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Westensee IN, Paffen LJMM, Pendlmayr S, De Dios Andres P, Ramos Docampo MA, Städler B. Artificial Cells and HepG2 Cells in 3D-Bioprinted Arrangements. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303699. [PMID: 38277695 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Artificial cells are engineered units with cell-like functions for different purposes including acting as supportive elements for mammalian cells. Artificial cells with minimal liver-like function are made of alginate and equipped with metalloporphyrins that mimic the enzyme activity of a member of the cytochrome P450 family namely CYP1A2. The artificial cells are employed to enhance the dealkylation activity within 3D bioprinted structures composed of HepG2 cells and these artificial cells. This enhancement is monitored through the conversion of resorufin ethyl ether to resorufin. HepG2 cell aggregates are 3D bioprinted using an alginate/gelatin methacryloyl ink, resulting in the successful proliferation of the HepG2 cells. The composite ink made of an alginate/gelatin liquid phase with an increasing amount of artificial cells is characterized. The CYP1A2-like activity of artificial cells is preserved over at least 35 days, where 6 nM resorufin is produced in 8 h. Composite inks made of artificial cells and HepG2 cell aggregates in a liquid phase are used for 3D bioprinting. The HepG2 cells proliferate over 35 days, and the structure has boosted CYP1A2 activity. The integration of artificial cells and their living counterparts into larger 3D semi-synthetic tissues is a step towards exploring bottom-up synthetic biology in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella N Westensee
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Lars J M M Paffen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Stefan Pendlmayr
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Paula De Dios Andres
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Miguel A Ramos Docampo
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
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Westensee IN, Thomsen KL, Mookerjee RP, Städler B. Antioxidant Microgels Support Peroxide-Challenged Hepatic Cells. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300547. [PMID: 38282178 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Access to therapeutic strategies that counter cellular stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important, long-standing challenge. Here, the assembly of antioxidant artificial cells is based on alginate hydrogels equipped with non-native catalysts, namely platinum nanoparticles and an EUK compound. These artificial cells are able to preserve the viability and lower the intracellular ROS levels of challenged hepatic cells by removing peroxides from the extracellular environment. Conceptually, this strategy illustrates the potential use of artificial cells with a synthetic catalyst toward long-term support of hepatic cells and potentially other mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Nymann Westensee
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Karen Louise Thomsen
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus N, 8200, Denmark
| | - Rajeshwar Prosad Mookerjee
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Brigitte Städler
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
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Andersen DG, Pedersen AB, Jørgensen MH, Montasell MC, Søgaard AB, Chen G, Schroeder A, Andersen GR, Zelikin AN. Chemical Zymogens and Transmembrane Activation of Transcription in Synthetic Cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309385. [PMID: 38009384 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
In this work, synthetic cells equipped with an artificial signaling pathway that connects an extracellular trigger event to the activation of intracellular transcription are engineered. Learning from nature, this is done via an engineering of responsive enzymes, such that activation of enzymatic activity can be triggered by an external biochemical stimulus. Reversibly deactivated creatine kinase to achieve triggered production of adenosine triphosphate, and a reversibly deactivated nucleic acid polymerase for on-demand synthesis of RNA are engineered. An extracellular, enzyme-activated production of a diffusible zymogen activator is also designed. The key achievement of this work is that the importance of cellularity is illustrated whereby the separation of biochemical partners is essential to resolve their incompatibility, to enable transcription within the confines of a synthetic cell. The herein designed biochemical pathway and the engineered synthetic cells are arguably primitive compared to their natural counterpart. Nevertheless, the results present a significant step toward the design of synthetic cells with responsive behavior, en route from abiotic to life-like cell mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gal Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Avi Schroeder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion, Haifa, 32000, Israel
| | - Gregers Rom Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
| | - Alexander N Zelikin
- iNano Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
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