arteries. An alternative to those vessels could be tissue-engineered vascular constructs made by self-organized tissue sheets. This paper intends to evaluate the potential use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from two different sources: (1) bone marrow-derived MSCs and (2) umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs. When cultured in vitro, a proportion of those cells differentiated into smooth muscle cell- (SMC-) like cells and expressed contraction associated proteins. Moreover, these cells assembled into manipulable tissue sheets when cultured in presence of ascorbic acid. Tubular vessels were then produced by rolling those tissue sheets on a mandrel. The architecture, contractility, and mechanical resistance of reconstructed vessels were compared with tissue-engineered media and adventitia produced from SMCs and dermal fibroblasts, respectively. Histology revealed a collagenous extracellular matrix and the contractile responses measured for these vessels were stronger than dermal fibroblasts derived constructs although weaker than SMCs-derived constructs. The burst pressure of bone marrow-derived vessels was higher than SMCs-derived ones. These results reinforce the versatility of the self-organization approach since they demonstrate that it is possible to recapitulate a contractile media layer from MSCs without the need of exogenous scaffolding material.

Passive strain-induced matrix synthesis and organization in shape-specific, cartilaginous neotissues

Tissue-engineered musculoskeletal soft tissues typically lack the appropriate mechanical robustness of their native counterparts, hindering their clinical applicability. With structure and function being intimately linked, efforts to capture the anatomical shape and matrix organization of native tissues are imperative to engineer functionally robust and anisotropic tissues capable of withstanding the biomechanically complex in vivo joint environment. The present study sought to tailor the use of passive axial compressive loading to drive matrix synthesis and reorganization within self-assembled, shape-specific fibrocartilaginous constructs, with the goal of developing functionally anisotropic neotissues. Specifically, shape-specific fibrocartilaginous neotissues were subjected to 0, 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1 N axial loads early during tissue culture. Results found the 0.1-N load to significantly increase both collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by 27% and 67%, respectively, and to concurrently reorganize the matrix by promoting greater matrix alignment, compaction, and collagen crosslinking compared with all other loading levels. These structural enhancements translated into improved functional properties, with the 0.1-N load significantly increasing both the relaxation modulus and Young's modulus by 96% and 255%, respectively, over controls. Finite element analysis further revealed the 0.1-N uniaxial load to induce multiaxial tensile and compressive strain gradients within the shape-specific neotissues, with maxima of 10.1%, 18.3%, and -21.8% in the XX-, YY-, and ZZ-directions, respectively. This indicates that strains created in different directions in response to a single axis load drove the observed anisotropic functional properties. Together, results of this study suggest that strain thresholds exist within each axis to promote matrix synthesis, alignment, and compaction within the shape-specific neotissues. Tailoring of passive axial loading, thus, presents as a simple, yet effective way to drive in vitro matrix development in shape-specific neotissues toward more closely achieving native structural and functional properties.

Decellularization of fibroblast cell sheets for natural extracellular matrix scaffold preparation

The application of cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissue engineering has gained increasing interest because it can provide a naturally occurring, complex set of physiologically functional signals for cell growth. The ECM scaffolds produced from decellularized fibroblast cell sheets contain high amounts of ECM substances, such as collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. They can serve as cell adhesion sites and mechanically strong supports for tissue-engineered constructs. An efficient method that can largely remove cellular materials while maintaining minimal disruption of ECM ultrastructure and content during the decellularization process is critical. In this study, three decellularization methods were investigated: high concentration (0.5 wt%) of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), low concentration (0.05 wt%) of SDS, and freeze-thaw cycling method. They were compared by characterization of ECM preservation, mechanical properties, in vitro immune response, and cell repopulation ability of the resulted ECM scaffolds. The results demonstrated that the high SDS treatment could efficiently remove around 90% of DNA from the cell sheet, but significantly compromised their ECM content and mechanical strength. The elastic and viscous modulus of the ECM decreased around 80% and 62%, respectively, after the high SDS treatment. The freeze-thaw cycling method maintained the ECM structure as well as the mechanical strength, but also preserved a large amount of cellular components in the ECM scaffold. Around 88% of DNA was left in the ECM after the freeze-thaw treatment. In vitro inflammatory tests suggested that the amount of DNA fragments in ECM scaffolds does not cause a significantly different immune response. All three ECM scaffolds showed comparable ability to support in vitro cell repopulation. The ECM scaffolds possess great potential to be selectively used in different tissue engineering applications according to the practical requirement.

Development of the mechanical properties of engineered skin substitutes after grafting to full-thickness wounds

Engineered skin substitutes (ESSs) have been reported to close full-thickness burn wounds but are subject to loss from mechanical shear due to their deficiencies in tensile strength and elasticity. Hypothetically, if the mechanical properties of ESS matched those of native skin, losses due to shear or fracture could be reduced. To consider modifications of the composition of ESS to improve homology with native skin, biomechanical analyses of the current composition of ESS were performed. ESSs consist of a degradable biopolymer scaffold of type I collagen and chondroitin-sulfate (CGS) that is populated sequentially with cultured human dermal fibroblasts (hF) and epidermal keratinocytes (hK). In the current study, the hydrated biopolymer scaffold (CGS), the scaffold populated with hF dermal skin substitute (DSS), or the complete ESS were evaluated mechanically for linear stiffness (N/mm), ultimate tensile load at failure (N), maximum extension at failure (mm), and energy absorbed up to the point of failure (N-mm). These biomechanical end points were also used to evaluate ESS at six weeks after grafting to full-thickness skin wounds in athymic mice and compared to murine autograft or excised murine skin. The data showed statistically significant differences (p <0.05) between ESS in vitro and after grafting for all four structural properties. Grafted ESS differed statistically from murine autograft with respect to maximum extension at failure, and from intact murine skin with respect to linear stiffness and maximum extension. These results demonstrate rapid changes in mechanical properties of ESS after grafting that are comparable to murine autograft. These values provide instruction for improvement of the biomechanical properties of ESS in vitro that may reduce clinical morbidity from graft loss.

Mechanical strain using 2D and 3D bioreactors induces osteogenesis: implications for bone tissue engineering

Fracture healing is a complicated process involving many growth factors, cells, and physical forces. In cases, where natural healing is not able, efforts have to be undertaken to improve healing. For this purpose, tissue engineering may be an option. In order to stimulate cells to form a bone tissue several factors are needed: cells, scaffold, and growth factors. Stem cells derived from bone marrow or adipose tissues are the most useful in this regard. The differentiation of the cells can be accelerated using mechanical stimulation. The first part of this chapter describes the influence of longitudinal strain application. The second part uses a sophisticated approach with stem cells on a newly developed biomaterial (Sponceram) in a rotating bed bioreactor with the administration of bone morphogenetic protein-2. It is shown that such an approach is able to produce bone tissue constructs. This may lead to production of larger constructs that can be used in clinical applications.

Degree of scaffold degradation influences collagen (re)orientation in engineered tissues

Tissue engineering provides a promising tool for creating load-bearing cardiovascular tissues. Ideally, the neotissue produced by cells possesses native strength and anisotropy. By providing contact-guiding cues with microfibers, scaffold directionality can guide tissue organization. However, scaffolds transiently degrade, which may induce undesired tissue remodeling in response to applied strain. We hypothesize that in newly formed tissues, the collagen matrix does not yet provide contact guidance to the cells, and collagen orientation is altered via strain-induced remodeling. To test this hypothesis, we studied the influence of lipase-induced scaffold degradation on collagen (re)orientation at static constraint. Myofibroblasts were cultured in electrospun PCL-U4U anisotropic microfiber scaffolds, which were statically constrained perpendicular to the scaffold fibers. During 2 weeks of culture, neotissue formation aligned in the direction of the scaffold fibers, after which scaffolds were degraded to different degrees (12%, 27%, and 79% reduction in scaffold weight) and collagen (re)orientation was studied after one additional week of culturing. High degrees of scaffold degradation (79%) were associated with remodeling of the collagen toward the constraint direction, while collagen organization was maintained at low degrees of scaffold degradation. These results highlight the importance of slow scaffold degradation when aiming at maintaining collagen orientation.

Continuous cyclic stretch induces osteoblast alignment and formation of anisotropic collagen fiber matrix

Bone tissue geometry shows a highly anisotropic architecture, which is derived from its genetic regulation and mechanical environment. Osteoblasts are responsible not only for bone formation, through the secretion of collagen type I, but also for sensing the mechanical stimuli due to bone surface strain. Mechanotransduction by osteoblasts is therefore considered one of the regulators of anisotropic bone tissue morphogenesis. The orientation of osteoblasts and the secreted collagen matrix was successfully regulated by applying a continuous mechanical stress on osteoblasts for a long period. Under a continuous cyclic stretch of 4% magnitude at a rate of 2 cycles min(-1), osteoblasts reoriented their actin stress fibers in the direction that minimizes the strain applied to them. Extended culture of up to 2weeks resulted in the formation of collagen fibers in the extracellular spaces, and the preferred orientation of these fibers was parallel to the direction of cell elongation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to establish anisotropic bone matrix architecture following the alignment of osteoblasts under mechanical stimuli for long-term cultivation.

Stem cells of the skin and cornea: their clinical applications in regenerative medicine

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The use of stem cells is of great interest for the treatment of various pathologies and ultimately for the restoration of organ function. Progress pointing towards future treatments of skin and corneal epithelial stem cell defects are reviewed, including the transplantation of living tissue-engineered substitutes.

RECENT FINDINGS

This article focuses on substitutes optimized for permanent replacement of skin and cornea. New skin substitutes for burn care are currently under development. More complex tissue-engineered skin substitutes in which stroma, adipose tissue, capillaries, and neurons are combined with the epithelium are being developed. Some dermal/epidermal substitutes have been applied to the treatment of patients. Cultured corneal epithelial cells have been characterized and more complete corneal substitutes are being designed. Long-term clinical results on the transplantation of cultured corneal stem cells for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency have been reported.

SUMMARY

Advances in tissue engineering for the development of substitutes that will benefit patients suffering from skin or corneal stem cell deficiencies are reviewed. These products are often a combination of cells, scaffolds and other factors. Key considerations in the development of corneal and skin substitutes for clinical applications are discussed.

Comparison of candidate scaffolds for tissue engineering for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse repair

OBJECTIVES

To identify candidate materials which have sufficient potential to be taken forward for an in vivo tissue-engineering approach to restoring the tissue structure of the pelvic floor in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral mucosal fibroblasts were seeded onto seven different scaffold materials, AlloDerm ( LifeCell Corp., Branchburg, NJ, USA), cadaveric dermis, porcine dermis, polypropylene, sheep forestomach, porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and thermoannealed poly(L) lactic acid (PLA) under both free and restrained conditions. The scaffolds were assessed for: cell attachment using AlamarBlue and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI); contraction using serial photographs; and extracellular matrix production using Sirius red staining, immunostaining and scanning electron microscopy. Finally the biomechanical properties of all the scaffolds were assessed.

RESULTS

Of the seven, there were two biodegradable scaffolds, synthetic PLA and natural SIS, which supported good cell attachment and proliferation. Immunostaining confirmed the presence of collagen I, III and elastin which was highest in SIS and PLA. The mechanical properties of PLA were closest to native tissue with an ultimate tensile strength of 0.72 ± 0.18 MPa, ultimate tensile strain 0.53 ± 0.16 and Young's modulus 4.5 ± 2.9 MPa. Scaffold restraint did not have a significant impact on the above properties in the best scaffolds.

CONCLUSION

These data support both PLA and SIS as good candidate materials for use in making a tissue-engineered repair material for SUI or POP.

Influence of cyclic mechanical stretch and tissue constraints on cellular and collagen alignment in fibroblast-derived cell sheets

Mechanical forces play an important role in shaping the organization of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in developing and mature tissues. The resulting organization gives the tissue its unique functional properties. Understanding how mechanical forces influence the alignment of the ECM is important in tissue engineering, where recapitulating the alignment of the native tissue is essential for appropriate mechanical anisotropy. In this work, a novel method was developed to create and stretch tubular cell sheets by seeding neonatal dermal fibroblasts onto a rotating silicone tube. We show the fibroblasts proliferated to create a confluent monolayer around the tube and a collagenous, isotropic tubular tissue over 4 weeks of static culture. These silicone tubes with overlying tubular tissue constructs were mounted into a cyclic distension bioreactor and subjected to cyclic circumferential stretch at 5% strain, 0.5 Hz for 3 weeks. We found that the tissue subjected to cyclic stretch compacted axially over the silicone tube in comparison to static controls, leading to a circumferentially aligned tissue with higher membrane stiffness and maximum tension. In a subsequent study, the tissue constructs were constrained against axial compaction during cyclic stretching. The resulting alignment of fibroblasts and collagen was perpendicular (axial) to the stretch direction (circumferential). When the cells were devitalized with sodium azide before stretching, similarly constrained tissue did not develop strong axial alignment. This work suggests that both mechanical stretching and mechanical constraints are important in determining tissue organization, and that this organization is dependent on an intact cytoskeleton.

Development of fibroblast-seeded collagen gels under planar biaxial mechanical constraints: a biomechanical study

Prior studies indicated that mechanical loading influences cell turnover and matrix remodeling in tissues, suggesting that mechanical stimuli can play an active role in engineering artificial tissues. While most tissue culture studies focus on influence of uniaxial loading or constraints, effects of multi-axial loading or constraints on tissue development are far from clear. In this study, we examined the biaxial mechanical properties of fibroblast-seeded collagen gels cultured under four different mechanical constraints for 6 days: free-floating, equibiaxial stretching (with three different stretch ratios), strip-biaxial stretching, and uniaxial stretching. Passive mechanical behavior of the cell-seeded gels was also examined after decellularization. A continuum-based two-dimensional Fung model was used to quantify the mechanical behavior of the gel. Based on the model, the value of stored strain energy and the ratio of stiffness in the stretching directions were calculated at prescribed strains for each gel, and statistical comparisons were made among the gels cultured under the various mechanical constraints. Results showed that gels cultured under the free-floating and equibiaxial stretching conditions exhibited a nearly isotropic mechanical behavior, while gels cultured under the strip-biaxial and uniaxial stretching conditions developed a significant degree of mechanical anisotropy. In particular, gels cultured under the equibiaxial stretching condition with a greater stretch ratio appeared to be stiffer than those with a smaller stretch ratio. Also, a decellularized gel was stiffer than its non-decellularized counterpart. Finally, the retained mechanical anisotropy in gels cultured under the strip-biaxial stretching and uniaxial stretching conditions after cell removal reflected an irreversible matrix remodeling.

The influence of matrix integrity on stress-fiber remodeling in 3D

Matrix anisotropy is important for long term in vivo functionality. However, it is not fully understood how to guide matrix anisotropy in vitro. Experiments suggest actin-mediated cell traction contributes. Although F-actin in 2D displays a stretch-avoidance response, 3D data are lacking. We questioned how cyclic stretch influences F-actin and collagen orientation in 3D. Small-scale cell-populated fibrous tissues were statically constrained and/or cyclically stretched with or without biochemical agents. A rectangular array of silicone posts attached to flexible membranes constrained a mixture of cells, collagen I and matrigel. F-actin orientation was quantified using fiber-tracking software, fitted using a bi-model distribution function. F-actin was biaxially distributed with static constraint. Surprisingly, uniaxial cyclic stretch, only induced a strong stretch-avoidance response (alignment perpendicular to stretching) at tissue surfaces and not in the core. Surface alignment was absent when a ROCK-inhibitor was added, but also when tissues were only statically constrained. Stretch-avoidance was also observed in the tissue core upon MMP1-induced matrix perturbation. Further, a strong stretch-avoidance response was obtained for F-actin and collagen, for immediate cyclic stretching, i.e. stretching before polymerization of the collagen. Results suggest that F-actin stress-fibers avoid cyclic stretch in 3D, unless collagen contact guidance dictates otherwise.

Combining adult stem cells and polymeric devices for tissue engineering in infarcted myocardium

An increasing number of studies in cardiac cell therapy have provided encouraging results for cardiac repair. Adult stem cells may overcome ethical and availability concerns, with the additional advantages, in some cases, to allow autologous grafts to be performed. However, the major problems of cell survival, cell fate determination and engraftment after transplantation, still remain. Tissue-engineering strategies combining scaffolds and cells have been developed and have to be adapted for each type of application to enhance stem cell function. Scaffold properties required for cardiac cell therapy are here discussed. New tissue engineering advances that may be implemented in combination with adult stem cells for myocardial infarction therapy are also presented. Biomaterials not only provide a 3D support for the cells but may also mimic the structural architecture of the heart. Using hydrogels or particulate systems, the biophysical and biochemical microenvironments of transplanted cells can also be controlled. Advances in biomaterial engineering have permitted the development of sophisticated drug-releasing materials with a biomimetic 3D support that allow a better control of the microenvironment of transplanted cells.

Micropatterned cell sheets with defined cell and extracellular matrix orientation exhibit anisotropic mechanical properties

For an arterial replacement graft to be effective, it must possess the appropriate strength in order to withstand long-term hemodynamic stress without failure, yet be compliant enough that the mismatch between the stiffness of the graft and the native vessel wall is minimized. The native vessel wall is a structurally complex tissue characterized by circumferentially oriented collagen fibers/cells and lamellar elastin. Besides the biochemical composition, the functional properties of the wall, including stiffness, depend critically on the structural organization. Therefore, it will be crucial to develop methods of producing tissues with defined structures in order to more closely mimic the properties of a native vessel. To this end, we sought to generate cell sheets that have specific ECM/cell organization using micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates to guide cell organization and tissue growth. The patterns consisted of large arrays of alternating grooves and ridges. Adult bovine aortic smooth muscle cells cultured on these substrates in the presence of ascorbic acid produced ECM-rich sheets several cell layers thick in which both the cells and ECM exhibited strong alignment in the direction of the micropattern. Moreover, mechanical testing revealed that the sheets exhibited mechanical anisotropy similar to that of native vessels with both the stiffness and strength being significantly larger in the direction of alignment, demonstrating that the microscale control of ECM organization results in functional changes in macroscale material behavior.

Dynamic mechanical stimulations induce anisotropy and improve the tensile properties of engineered tissues produced without exogenous scaffolding

Mechanical strength and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) are essential characteristics for engineered tissues designed to repair and replace connective tissues that are subject to stress and strain. In this study, dynamic mechanical stimulation (DMS) was investigated as a method to improve the mechanical properties of engineered tissues produced without the use of an exogenous scaffold, referred to as the self-assembly approach. This method, based exclusively on the use of human cells without any exogenous scaffolding, allows for the production of a tissue sheet comprised of cells and ECM components synthesized by dermal fibroblasts in vitro. A bioreactor chamber was designed to apply cyclic strain to engineered tissues in order to determine if dynamic culture had an impact on their mechanical properties and ECM organization. Fibroblasts were cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid for 35 days to promote ECM production and allow the formation of a tissue sheet. This sheet was grown on a custom-built anchoring system allowing for easy manipulation and fixation of the tissue in the bioreactor. Following the 35 day period, tissues were maintained for 3 days in static culture (SC), or subjected either to a static mechanical stimulation of 10% strain, or a dynamic DMS with a duty cycle of 10% uniaxial cyclic strain at 1Hz. ECM was characterized by histology, immunofluorescence labeling and Western blotting. Both static and dynamic mechanical stimulation induced the alignment of assessed cytoskeletal proteins and ECM components parallel to the axis of applied strain and increased the ECM content of the tissues compared to SC. Measurement of the tensile mechanical properties revealed that mechanical stimulation significantly increases both the ultimate tensile strength and tensile modulus of the engineered tissues when compared to the non-stimulated control. Moreover, we demonstrated that cyclic strain significantly increases these parameters when compared to a static-loading stimulation and that mechanical stimulation contributes to the establishment of anisotropy in the structural and mechanical properties of self-assembled tissue sheets.

A review on static splinting therapy to prevent burn scar contracture: do clinical and experimental data warrant its clinical application?

BACKGROUND

Static splinting therapy is widely considered an essential part in burn rehabilitation to prevent scar contractures in the early phase of wound healing. However, scar contractures are still a common complication. In this article we review the information concerning the incidence of scar contracture, the effectiveness of static splinting therapy in preventing scar contractures, and specifically focus on the - possible - working mechanism of static-splinting, i.e. mechanical load, at the cellular and molecular level of the healing burn wound.

METHOD

A literature search was done including Pubmed, Cochrane library, CINAHL and PEDRO.

RESULTS

Incidence of scar contracture in patients with burns varied from 5% to 40%. No strong evidence for the effectiveness of static splinting therapy in preventing scar contracture was found, whereas in vitro and animal studies demonstrated that mechanical tension will stimulate the myofibroblast activity, resulting in the synthesis of new extracellular matrix and the maintenance of their contractile activity.

CONCLUSION

The effect of mechanical tension on the wound healing process suggests that static splinting therapy may counteract its own purpose. This review stresses the need for randomised controlled clinical trials to establish if static splinting to prevent contractures is a well-considered intervention or just wishful thinking.

An in vitro model system to quantify stress generation, compaction, and retraction in engineered heart valve tissue

Autologous heart valve tissue engineering relies on extracellular matrix production by cells seeded into a degrading scaffold material. The cells naturally exert traction forces to their surroundings, and due to an imbalance between scaffold, tissue, and these traction forces, stress is generated within the tissue. This stress results in compaction during culture and retraction of the leaflets at release of constraints, causing shape loss of the heart valve leaflets. In the present study, an in vitro model system has been developed to quantify stress generation, compaction, and retraction during culture and after release of constraints. Tissue-engineered (TE) constructs based on polyglycolic acid/poly-4-hydroxybutyrate scaffolds seeded with human vascular-derived cells were cultured for 4 weeks. Compaction in width was measured during culture, stress generation was measured during culture and after release of constraints at week 4, and contraction was measured after release of constraints at week 4. Both compaction and stress generation started after 2 weeks of culture and continued up to week 4. TE constructs compacted up to half of their original width and reached an internal stress of 6-8 kPa at week 4, which resulted in a retraction of 36%. The model system has provided a useful tool to unravel and optimize the balance between the different aspects of TE constructs to develop functional TE leaflets.

Regeneration of skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle has a robust capacity for regeneration following injury. However, few if any effective therapeutic options for volumetric muscle loss are available. Autologous muscle grafts or muscle transposition represent possible salvage procedures for the restoration of mass and function but these approaches have limited success and are plagued by associated donor site morbidity. Cell-based therapies are in their infancy and, to date, have largely focused on hereditary disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. An unequivocal need exists for regenerative medicine strategies that can enhance or induce de novo formation of functional skeletal muscle as a treatment for congenital absence or traumatic loss of tissue. In this review, the three stages of skeletal muscle regeneration and the potential pitfalls in the development of regenerative medicine strategies for the restoration of functional skeletal muscle in situ are discussed.

Stacking of aligned cell sheets for layer-by-layer control of complex tissue structure

Children suffering from congenital heart defects (CHD) often require vascular reconstruction. Pediatric patients would greatly benefit from a cell-based tissue engineered vascular patch (TEVP) that has potential for growth. As artery structure and function are intimately linked, mimicking native tissue organization is an important design consideration. In this study, we cultured human mesenchymal stem cell on patterned thermo-responsive substrates. Cell alignment improved over time up to 2 wk in culture when sheets were ready for harvest. We then used cell sheets as "functional units" to build complex tissue structures that mimic native vascular smooth muscle cell organization in the medial layer of the artery. Cell sheets could be stacked using a gelatin stamp such that individual sheets in the construct were well aligned with each other (mimic of circumferential orientation) or at angles with respect to each other (mimic of herringbone structure). Controlling tissue organization layer-by-layer will be a powerful approach to building tissues with well defined and complex structure.

Hair follicle-derived smooth muscle cells and small intestinal submucosa for engineering mechanically robust and vasoreactive vascular media

Our laboratory recently reported a new source of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) derived from hair follicle (HF) mesenchymal stem cells. HF-SMCs demonstrated high proliferation and clonogenic potential as well as contractile function. In this study, we aimed at engineering the vascular media using HF-SMCs and a natural biomaterial, namely small intestinal submucosa (SIS). Engineering functional vascular constructs required application of mechanical force, resulting in actin reorganization and cellular alignment. In turn, cell alignment was necessary for development of receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated contractility as soon as 24 h after cell seeding. Within 2 weeks in culture, the cells migrated into SIS and secreted collagen and elastin, the two major extracellular matrix components of the vessel wall. At 2 weeks, vascular reactivity increased significantly up to three- to fivefold and mechanical properties were similar to those of native ovine arteries. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the combination of HF-SMCs with SIS resulted in mechanically strong, biologically functional vascular media with potential for arterial implantation.

Biaxial biomechanical properties of self-assembly tissue-engineered blood vessels

Along with insights into the potential for graft success, knowledge of biomechanical properties of small diameter tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) will enable designers to tailor the vessels' mechanical response to closer resemble that of native tissue. Composed of two layers that closely mimic the native media and adventitia, a tissue-engineered vascular adventitia (TEVA) is wrapped around a tissue-engineered vascular media (TEVM) to produce a self-assembled tissue-engineered media/adventia (TEVMA). The current study was undertaken to characterize the biaxial biomechanical properties of TEVM, TEVA and TEVMA under physiological pressures as well as characterize the stress-free reference configuration. It was shown that the TEVA had the greatest compliance over the physiological loading range while the TEVM had the lowest compliance. As expected, compliance of the SA-TEBV fell in between with an average compliance of 2.73 MPa(-1). Data were used to identify material parameters for a microstructurally motivated constitutive model. Identified material parameters for the TEVA and TEVM provided a good fit to experimental data with an average coefficient of determination of 0.918 and 0.868, respectively. These material parameters were used to develop a two-layer predictive model for the response of a TEVMA which fit well with experimental data.

Nanopatterning of collagen scaffolds improve the mechanical properties of tissue engineered vascular grafts

Tissue engineered constructs with cells growing in an organized manner have been shown to have improved mechanical properties. This can be especially important when constructing tissues that need to perform under load, such as cardiac and vascular tissue. Enhancement of mechanical properties of tissue engineered vascular grafts via orientation of smooth muscle cells by the help of topographical cues have not been reported yet. In the present study, collagen scaffolds with 650, 500, and 332.5 nm wide nanochannels and ridges were designed and seeded with smooth muscle cells isolated from the human saphenous vein. Cell alignment on the construct was shown by SEM and fluorescence microscopy. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Young's modulus of the scaffolds were determined after 45 and 75 days. Alamar Blue assay was used to determine the number of viable cells on surfaces with different dimensioned patterns. Presence of nanopatterns increased the UTS from 0.55 +/- 0.11 to as much as 1.63 +/- 0.46 MPa, a value within the range of natural arteries and veins. Similarly, Young's modulus values were found to be around 4 MPa, again in the range of natural vessels. The study thus showed that nanopatterns as small as 332.5 nm could align the smooth muscle cells and that alignment significantly improved mechanical properties, indicating that nanopatterned collagen scaffolds have the potential for use in the tissue engineering of small diameter blood vessels.

A novel cylindrical biaxial computer-controlled bioreactor and biomechanical testing device for vascular tissue engineering

It is becoming evident that tissue-engineered constructs adapt to altered mechanical loading, and that specific combinations of multidirectional loads appear to have a synergistic effect on the remodeling. However, most studies of mechanical stimulation of engineered vascular tissue engineering employ only uniaxial stimulation. Here we present a novel computer-controlled bioreactor and biomechanical testing device designed to precisely and simultaneously control mean and cyclic values of transmural pressure (at rates up to 1 Hz and ranges of 40 mmHg), luminal flow rate, and axial length (or load) applied to gel-derived, scaffold-derived, and self-assembly-derived tissue-engineered blood vessels during culture, while monitoring vessel geometry with a resolution of 6.6 mum. Intermittent monitoring of the extracellular matrix and cells is accomplished on live tissues using multi-photon confocal microscopy under unloaded and loaded conditions at multiple time-points in culture (on the same vessel) to quantify changes in cell and extracellular matrix content and organization. This same device is capable of performing intermittent cylindrical biaxial biomechanical testing at multiple time-points in culture (on the same vessel) to quantify changes in the mechanical behavior during culture. Here we demonstrate the capabilities of this new device on self-assembly-derived and collagen-gel-derived tissue-engineered blood vessels.

Characterization of engineered tissue development under biaxial stretch using nonlinear optical microscopy

Little is known about the precise mechanical stimuli that cells sense and respond to as they maintain or refashion the extracellular matrix in multiaxially loaded native or bioengineered tissues. Such information would benefit many areas of research involving soft tissues, including tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and tissue engineering. A custom tissue culture device has been constructed that can impart well-defined biaxial stretches on cruciform-shaped, fibroblast-seeded collagen gels and be mounted on the stage of a nonlinear optical microscopy (NLOM) system for microscopic characterization of matrix organization. The cruciform geometry permitted direct comparison of matrix (re-)organization within regions of the collagen gel exposed to either uniaxial or biaxial boundary conditions and examination by NLOM for up to 6 days. In addition, sequential NLOM measurements of collagen fiber orientations within gels while stretched, unloaded, or decellularized delineated contributions of applied stretches, cell-mediated tractions, and matrix remodeling on the measured distributions. The integration of intravital NLOM with novel bioreactors enables visualization of dynamic tissue properties in culture.

Magnitude and duration of stretch modulate fibroblast remodeling

Mechanical cues modulate fibroblast tractional forces and remodeling of extracellular matrix in healthy tissue, healing wounds, and engineered matrices. The goal of the present study is to establish dose-response relationships between stretch parameters (magnitude and duration per day) and matrix remodeling metrics (compaction, strength, extensibility, collagen content, contraction, and cellularity). Cyclic equibiaxial stretch of 2-16% was applied to fibroblast-populated fibrin gels for either 6 h or 24 h/day for 8 days. Trends in matrix remodeling metrics as a function of stretch magnitude and duration were analyzed using regression analysis. The compaction and ultimate tensile strength of the tissues increased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing stretch magnitude, yet remained unaffected by the duration in which they were cycled (6 h/day versus 24 h/day). Collagen density increased exponentially as a function of both the magnitude and duration of stretch, with samples stretched for the reduced duration per day having the highest levels of collagen accumulation. Cell number and failure tension were also dependent on both the magnitude and duration of stretch, although stretch-induced increases in these metrics were only present in the samples loaded for 6 h/day. Our results indicate that both the magnitude and the duration per day of stretch are critical parameters in modulating fibroblast remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and that these two factors regulate different aspects of this remodeling. These findings move us one step closer to fully characterizing culture conditions for tissue equivalents, developing improved wound healing treatments and understanding tissue responses to changes in mechanical environments during growth, repair, and disease states.

Spatial patterning of cell proliferation and differentiation depends on mechanical stress magnitude

Mechanical stress has been proposed as a major regulator of tissue morphogenesis; however, it remains unclear what is the exact mechanical signal that leads to local tissue pattern formation. We explored this question by using a micropatterned cell aggregate model in which NIH 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on micropatterned adhesive islands and formed cell aggregates (or "cell islands") of triangular, square, and circular shapes. We found that the cell islands generated high levels of mechanical stresses at their perimeters compared to their inner regions. Regardless of the shape of cell islands, the mechanical stress patterns corresponded to both cell proliferation and differentiation patterns, meaning that high level of cell proliferation and differentiation occurred at the locations where mechanical stresses were also high. When mechanical stretching was applied to cell islands to elevate overall mechanical stress magnitudes, cell proliferation and differentiation generally increased with the relatively higher mechanical stresses, but neither cell proliferation nor differentiation patterns followed the new mechanical stress pattern. Thus, our findings indicate that a certain range of mechanical stress magnitudes, termed window stress threshold, drives formation of cell proliferation and differentiation patterns and hence possibly functions as a morphogenetic cue for local tissue pattern formation in vivo.

Quantification of the temporal evolution of collagen orientation in mechanically conditioned engineered cardiovascular tissues

Load-bearing soft tissues predominantly consist of collagen and exhibit anisotropic, non-linear visco-elastic behavior, coupled to the organization of the collagen fibers. Mimicking native mechanical behavior forms a major goal in cardiovascular tissue engineering. Engineered tissues often lack properly organized collagen and consequently do not meet in vivo mechanical demands. To improve collagen architecture and mechanical properties, mechanical stimulation of the tissue during in vitro tissue growth is crucial. This study describes the evolution of collagen fiber orientation with culture time in engineered tissue constructs in response to mechanical loading. To achieve this, a novel technique for the quantification of collagen fiber orientation is used, based on 3D vital imaging using multiphoton microscopy combined with image analysis. The engineered tissue constructs consisted of cell-seeded biodegradable rectangular scaffolds, which were either constrained or intermittently strained in longitudinal direction. Collagen fiber orientation analyses revealed that mechanical loading induced collagen alignment. The alignment shifted from oblique at the surface of the construct towards parallel to the straining direction in deeper tissue layers. Most importantly, intermittent straining improved and accelerated the alignment of the collagen fibers, as compared to constraining the constructs. Both the method and the results are relevant to create and monitor load-bearing tissues with an organized anisotropic collagen network.

Human aortic smooth muscle cells promote arteriole formation by coengrafted endothelial cells

Collagen-fibronectin gels containing Bcl-2-transduced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (Bcl-2-HUVEC) implanted in the abdominal walls of immunodeficient mice form mature microvessels invested by host-derived smooth muscle cells (SMC) by 8 weeks. We tested the hypothesis that coengraftment of human aortic SMC (HASMC) could accelerate vessel maturation. To prevent SMC-mediated gel contraction, we polymerized the gel within a nonwoven poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) scaffold. Implanted grafts were evaluated at 15, 30, and 60 days. Acellular PGA-supported protein gels elicited a macrophage-rich foreign body reaction and transient host angiogenic response. When transplanted alone, HASMC tightly associated with the fibers of the scaffold and incorporated into the walls of angiogenic mouse microvessels, preventing their regression. When transplanted alone in PGA-supported gels, Bcl-2-HUVEC retained the ability to form microvessels invested by mouse SMC. Interestingly, grafts containing both Bcl-2-HUVEC and HASMC displayed greater numbers of smooth muscle alpha-actin-expressing cells associated with human EC-lined arteriole-like microvessels at all times examined and showed a significant increase in the number of larger caliber microvessels at 60 days. We conclude that SMC coengraftment can accelerate vessel development by EC and promote arteriolization. This strategy of EC-SMC coengraftment in PGA-supported protein gels may have broader application for perfusing bioengineered tissues.

Surface topography induces 3D self-orientation of cells and extracellular matrix resulting in improved tissue function

The organization of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in native tissues plays a crucial role in their functionality. However, in tissue engineering, cells and ECM are randomly distributed within a scaffold. Thus, the production of engineered-tissue with complex 3D organization remains a challenge. In the present study, we used contact guidance to control the interactions between the material topography, the cells and the ECM for three different tissues, namely vascular media, corneal stroma and dermal tissue. Using a specific surface topography on an elastomeric material, we observed the orientation of a first cell layer along the patterns in the material. Orientation of the first cell layer translates into a physical cue that induces the second cell layer to follow a physiologically consistent orientation mimicking the structure of the native tissue. Furthermore, secreted ECM followed cell orientation in every layer, resulting in an oriented self-assembled tissue sheet. These self-assembled tissue sheets were then used to create 3 different structured engineered-tissue: cornea, vascular media and dermis. We showed that functionality of such structured engineered-tissue was increased when compared to the same non-structured tissue. Dermal tissues were used as a negative control in response to surface topography since native dermal fibroblasts are not preferentially oriented in vivo. Non-structured surfaces were also used to produce randomly oriented tissue sheets to evaluate the impact of tissue orientation on functional output. This novel approach for the production of more complex 3D tissues would be useful for clinical purposes and for in vitro physiological tissue model to better understand long standing questions in biology.