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Wang W, Liu Y, Huang X, Liang F, Luo H, Mao Z, Shi J, Wang L, Peng J, Chen Y. Diffusion-based culture and real-time impedance monitoring of tumor spheroids in hydrogel microwells of a suspended membrane under microfluidic conditions. Talanta 2024; 278:126473. [PMID: 38950503 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126473] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Tumor spheroids are widely studied for in vitro modeling of tumor growth and responses to anticancer drugs. However, current methods are mostly limited to static and perfusion-based cultures, which can be improved by more accurately mimicking pathological conditions. Here, we developed a diffusion-based dynamic culture system for tumor spheroids studies using a thin membrane of hydrogel microwells and a microfluidic device. This allows for effective exchange of nutrients and metabolites between the tumors and the culture medium flowing underneath, resulting in uniform tumor spheroids. To monitor the growth and drug response of the spheroids in real-time, we performed spectroscopic analyses of the system's impedance, demonstrating a close correlation between the tumor size and the resistance and capacitance of the system. Our results also indicate an enhanced drug effect on the tumor spheroids in the presence of a low AC electric field, suggesting a weakening mechanism of the spheroids induced by external perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Yuanhui Liu
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France; Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China; Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaochen Huang
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Feng Liang
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Haoyue Luo
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Zheng Mao
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jian Shi
- MesoBioTech, 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001, Paris, France
| | - Li Wang
- MesoBioTech, 231 Rue Saint-Honoré, 75001, Paris, France
| | - Juan Peng
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Yong Chen
- École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University, Département de Chimie, Sorbonne Universités-UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR 8640, PASTEUR, 24, rue Lhomond, 75005, Paris, France.
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2
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Charan M, Jones TH, Ahirwar DK, Acharya N, Subramaniam VV, Ganju RK, Song JW. Induced electric fields inhibit breast cancer growth and metastasis by modulating the immune tumor microenvironment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.14.589256. [PMID: 38659909 PMCID: PMC11042207 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.14.589256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Despite tremendous advances in oncology, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer remains difficult to treat and manage with established therapies. Here, we show in mice with orthotopic triple-negative breast tumors that alternating (100 kHz), and low intensity (<1 mV/cm) induced electric fields (iEFs) significantly reduced primary tumor growth and distant lung metastases. Non-contact iEF treatment can be delivered safely and non-invasively in vivo via a hollow, rectangular solenoid coil. We discovered that iEF treatment enhances anti-tumor immune responses at both the primary breast and secondary lung sites. In addition, iEF reduces immunosuppressive TME by reducing effector CD8+ T cell exhaustion and the infiltration of immunosuppressive immune cells. Furthermore, iEF treatment reduced lung metastasis by increasing CD8+ T cells and reducing immunosuppressive Gr1+ neutrophils in the lung microenvironment. We also observed that iEFs reduced the metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. By introducing a non-invasive and non-toxic electrotherapeutic for inhibiting metastatic outgrowth and enhancing anti-tumor immune response in vivo, treatment with iEF technology could add to a paradigm-shifting strategy for cancer therapy.
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3
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Tanvir MAH, Khaleque MA, Kim GH, Yoo WY, Kim YY. The Role of Bioceramics for Bone Regeneration: History, Mechanisms, and Future Perspectives. Biomimetics (Basel) 2024; 9:230. [PMID: 38667241 PMCID: PMC11048714 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9040230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder marked by compromised bone integrity, predisposing individuals, particularly older adults and postmenopausal women, to fractures. The advent of bioceramics for bone regeneration has opened up auspicious pathways for addressing osteoporosis. Research indicates that bioceramics can help bones grow back by activating bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and wingless/integrated (Wnt)/β-catenin pathways in the body when combined with stem cells, drugs, and other supports. Still, bioceramics have some problems, such as not being flexible enough and prone to breaking, as well as difficulties in growing stem cells and discovering suitable supports for different bone types. While there have been improvements in making bioceramics better for healing bones, it is important to keep looking for new ideas from different areas of medicine to make them even better. By conducting a thorough scrutiny of the pivotal role bioceramics play in facilitating bone regeneration, this review aspires to propel forward the rapidly burgeoning domain of scientific exploration. In the end, this appreciation will contribute to the development of novel bioceramics that enhance bone regrowth and offer patients with bone disorders alternative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Young-Yul Kim
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon 34943, Republic of Korea; (M.A.H.T.); (M.A.K.); (G.-H.K.); (W.-Y.Y.)
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4
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Sun J, Xu C, Wo K, Wang Y, Zhang J, Lei H, Wang X, Shi Y, Fan W, Zhao B, Wang J, Su B, Yang C, Luo Z, Chen L. Wireless Electric Cues Mediate Autologous DPSC-Loaded Conductive Hydrogel Microspheres to Engineer the Immuno-Angiogenic Niche for Homologous Maxillofacial Bone Regeneration. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303405. [PMID: 37949452 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303405] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell therapy serves as an effective treatment for bone regeneration. Nevertheless, stem cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood are still lacking homologous properties. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are derived from neural crest, in coincidence with maxillofacial tissues, thus attracting great interest in in situ maxillofacial regenerative medicine. However, insufficient number and heterogenous alteration of seed cells retard further exploration of DPSC-based tissue engineering. Electric stimulation has recently attracted great interest in tissue regeneration. In this study, a novel DPSC-loaded conductive hydrogel microspheres integrated with wireless electric generator is fabricated. Application of exogenous electric cues can promote stemness maintaining and heterogeneity suppression for unpredictable differentiation of encapsulated DPSCs. Further investigations observe that electric signal fine-tunes regenerative niche by improvement on DPSC-mediated paracrine pattern, evidenced by enhanced angiogenic behavior and upregulated anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization. By wireless electric stimulation on implanted conductive hydrogel microspheres, loaded DPSCs facilitates the construction of immuno-angiogenic niche at early stage of tissue repair, and further contributes to advanced autologous mandibular bone defect regeneration. This novel strategy of DPSC-based tissue engineering exhibits promising translational and therapeutic potential for autologous maxillofacial tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwei Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chao Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Keqi Wo
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Junyuan Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Haoqi Lei
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaohan Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yunsong Shi
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Wenjie Fan
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Baoying Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jinyu Wang
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Bin Su
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zhiqiang Luo
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Lili Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
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5
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Hu M, Li H, Zhu K, Guo L, Zhao M, Zhan H, Devreotes PN, Qing Q. Electric field modulation of ERK dynamics shows dependency on waveform and timing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3167. [PMID: 38326365 PMCID: PMC10850077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53018-y] [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: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Different exogenous electric fields (EF) can guide cell migration, disrupt proliferation, and program cell development. Studies have shown that many of these processes were initiated at the cell membrane, but the mechanism has been unclear, especially for conventionally non-excitable cells. In this study, we focus on the electrostatic aspects of EF coupling with the cell membrane by eliminating Faradaic processes using dielectric-coated microelectrodes. Our data unveil a distinctive biphasic response of the ERK signaling pathway of epithelial cells (MCF10A) to alternate current (AC) EF. The ERK signal exhibits both inhibition and activation phases, with the former triggered by a lower threshold of AC EF, featuring a swifter peaking time and briefer refractory periods than the later-occurring activation phase, induced at a higher threshold. Interestingly, the biphasic ERK responses are sensitive to the waveform and timing of EF stimulation pulses, depicting the characteristics of electrostatic and dissipative interactions. Blocker tests and correlated changes of active Ras on the cell membrane with ERK signals indicated that both EGFR and Ras were involved in the rich ERK dynamics induced by EF. We propose that the frequency-dependent dielectric relaxation process could be an important mechanism to couple EF energy to the cell membrane region and modulate membrane protein-initiated signaling pathways, which can be further explored to precisely control cell behavior and fate with high temporal and spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxi Hu
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Houpu Li
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Kan Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Liang Guo
- College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Huiwang Zhan
- Department of Cell Biology and Center for Cell Dynamics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter N Devreotes
- Department of Cell Biology and Center for Cell Dynamics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Quan Qing
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
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6
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Jain A, Gosling J, Liu S, Wang H, Stone EM, Chakraborty S, Jayaraman PS, Smith S, Amabilino DB, Fromhold M, Long YT, Pérez-García L, Turyanska L, Rahman R, Rawson FJ. Wireless electrical-molecular quantum signalling for cancer cell apoptosis. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 19:106-114. [PMID: 37709951 PMCID: PMC10796273 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01496-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer is involved in controlling essential functions for life such as cellular respiration and homoeostasis. Understanding and controlling the quantum effects in biology has the potential to modulate biological functions. Here we merge wireless nano-electrochemical tools with cancer cells for control over electron transfer to trigger cancer cell death. Gold bipolar nanoelectrodes functionalized with redox-active cytochrome c and a redox mediator zinc porphyrin are developed as electric-field-stimulating bio-actuators, termed bio-nanoantennae. We show that a remote electrical input regulates electron transport between these redox molecules, which results in quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer to trigger apoptosis in patient-derived cancer cells in a selective manner. Transcriptomics data show that the electric-field-induced bio-nanoantenna targets the cancer cells in a unique manner, representing electrically induced control of molecular signalling. The work shows the potential of quantum-based medical diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Jain
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan Gosling
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Shaochuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haowei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Eloise M Stone
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sajib Chakraborty
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Stuart Smith
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - David B Amabilino
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de Cerdanyola, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mark Fromhold
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Yi-Tao Long
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lluïsa Pérez-García
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ruman Rahman
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Frankie J Rawson
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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7
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Vaiciuleviciute R, Uzieliene I, Bernotas P, Novickij V, Alaburda A, Bernotiene E. Electrical Stimulation in Cartilage Tissue Engineering. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10040454. [PMID: 37106641 PMCID: PMC10135934 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10040454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation (ES) has been frequently used in different biomedical applications both in vitro and in vivo. Numerous studies have demonstrated positive effects of ES on cellular functions, including metabolism, proliferation, and differentiation. The application of ES to cartilage tissue for increasing extracellular matrix formation is of interest, as cartilage is not able to restore its lesions owing to its avascular nature and lack of cells. Various ES approaches have been used to stimulate chondrogenic differentiation in chondrocytes and stem cells; however, there is a huge gap in systematizing ES protocols used for chondrogenic differentiation of cells. This review focuses on the application of ES for chondrocyte and mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis for cartilage tissue regeneration. The effects of different types of ES on cellular functions and chondrogenic differentiation are reviewed, systematically providing ES protocols and their advantageous effects. Moreover, cartilage 3D modeling using cells in scaffolds/hydrogels under ES are observed, and recommendations on reporting about the use of ES in different studies are provided to ensure adequate consolidation of knowledge in the area of ES. This review brings novel insights into the further application of ES in in vitro studies, which are promising for further cartilage repair techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raminta Vaiciuleviciute
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ilona Uzieliene
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Paulius Bernotas
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vitalij Novickij
- Department of Immunology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariškių g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Faculty of Electronics, High Magnetic Field Institute, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Plytines g. 27, 10105 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aidas Alaburda
- Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al. 7, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Eiva Bernotiene
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu g. 5, 08410 Vilnius, Lithuania
- VilniusTech, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Sauletekio al. 11, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
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8
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Lin L, McCraw MR, Uluutku B, Liu Y, Yan D, Soni V, Horkowitz A, Yao X, Limanowski R, Solares SD, Beilis II, Keidar M. Cell Membrane Oscillations under Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Modulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:3320-3331. [PMID: 36802616 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cell responses to external radiofrequencies (RF) are a fundamental problem of much scientific research, clinical applications, and even daily lives surrounded by wireless communication hardware. In this work, we report an unexpected observation that the cell membrane can oscillate at the nanometer scale in phase with the external RF radiation from kHz to GHz. By analyzing the oscillation modes, we reveal the mechanism behind the membrane oscillation resonance, membrane blebbing, the resulting cell death, and the selectivity of plasma-based cancer treatment based on the difference in the membrane's natural frequencies among cell lines. Therefore, a selectivity of treatment can be achieved by aiming at the natural frequency of the target cell line to focus the membrane damage on the cancer cells and avoid normal tissues nearby. This gives a promising cancer therapy that is especially effective in the mixing lesion of the cancer cells and normal cells such as glioblastoma where surgical removal is not applicable. Along with these new phenomena, this work provides a general understanding of the cell coupling with RF radiation from the externally stimulated membrane behavior to the cell apoptosis and necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Lin
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Marshall R McCraw
- Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3900, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Berkin Uluutku
- Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3900, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800th Dongchuan Rd., Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Dayun Yan
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Vikas Soni
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Alex Horkowitz
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Xiaoliang Yao
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Ruby Limanowski
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Santiago D Solares
- Scanning Probe Microscopy Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3900, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
| | - Isak I Beilis
- School of Electrical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Wolfson Building, Chaim Levanon St 30, 6997801 Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Michael Keidar
- Micropropulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory, School of Engineering and Applied Science, George Washington University, 800 22nd St. NW, Suite 3100, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States of America
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9
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Bhaskar N, Kachappilly MC, Bhushan V, Pandya HJ, Basu B. Electrical field stimulated modulation of cell fate of pre-osteoblasts on PVDF/BT/MWCNT based electroactive biomaterials. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:340-353. [PMID: 36403282 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37472] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study reports the impact of the interplay between electroactive properties of the biomaterials and electrical stimulation (ES) toward the cell proliferation, migration and maturation of osteoprogenitors (preosteoblasts; MC3T3-E1) on the electroactive poly (vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF)-based composites. The barium titanate (BaTiO3; BT; 30 wt%) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT; 3 wt%) were introduced into the PVDF via melt mixing, which led to an enhancement of the dielectric permittivity, electrical conductivity, and surface roughness. We also present the design and development of an in-house customized 12-well plate-based device for providing different types (DC, square, biphasic) of ES to cells in culture in a programmable manner. In the presence of ES of 1 V cm-1 , biophysical stimulation experiments performed using 12-well plate-based device revealed that PVDF composite (PVDF/30BT/3MWCNT) can facilitate the enhanced adhesion and proliferation of the MC3T3-E1 in non-osteogenic media, with respect to non-stimulated conditions. Importantly, MC3T3-E1 cells demonstrated significantly better migration and differentiation on the PVDF/30BT/3MWCNT under ES when compared to ES-free culture conditions. Similar enhancement with respect to alkaline phosphatase activity, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and calcium deposition in MC3T3-E1 cells was recorded, when pre-osteoblasts were grown for 21 days on electroactive substrates. All these observations supported the activation of osteo-differentiation fates, which were further promoted in the osteogenic medium. The present study demonstrates that the synergistic interactions of ES with piezoelectric PVDF-based polymer composite can potentially enhance the proliferation, migration, and osteogenesis of the pre-osteoblast cells, rendering it a promising bioengineering strategy for bone tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitu Bhaskar
- Laboratory for Biomaterials, Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Midhun C Kachappilly
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Venkatesh Bhushan
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Hardik J Pandya
- Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,Centre for Product Design and Manufacturing, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Bikramjit Basu
- Laboratory for Biomaterials, Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.,Centre for Biosystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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10
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Kaynak A, N’Guessan KF, Patel PH, Lee JH, Kogan AB, Narmoneva DA, Qi X. Electric Fields Regulate In Vitro Surface Phosphatidylserine Exposure of Cancer Cells via a Calcium-Dependent Pathway. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020466. [PMID: 36831002 PMCID: PMC9953458 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide after heart disease. The current treatment options to fight cancer are limited, and there is a critical need for better treatment strategies. During the last several decades, several electric field (EF)-based approaches for anti-cancer therapies have been introduced, such as electroporation and tumor-treating fields; still, they are far from optimal due to their invasive nature, limited efficacy and significant side effects. In this study, we developed a non-contact EF stimulation system to investigate the in vitro effects of a novel EF modality on cancer biomarkers in normal (human astrocytes, human pancreatic ductal epithelial -HDPE-cells) and cancer cell lines (glioblastoma U87-GBM, human pancreatic cancer cfPac-1, and MiaPaCa-2). Our results demonstrate that this EF modality can successfully modulate an important cancer cell biomarker-cell surface phosphatidylserine (PS). Our results further suggest that moderate, but not low, amplitude EF induces p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), actin polymerization, and cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines. Based on our results, we propose a mechanism for EF-mediated PS exposure in cancer cells, where the magnitude of induced EF on the cell surface can differentially regulate intracellular calcium (Ca2+) levels, thereby modulating surface PS exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Kaynak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Kombo F. N’Guessan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Priyankaben H. Patel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Jing-Huei Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Andrei B. Kogan
- Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Daria A. Narmoneva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Xiaoyang Qi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-513-558-4025
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11
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Alshawaf AJ, Alnassar SA, Al-Mohanna FA. The interplay of intracellular calcium and zinc ions in response to electric field stimulation in primary rat cortical neurons in vitro. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1118335. [PMID: 37180947 PMCID: PMC10174245 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1118335] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent pharmacological studies demonstrate a role for zinc (Zn2+) in shaping intracellular calcium (Ca2+) dynamics and vice versa in excitable cells including neurons and cardiomyocytes. Herein, we sought to examine the dynamic of intracellular release of Ca2+ and Zn2+ upon modifying excitability of primary rat cortical neurons using electric field stimulation (EFS) in vitro. We show that exposure to EFS with an intensity of 7.69 V/cm induces transient membrane hyperpolarization together with transient elevations in the cytosolic levels of Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions. The EFS-induced hyperpolarization was inhibited by prior treatment of cells with the K+ channel opener diazoxide. Chemical hyperpolarization had no apparent effect on either Ca2+ or Zn2+. The source of EFS-induced rise in Ca2+ and Zn2+ seemed to be intracellular, and that the dynamic inferred of an interplay between Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions, whereby the removal of extracellular Ca2+ augmented the release of intracellular Ca2+ and Zn2+ and caused a stronger and more sustained hyperpolarization. We demonstrate that Zn2+ is released from intracellular vesicles located in the soma, with major co-localizations in the lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum. These studies further support the use of EFS as a tool to interrogate the kinetics of intracellular ions in response to changing membrane potential in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah J. Alshawaf
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A. Alnassar
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Futwan A. Al-Mohanna
- Department of Cell Biology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Futwan A. Al-Mohanna,
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12
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Di Gregorio E, Israel S, Staelens M, Tankel G, Shankar K, Tuszyński JA. The distinguishing electrical properties of cancer cells. Phys Life Rev 2022; 43:139-188. [PMID: 36265200 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, medical research has been primarily focused on the inherited aspect of cancers, despite the reality that only 5-10% of tumours discovered are derived from genetic causes. Cancer is a broad term, and therefore it is inaccurate to address it as a purely genetic disease. Understanding cancer cells' behaviour is the first step in countering them. Behind the scenes, there is a complicated network of environmental factors, DNA errors, metabolic shifts, and electrostatic alterations that build over time and lead to the illness's development. This latter aspect has been analyzed in previous studies, but how the different electrical changes integrate and affect each other is rarely examined. Every cell in the human body possesses electrical properties that are essential for proper behaviour both within and outside of the cell itself. It is not yet clear whether these changes correlate with cell mutation in cancer cells, or only with their subsequent development. Either way, these aspects merit further investigation, especially with regards to their causes and consequences. Trying to block changes at various levels of occurrence or assisting in their prevention could be the key to stopping cells from becoming cancerous. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge regarding the electrical landscape of cells is much needed. We review four essential electrical characteristics of cells, providing a deep understanding of the electrostatic changes in cancer cells compared to their normal counterparts. In particular, we provide an overview of intracellular and extracellular pH modifications, differences in ionic concentrations in the cytoplasm, transmembrane potential variations, and changes within mitochondria. New therapies targeting or exploiting the electrical properties of cells are developed and tested every year, such as pH-dependent carriers and tumour-treating fields. A brief section regarding the state-of-the-art of these therapies can be found at the end of this review. Finally, we highlight how these alterations integrate and potentially yield indications of cells' malignancy or metastatic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Di Gregorio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Simone Israel
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada
| | - Gabriella Tankel
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, ON, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211 116 Street NW, Edmonton, T6G 1H9, AB, Canada
| | - Jack A Tuszyński
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, T6G 1Z2, AB, Canada.
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Real-Time Monitoring of the Effect of Tumour-Treating Fields on Cell Division Using Live-Cell Imaging. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172712. [PMID: 36078119 PMCID: PMC9454843 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172712] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of electric fields (EFs) on various cell types have been thoroughly studied, and exhibit a well-known regulatory effect on cell processes, implicating their usage in several medical applications. While the specific effect exerted on cells is highly parameter-dependent, the majority of past research has focused primarily on low-frequency alternating fields (<1 kHz) and high-frequency fields (in the order of MHz). However, in recent years, low-intensity (1–3 V/cm) alternating EFs with intermediate frequencies (100–500 kHz) have been of topical interest as clinical treatments for cancerous tumours through their disruption of cell division and the mitotic spindle, which can lead to cell death. These aptly named tumour-treating fields (TTFields) have been approved by the FDA as a treatment modality for several cancers, such as malignant pleural mesothelioma and glioblastoma multiforme, demonstrating remarkable efficacy and a high safety profile. In this work, we report the results of in vitro experiments with HeLa and MCF-10A cells exposed to TTFields for 18 h, imaged in real time using live-cell imaging. Both studied cell lines were exposed to 100 kHz TTFields with a 1-1 duty cycle, which resulted in significant mitotic and cytokinetic arrest. In the experiments with HeLa cells, the effects of the TTFields’ frequency (100 kHz vs. 200 kHz) and duty cycle (1-1 vs. 1-0) were also investigated. Notably, the anti-mitotic effect was stronger in the HeLa cells treated with 100 kHz TTFields. Additionally, it was found that single and two-directional TTFields (oriented orthogonally) exhibit a similar inhibitory effect on HeLa cell division. These results provide real-time evidence of the profound ability of TTFields to hinder the process of cell division by significantly delaying both the mitosis and cytokinesis phases of the cell cycle.
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14
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Pulsed Electrical Stimulation Affects Osteoblast Adhesion and Calcium Ion Signaling. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172650. [PMID: 36078058 PMCID: PMC9454840 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172650] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An extensive research field in regenerative medicine is electrical stimulation (ES) and its impact on tissue and cells. The mechanism of action of ES, particularly the role of electrical parameters like intensity, frequency, and duration of the electric field, is not yet fully understood. Human MG-63 osteoblasts were electrically stimulated for 10 min with a commercially available multi-channel system (IonOptix). We generated alternating current (AC) electrical fields with a voltage of 1 or 5 V and frequencies of 7.9 or 20 Hz, respectively. To exclude liquid-mediated effects, we characterized the AC-stimulated culture medium. AC stimulation did not change the medium’s pH, temperature, and oxygen content. The H2O2 level was comparable with the unstimulated samples except at 5 V_7.9 Hz, where a significant increase in H2O2 was found within the first 30 min. Pulsed electrical stimulation was beneficial for the process of attachment and initial adhesion of suspended osteoblasts. At the same time, the intracellular Ca2+ level was enhanced and highest for 20 Hz stimulated cells with 1 and 5 V, respectively. In addition, increased Ca2+ mobilization after an additional trigger (ATP) was detected at these parameters. New knowledge was provided on why electrical stimulation contributes to cell activation in bone tissue regeneration.
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15
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Kaynak A, Davis HW, Kogan AB, Lee JH, Narmoneva DA, Qi X. Phosphatidylserine: The Unique Dual-Role Biomarker for Cancer Imaging and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2536. [PMID: 35626139 PMCID: PMC9139557 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In recent years, many cancer-associated biomarkers have been identified that are used for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, screening, and early detection, as well as for predicting and monitoring carcinogenesis and therapeutic effectiveness. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a negatively charged phospholipid which is predominantly located in the inner leaflet of the cell membrane. In many cancer cells, PS externalizes to the outer cell membrane, a process regulated by calcium-dependent flippases and scramblases. Saposin C coupled with dioleoylphosphatidylserine (SapC-DOPS) nanovesicle (BXQ-350) and bavituximab, (Tarvacin, human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibodies) are cell surface PS-targeting drugs being tested in clinical trial for treating a variety of cancers. Additionally, a number of other PS-selective agents have been used to trigger cytotoxicity in tumor-associated endothelial cells or cancer cells in pre-clinical studies. Recent studies have demonstrated that upregulation of surface PS exposure by chemodrugs, radiation, and external electric fields can be used as a novel approach to sensitize cancer cells to PS-targeting anticancer drugs. The objectives of this review are to provide an overview of a unique dual-role of PS as a biomarker/target for cancer imaging and therapy, and to discuss PS-based anticancer strategies that are currently under active development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Kaynak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.K.); (J.-H.L.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Harold W. Davis
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
| | - Andrei B. Kogan
- Physics Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA;
| | - Jing-Huei Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.K.); (J.-H.L.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Daria A. Narmoneva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.K.); (J.-H.L.); (D.A.N.)
| | - Xiaoyang Qi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA; (A.K.); (J.-H.L.); (D.A.N.)
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
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16
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Numerical study on the effect of capacitively coupled electrical stimulation on biological cells considering model uncertainties. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4744. [PMID: 35304501 PMCID: PMC8933463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08279-w] [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: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of biological samples such as tissues and cell cultures attracts growing attention due to its capability of enhancing cell activity, proliferation, and differentiation. Eventually, a profound knowledge of the underlying mechanisms paves the way for innovative therapeutic devices. Capacitive coupling is one option of delivering electric fields to biological samples that has advantages regarding biocompatibility. However, its biological mechanism of interaction is not well understood. Experimental findings could be related to voltage-gated channels, which are triggered by changes of the transmembrane potential. Numerical simulations by the finite element method provide a possibility to estimate the transmembrane potential. Since a full resolution of the cell membrane within a macroscopic model would lead to prohibitively expensive models, we suggest the adaptation of an approximate finite element method. Starting from a basic 2.5D model, the chosen method is validated and applied to realistic experimental situations. To understand the influence of the dielectric properties on the modelling outcome, uncertainty quantification techniques are employed. A frequency-dependent influence of the uncertain dielectric properties of the cell membrane on the modelling outcome is revealed. This may have practical implications for future experimental studies. Our methodology can be easily adapted for computational studies relying on experimental data.
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17
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Filippi M, Garello F, Yasa O, Kasamkattil J, Scherberich A, Katzschmann RK. Engineered Magnetic Nanocomposites to Modulate Cellular Function. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2104079. [PMID: 34741417 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202104079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have various applications in biomedicine, including imaging, drug delivery and release, genetic modification, cell guidance, and patterning. By combining MNPs with polymers, magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) with diverse morphologies (core-shell particles, matrix-dispersed particles, microspheres, etc.) can be generated. These MNCs retain the ability of MNPs to be controlled remotely using external magnetic fields. While the effects of these biomaterials on the cell biology are still poorly understood, such information can help the biophysical modulation of various cellular functions, including proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. After recalling the basic properties of MNPs and polymers, and describing their coassembly into nanocomposites, this review focuses on how polymeric MNCs can be used in several ways to affect cell behavior. A special emphasis is given to 3D cell culture models and transplantable grafts, which are used for regenerative medicine, underlining the impact of MNCs in regulating stem cell differentiation and engineering living tissues. Recent advances in the use of MNCs for tissue regeneration are critically discussed, particularly with regard to their prospective involvement in human therapy and in the construction of advanced functional materials such as magnetically operated biomedical robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Filippi
- Soft Robotics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Garello
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, Torino, 10126, Italy
| | - Oncay Yasa
- Soft Robotics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Jesil Kasamkattil
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, Basel, 4031, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Scherberich
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, Basel, 4031, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Gewerbestrasse 14, Allschwil, 4123, Switzerland
| | - Robert K Katzschmann
- Soft Robotics Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Tannenstrasse 3, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
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Oudebrouckx G, Goossens J, Bormans S, Vandenryt T, Wagner P, Thoelen R. Integrating Thermal Sensors in a Microplate Format: Simultaneous Real-Time Quantification of Cell Number and Metabolic Activity. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:2440-2451. [PMID: 34990545 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c14668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplates have become a standard tool in the pharmaceutical industry and academia for a broad range of screening assays. One of the most commonly performed assays is the cell proliferation assay, which is often used for the purpose of drug discovery. Microplate readers play a crucial role in this field, as they enable high-throughput testing of large sample numbers. Common drawbacks of the most popular plate reader technologies are that they are end-point-based and most often require the use of detection reagents. As a solution, with this work, we aim to expand the possibilities of real-time and label-free monitoring of cell proliferation inside a microplate format by introducing a novel thermal-based sensing approach. For this purpose, we have developed thin-film sensors that can easily be integrated into the bottom of standard 96-well plates. First, the accuracy and precision of the sensors for measuring temperature and thermal effusivity are assessed via characterization experiments. These experiments highlight the fast response of the sensors to changes in temperature and thermal effusivity, as well as the excellent reproducibility between different sensors. Later, proof-of-principle measurements were performed on the proliferation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The proliferation measurements show that the thermal sensors were able to simultaneously detect relative changes in cell number as well as changes in metabolic activity. This dual functionality makes the presented sensor technology a promising candidate for monitoring microplate assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Oudebrouckx
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Juul Goossens
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Seppe Bormans
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Thijs Vandenryt
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Patrick Wagner
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ronald Thoelen
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
- Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
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Yao J, Yao C, Zhang A, Xu X, Wu A, Yang F. Magnetomechanical force: an emerging paradigm for therapeutic applications. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:7136-7147. [DOI: 10.1039/d2tb00428c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical forces, which play an profound role in cell fate regulation, have prompted the rapid development and popularization of mechanobiology. More recently, magnetic fields in combination with intelligent materials featuring...
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Meneses J, Fernandes SR, Alves N, Pascoal-Faria P, Miranda PC. Effects of Scaffold Electrical Properties on Electric Field Delivery in Bioreactors. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021; 2021:4147-4151. [PMID: 34892139 DOI: 10.1109/embc46164.2021.9630711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
In tissue engineering, cell culture scaffolds have been widely used in combination with electrical stimulation to promote multiple cellular outcomes, like differentiation and proliferation. Nevertheless, the influence of scaffolds on the electric field delivered inside a bioreactor is often ignored and requires a deeper study. By performing numerical analysis in a capacitively coupled setup, this work aimed to predict the effects of the scaffold presence on the electric field, considering multiple combinations of scaffold and culture medium electrical properties. We concluded that the effect of the scaffold on the electric field in the surrounding culture medium was determined by the difference in electrical conductivity of these two materials. The numerical simulations pointed to significant variations in local electric field patterns, which could lead to different cellular outcomes and confound the interpretation of the experimental results.
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21
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Zheng Y, Zhao L, Dong L, Tian C, Xia P, Jin Z. The Time-Dependence of Three Different Modes of ELF-EMF Stimulation on LTP at Schaffer Collateral-CA1 Synapses. Bioelectromagnetics 2021; 42:538-549. [PMID: 34449888 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22369] [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: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is considered the cellular basis of learning and memory. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) are neuromodulation tools for regulating LTP. However, the temporal effects of short-term ELF-EMF stimulation on LTP are not yet known. In this study, we evaluated the time-dependent effects of 15 Hz/2 mT ELF-EMF stimulation on LTP at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 (SC-CA1) synapses in Sprague-Dawley rats. Hippocampal slices were exposed to three different modes of ELF-EMFs (sinusoidal, single-frequency pulse, and rhythm pulse) and durations (10, 20, 40, and 60 s). The baseline was recorded for 20 min and field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) was recorded for 60 min using multi-electrode arrays (MEA) after plasticity induction using 100 Hz electrical high-frequency stimulation (HFS). Compared to the control group, the LTP decreased under three different magnetic fields and was proportional to time; that is, the longer the time, the greater the inhibition. We also compared the three magnetic fields and showed that the continuous sinusoidal magnetic field had the largest inhibitory rate of LTP, while pulsed and rhythm pulsed magnetic fields were similar. We showed that different modes of ELF-EMF stimulation had a time-dependent effect on LTP at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses, which provides experimental evidence for the treatment of related neurological diseases. © 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunxiao Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Pei Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zijia Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
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22
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Zheng Y, Zhao W, Ma X, Dong L, Tian L, Zhou M. Comparison of ELF-EMFs stimulation with current stimulation on the regulation of LTP of SC-CA1 synapses in young rat hippocampus. Int J Radiat Biol 2021; 97:1032-1041. [PMID: 33970763 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2021.1928781] [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: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an important functional indicator for synaptic plasticity. Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) are a physical means to regulate LTP, which induce induced currents. It is unknown whether induced current is the key factor when LTP is regulated by ELF-EMFs.New Method: A method is proposed for calculating the current value induced by ELF-EMFs. Then, a comparison of ELF-EMFs with current on the regulation of theta-burst or high-frequency stimulation (TBS/HFS)-LTP was performed. RESULTS The LTP after ELF-EMFs and μA current regulation was significantly reduced. The regulatory effect of 0.1 μA current on LTP was similar with 100 Hz/2 mT ELF-EMFs, while 0.2 μA had a stronger regulatory effect than 200 Hz/2 mT on HFS-LTP.Comparison with Existing Methods: Most of the existing methods were used to calculate the induced current in human models, while we present a more accurate model for calculating the induced current induced by ELF-EMFs in the rat brain slices. CONCLUSIONS This work indicated that μA current and ELF-EMFs stimulation reduced LTP. Also, we demonstrated that the regulatory effect of ELF-EMFs on LTP is not entirely deriving from the induced current, since its magnetic mechanism might have played a certain role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenjun Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxu Ma
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mei Zhou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multidimensional Information Processing, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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23
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Cheng H, Huang Y, Chen W, Che J, Liu T, Na J, Wang R, Fan Y. Cyclic Strain and Electrical Co-stimulation Improve Neural Differentiation of Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:624755. [PMID: 34055769 PMCID: PMC8150581 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.624755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study investigated the combinatorial effect of cyclic strain and electrical stimulation on neural differentiation potential of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) under epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) inductions in vitro. We developed a prototype device which can provide cyclic strain and electrical signal synchronously. Using this system, we demonstrated that cyclic strain and electrical co-stimulation promote the differentiation of BMCSs into neural cells with more branches and longer neurites than strain or electrical stimulation alone. Strain and electrical co-stimulation can also induce a higher expression of neural markers in terms of transcription and protein level. Neurotrophic factors and the intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) are also upregulated with co-stimulation. Importantly, the co-stimulation further enhances the calcium influx of neural differentiated BMSCs when responding to acetylcholine and potassium chloride (KCl). Finally, the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 and protein kinase B (AKT) was elevated under co-stimulation treatment. The present work suggests a synergistic effect of the combination of cyclic strain and electrical stimulation on BMSC neuronal differentiation and provides an alternative approach to physically manipulate stem cell differentiation into mature and functional neural cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cheng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Jifei Che
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Taidong Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Na
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruojin Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Chinese Education Ministry, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
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24
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Distler T, Polley C, Shi F, Schneidereit D, Ashton MD, Friedrich O, Kolb JF, Hardy JG, Detsch R, Seitz H, Boccaccini AR. Electrically Conductive and 3D-Printable Oxidized Alginate-Gelatin Polypyrrole:PSS Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001876. [PMID: 33711199 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Electroactive hydrogels can be used to influence cell response and maturation by electrical stimulation. However, hydrogel formulations which are 3D printable, electroactive, cytocompatible, and allow cell adhesion, remain a challenge in the design of such stimuli-responsive biomaterials for tissue engineering. Here, a combination of pyrrole with a high gelatin-content oxidized alginate-gelatin (ADA-GEL) hydrogel is reported, offering 3D-printability of hydrogel precursors to prepare cytocompatible and electrically conductive hydrogel scaffolds. By oxidation of pyrrole, electroactive polypyrrole:polystyrenesulfonate (PPy:PSS) is synthesized inside the ADA-GEL matrix. The hydrogels are assessed regarding their electrical/mechanical properties, 3D-printability, and cytocompatibility. It is possible to prepare open-porous scaffolds via bioplotting which are electrically conductive and have a higher cell seeding efficiency in scaffold depth in comparison to flat 2D hydrogels, which is confirmed via multiphoton fluorescence microscopy. The formation of an interpenetrating polypyrrole matrix in the hydrogel matrix increases the conductivity and stiffness of the hydrogels, maintaining the capacity of the gels to promote cell adhesion and proliferation. The results demonstrate that a 3D-printable ADA-GEL can be rendered conductive (ADA-GEL-PPy:PSS), and that such hydrogel formulations have promise for cell therapies, in vitro cell culture, and electrical-stimulation assisted tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Distler
- Institute of Biomaterials Department of Material Science and Engineering Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nuremberg Erlangen 91058 Germany
| | - Christian Polley
- Chair of Microfluidics Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Rostock Rostock 18059 Germany
| | - Fukun Shi
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) Greifswald 17489 Germany
| | - Dominik Schneidereit
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Erlangen 91052 Germany
| | - Mark. D. Ashton
- Department of Chemistry Faraday Building Lancaster University Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4YB UK
- Materials Science Institute Faraday Building Lancaster University Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4YB UK
| | - Oliver Friedrich
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Erlangen 91052 Germany
| | - Jürgen F. Kolb
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) Greifswald 17489 Germany
| | - John G. Hardy
- Department of Chemistry Faraday Building Lancaster University Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4YB UK
- Materials Science Institute Faraday Building Lancaster University Lancaster Lancashire LA1 4YB UK
| | - Rainer Detsch
- Institute of Biomaterials Department of Material Science and Engineering Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nuremberg Erlangen 91058 Germany
| | - Hermann Seitz
- Chair of Microfluidics Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Rostock Rostock 18059 Germany
| | - Aldo R. Boccaccini
- Institute of Biomaterials Department of Material Science and Engineering Friedrich‐Alexander‐University Erlangen‐Nuremberg Erlangen 91058 Germany
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25
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Bormans S, Oudebrouckx G, Vandormael P, Vandenryt T, Wagner P, Somers V, Thoelen R. Pulsed Thermal Method for Monitoring Cell Proliferation in Real-Time. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:2440. [PMID: 33916287 PMCID: PMC8036761 DOI: 10.3390/s21072440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The study of cell proliferation is of great importance for medical and biological research, as well as for industrial applications. To render the proliferation process accurately over time, real-time cell proliferation assay methods are required. This work presents a novel real-time and label-free approach for monitoring cell proliferation by continuously measuring changes in thermal properties that occur at the sensor interface during the process. The sensor consists of a single planar resistive structure deposited on a thin foil substrate, integrated at the bottom of a cell culture reservoir. During measurement, the structure is excited with square wave current pulses. Meanwhile, the temperature-induced voltage change measured over the structure is used to derive variations in the number of cells at the interface. This principle is demonstrated first by performing cell sedimentation measurements to quantify the presence of cells at the sensor interface in the absence of cell growth. Later, cell proliferation experiments were performed, whereby parameters such as the available nutrient content and the cell starting concentration were modified. Results from these experiments show that the thermal-based sensor is able to accurately measure variations in the number of cells at the interface. Moreover, the influence of the modified parameters could be observed in the obtained proliferation curves. These findings highlight the potential for the presented thermal method to be incorporated in a standardized well plate format for high-throughput monitoring of cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seppe Bormans
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (G.O.); (T.V.); (R.T.)
- IMEC vzw, Division IMOMEC, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Gilles Oudebrouckx
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (G.O.); (T.V.); (R.T.)
- IMEC vzw, Division IMOMEC, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Patrick Vandormael
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (P.V.); (V.S.)
| | - Thijs Vandenryt
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (G.O.); (T.V.); (R.T.)
- IMEC vzw, Division IMOMEC, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Patrick Wagner
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Veerle Somers
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), School of Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (P.V.); (V.S.)
| | - Ronald Thoelen
- Institute for Materials Research (IMO), Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; (G.O.); (T.V.); (R.T.)
- IMEC vzw, Division IMOMEC, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
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26
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Krueger S, Riess A, Jonitz-Heincke A, Weizel A, Seyfarth A, Seitz H, Bader R. Establishment of a New Device for Electrical Stimulation of Non-Degenerative Cartilage Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010394. [PMID: 33401406 PMCID: PMC7794805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In cell-based therapies for cartilage lesions, the main problem is still the formation of fibrous cartilage, caused by underlying de-differentiation processes ex vivo. Biophysical stimulation is a promising approach to optimize cell-based procedures and to adapt them more closely to physiological conditions. The occurrence of mechano-electrical transduction phenomena within cartilage tissue is physiological and based on streaming and diffusion potentials. The application of exogenous electric fields can be used to mimic endogenous fields and, thus, support the differentiation of chondrocytes in vitro. For this purpose, we have developed a new device for electrical stimulation of chondrocytes, which operates on the basis of capacitive coupling of alternating electric fields. The reusable and sterilizable stimulation device allows the simultaneous use of 12 cavities with independently applicable fields using only one main supply. The first parameter settings for the stimulation of human non-degenerative chondrocytes, seeded on collagen type I elastin-based scaffolds, were derived from numerical electric field simulations. Our first results suggest that applied alternating electric fields induce chondrogenic re-differentiation at the gene and especially at the protein level of human de-differentiated chondrocytes in a frequency-dependent manner. In future studies, further parameter optimizations will be performed to improve the differentiation capacity of human cartilage cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Krueger
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (A.J.-H.); (A.S.); (R.B.)
- Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (A.R.)
| | - Alexander Riess
- Chair of Microfluidics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (A.R.)
| | - Anika Jonitz-Heincke
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (A.J.-H.); (A.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Alina Weizel
- Chair of Microfluidics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Anika Seyfarth
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (A.J.-H.); (A.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Hermann Seitz
- Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
- Chair of Microfluidics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Rainer Bader
- Biomechanics and Implant Technology Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopedics, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (A.J.-H.); (A.S.); (R.B.)
- Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
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27
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Alvarado-Hidalgo F, Ramírez-Sánchez K, Starbird-Perez R. Smart Porous Multi-Stimulus Polysaccharide-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering. Molecules 2020; 25:E5286. [PMID: 33202707 PMCID: PMC7697121 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies have evaluated smart biomaterials as implantable scaffolds and their interaction with cells for biomedical applications. Porous materials have been used in tissue engineering as synthetic extracellular matrices, promoting the attachment and migration of host cells to induce the in vitro regeneration of different tissues. Biomimetic 3D scaffold systems allow control over biophysical and biochemical cues, modulating the extracellular environment through mechanical, electrical, and biochemical stimulation of cells, driving their molecular reprogramming. In this review, first we outline the main advantages of using polysaccharides as raw materials for porous scaffolds, as well as the most common processing pathways to obtain the adequate textural properties, allowing the integration and attachment of cells. The second approach focuses on the tunable characteristics of the synthetic matrix, emphasizing the effect of their mechanical properties and the modification with conducting polymers in the cell response. The use and influence of polysaccharide-based porous materials as drug delivery systems for biochemical stimulation of cells is also described. Overall, engineered biomaterials are proposed as an effective strategy to improve in vitro tissue regeneration and future research directions of modified polysaccharide-based materials in the biomedical field are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Alvarado-Hidalgo
- Centro de Investigación en Servicios Químicos y Microbiológicos, CEQIATEC, Escuela de Química, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 159-7050, Costa Rica
- Master Program in Medical Devices Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 159-7050, Costa Rica
| | - Karla Ramírez-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación en Servicios Químicos y Microbiológicos, CEQIATEC, Escuela de Química, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 159-7050, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, CIET, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501-2060, Costa Rica
| | - Ricardo Starbird-Perez
- Centro de Investigación en Servicios Químicos y Microbiológicos, CEQIATEC, Escuela de Química, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 159-7050, Costa Rica
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28
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Zimmermann J, Distler T, Boccaccini AR, van Rienen U. Numerical Simulations as Means for Tailoring Electrically Conductive Hydrogels Towards Cartilage Tissue Engineering by Electrical Stimulation. Molecules 2020; 25:E4750. [PMID: 33081205 PMCID: PMC7587583 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cartilage regeneration is a clinical challenge. In recent years, hydrogels have emerged as implantable scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering. Similarly, electrical stimulation has been employed to improve matrix synthesis of cartilage cells, and thus to foster engineering and regeneration of cartilage tissue. The combination of hydrogels and electrical stimulation may pave the way for new clinical treatment of cartilage lesions. To find the optimal electric properties of hydrogels, theoretical considerations and corresponding numerical simulations are needed to identify well-suited initial parameters for experimental studies. We present the theoretical analysis of a hydrogel in a frequently used electrical stimulation device for cartilage regeneration and tissue engineering. By means of equivalent circuits, finite element analysis, and uncertainty quantification, we elucidate the influence of the geometric and dielectric properties of cell-seeded hydrogels on the capacitive-coupling electrical field stimulation. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of cellular organisation inside the hydrogel due to forces generated by the external electric field. The introduced methodology is easily reusable by other researchers and allows to directly develop novel electrical stimulation study designs. Thus, this study paves the way for the design of future experimental studies using electrically conductive hydrogels and electrical stimulation for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Zimmermann
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Thomas Distler
- Institute of Biomaterials, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (T.D.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Aldo R. Boccaccini
- Institute of Biomaterials, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; (T.D.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Ursula van Rienen
- Institute of General Electrical Engineering, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany;
- Department Life, Light & Matter, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
- Department of Ageing of Individuals and Society, Interdisciplinary Faculty, University of Rostock, 18051 Rostock, Germany
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29
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Konstantinou E, Zagoriti Z, Pyriochou A, Poulas K. Microcurrent Stimulation Triggers MAPK Signaling and TGF-β1 Release in Fibroblast and Osteoblast-Like Cell Lines. Cells 2020; 9:E1924. [PMID: 32825091 PMCID: PMC7564311 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound healing constitutes an essential process for all organisms and involves a sequence of three phases. The disruption or elongation of any of these phases can lead to a chronic or non-healing wound. Electrical stimulation accelerates wound healing by mimicking the current that is generated in the skin after any injury. Here, we sought to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the healing process following in vitro microcurrent stimulation-a type of electrotherapy. Our results concluded that microcurrents promote cell proliferation and migration in an ERK 1/2- or p38-dependent way. Furthermore, microcurrents induce the secretion of transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1) in fibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells. Interestingly, transcriptomic analysis uncovered that microcurrents enhance the transcriptional activation of genes implicated in Hedgehog, TGF-β1 and MAPK signaling pathways. Overall, our results demonstrate that microcurrents may enhance wound closure through a combination of signal transductions, via MAPK's phosphorylation, and the transcriptional activation of specific genes involved in the healing process. These mechanisms should be further examined in vivo, in order to verify the beneficial effects of microcurrents in wound or fracture healing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Konstantinos Poulas
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26504 Rio, Greece; (E.K.); (Z.Z.); (A.P.)
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30
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Effect of electrical stimulation on chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured in hyaluronic acid – Gelatin injectable hydrogels. Bioelectrochemistry 2020; 134:107536. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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31
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Zhang W, Chu G, Wang H, Chen S, Li B, Han F. Effects of Matrix Stiffness on the Differentiation of Multipotent Stem Cells. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 15:449-461. [PMID: 32268870 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x15666200408114632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Differentiation of stem cells, a crucial step in the process of tissue development, repair and regeneration, can be regulated by a variety of mechanical factors such as the stiffness of extracellular matrix. In this review article, the effects of stiffness on the differentiation of stem cells, including bone marrow-derived stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells and neural stem cells, are briefly summarized. Compared to two-dimensional (2D) surfaces, three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel systems better resemble the native environment in the body. Hence, the studies which explore the effects of stiffness on stem cell differentiation in 3D environments are specifically introduced. Integrin is a well-known transmembrane molecule, which plays an important role in the mechanotransduction process. In this review, several integrin-associated signaling molecules, including caveolin, piezo and Yes-associated protein (YAP), are also introduced. In addition, as stiffness-mediated cell differentiation may be affected by other factors, the combined effects of matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity, surface topography, chemical composition, and external mechanical stimuli on cell differentiation are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Genglei Chu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Song Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengxuan Han
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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32
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Schofield Z, Meloni GN, Tran P, Zerfass C, Sena G, Hayashi Y, Grant M, Contera SA, Minteer SD, Kim M, Prindle A, Rocha P, Djamgoz MBA, Pilizota T, Unwin PR, Asally M, Soyer OS. Bioelectrical understanding and engineering of cell biology. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20200013. [PMID: 32429828 PMCID: PMC7276535 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The last five decades of molecular and systems biology research have provided unprecedented insights into the molecular and genetic basis of many cellular processes. Despite these insights, however, it is arguable that there is still only limited predictive understanding of cell behaviours. In particular, the basis of heterogeneity in single-cell behaviour and the initiation of many different metabolic, transcriptional or mechanical responses to environmental stimuli remain largely unexplained. To go beyond the status quo, the understanding of cell behaviours emerging from molecular genetics must be complemented with physical and physiological ones, focusing on the intracellular and extracellular conditions within and around cells. Here, we argue that such a combination of genetics, physics and physiology can be grounded on a bioelectrical conceptualization of cells. We motivate the reasoning behind such a proposal and describe examples where a bioelectrical view has been shown to, or can, provide predictive biological understanding. In addition, we discuss how this view opens up novel ways to control cell behaviours by electrical and electrochemical means, setting the stage for the emergence of bioelectrical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Schofield
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Gabriel N. Meloni
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Peter Tran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Christian Zerfass
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Giovanni Sena
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Yoshikatsu Hayashi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AH, UK
| | - Murray Grant
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Sonia A. Contera
- Clarendon Laboratory, Physics Department, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK
| | - Shelley D. Minteer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Minsu Kim
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Arthur Prindle
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Paulo Rocha
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Mustafa B. A. Djamgoz
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Teuta Pilizota
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Centre and School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Alexander Crum Brown Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Patrick R. Unwin
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Munehiro Asally
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Orkun S. Soyer
- Bio-Electrical Engineering Innovation Hub, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Gerasimenko T, Nikulin S, Zakharova G, Poloznikov A, Petrov V, Baranova A, Tonevitsky A. Impedance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Monitoring Performance in 3D Models of Epithelial Tissues. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 7:474. [PMID: 32039179 PMCID: PMC6992543 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to traditional 2D cell cultures, both 3D models and organ-on-a-chip devices allow the study of the physiological responses of human cells. These models reconstruct human tissues in conditions closely resembling the body. Translation of these techniques into practice is hindered by associated labor costs, a need which may be remedied by automation. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) is a promising, automation-compatible label-free technology allowing to carry out a wide range of measurements both in real-time and as endpoints. IS has been applied to both the barrier cultures and the 3D constructs. Here we provide an overview of the impedance-based analysis in different setups and discuss its utility for organ-on-a-chip devices. Most attractive features of impedance-based assays are their compatibility with high-throughput format and supports for the measurements in real time with high temporal resolution, which allow tracing of the kinetics. As of now, IS-based techniques are not free of limitations, including imperfect understanding of the parameters that have their effects on the impedance, especially in 3D cell models, and relatively high cost of the consumables. Moreover, as the theory of IS stems from electromagnetic theory and is quite complex, work on popularization and explanation of the method for experimental biologists is required. It is expected that overcoming these limitations will lead to eventual establishing IS based systems as a standard for automated management of cell-based experiments in both academic and industry environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergey Nikulin
- Scientific Research Centre Bioclinicum, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems, School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Galina Zakharova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncoendocrinology, Endocrinology Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Poloznikov
- Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems, School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Medical Research Radiological Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Obninsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Petrov
- Scientific Research Centre Bioclinicum, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Development and Research of Micro- and Nanosystems, Institute of Nanotechnologies of Microelectronics RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, “Research Centre for Medical Genetics”, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Tonevitsky
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnologies, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Microfluidic Technologies for Biomedicine, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia
- art photonics GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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Budde K, Zimmermann J, Neuhaus E, Schroder M, Uhrmacher AM, van Rienen U. Requirements for Documenting Electrical Cell Stimulation Experiments for Replicability and Numerical Modeling ∗. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:1082-1088. [PMID: 31946082 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8856863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Thorough documentation of biological experiments is necessary for their replicability. This becomes even more evident when individual steps of in vitro wet-lab experiments are to be incorporated into computer simulation models. In the highly interdisciplinary field of electrical stimulation of biological cells, not only biological but also physical aspects play a crucial role. Simulations may help to identify parameters that influence cells and thereby reveal new insights into mechanisms of the cell biological system. However, missing or misleading documentation of the electrical stimulation step within wet-lab experiments may lead to discrepancies between reported and simulated electrical quantities. In addition, this threatens the replicability of electrical stimulation experiments. Thus, we argue that a minimal set of information is needed to enable a translation of electrical stimulation experiments of biological cells into computer simulation experiments and to support replicability. This set includes detailed information about the electronic devices and components, their set-up as well as the applied stimulus and shall be integrated into an existing guideline for cell biological experiments. Ideally, the documentation should also contain measured properties of the cellular and experimental environment. Furthermore, a realization of our proposed documentation requirements within electronic lab notebooks may provide a crucial step toward a more seamless integration of wet-lab data into simulations. Based on two exemplary studies, we demonstrate the relevance of our claim.
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Weizel A, Zimmermann J, Riess A, Kruger S, Bader R, Rienen UV, Seitz H. Numerical simulation of the electric field distribution in an electrical stimulation device for scaffolds settled with cartilaginous cells. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:6481-6484. [PMID: 31947326 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8857760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation is a promising approach to enhance cell viability and differentiation. We aim to develop a stimulation device for the investigation and realization of cartilaginous cell engineering. The stimulation setup is capable of applying well-defined electric fields to several scaffolds at the same time. The setup consists of a flat plate with multiple test tubes for the scaffolds. A flexible printed circuit board containing a separate pair of electrodes for each tube is fixed at the bottom of the plate. In this context, numerical simulation using Finite Element Method (FEM) is a valuable tool to gain a better understanding of the electric field distribution in such devices. The thin insulating layer of the flexible printed circuit board allows sufficient field strength to be achieved at moderate input voltages but presents challenges for modelling. In simulations, thin layers would usually require a fine discretization with many degrees of freedom (DOF). This leads to large models, which are expensive regarding memory and computation time. Based on the 'contact impedance' boundary condition available in COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.4, an alternative approach is proposed that can model thin layers in capacitively coupled setups. The resulting electric field distribution in the new stimulation setup is presented and discussed.
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Fu J, Liu X, Tan L, Cui Z, Zheng Y, Liang Y, Li Z, Zhu S, Yeung KWK, Feng X, Wang X, Wu S. Photoelectric-Responsive Extracellular Matrix for Bone Engineering. ACS NANO 2019; 13:13581-13594. [PMID: 31697055 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b08115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Using noninvasive stimulation of cells to control cell fate and improve bone regeneration by optical stimulation can achieve the aim of precisely orchestrating biological activities. In this study, we create a fast and repeatable photoelectric-responsive microenvironment around an implant using a bismuth sulfide/hydroxyapatite (BS/HAp) film. The unexpected increase of photocurrent on the BS/HAp film under near-infrared (NIR) light is mainly due to the depletion of holes through PO43- from HAp and interfacial charge transfer by HAp compared with BS. The electrons activate the Na+ channel of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and change the cell adhesion in the intermediate environment. The behavior of MSCs is tuned by changing the photoelectronic microenvironment. RNA sequencing reveals that when photoelectrons transfer to the cell membrane, sodium ions flux and the membrane potential depolarizes to change the cell shape. Meanwhile, calcium ions fluxed and FDE1 was upregulated. Furthermore, the TCF/LEF in the cell nucleus began transcription to regulate the downstream genes involved in osteogenic differentiation, which is performed through the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway. This research has created a biological therapeutic strategy, which can achieve in vitro remotely, precisely, and noninvasively controlling cell differentiation behaviors by tuning the in vivo photoelectric microenvironment using NIR light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieni Fu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering , Hubei University , Wuhan 430062 , People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangmei Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering , Hubei University , Wuhan 430062 , People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Tan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering , Hubei University , Wuhan 430062 , People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenduo Cui
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology by the Ministry of Education of China , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yufeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex System and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering , Peking University , Beijing 100871 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yanqin Liang
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology by the Ministry of Education of China , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoyang Li
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology by the Ministry of Education of China , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , People's Republic of China
| | - Shengli Zhu
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology by the Ministry of Education of China , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , People's Republic of China
| | - Kelvin Wai Kwok Yeung
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Li KaShing Faculty of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Pokfulam , Hong Kong 999077 , People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Feng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College , Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan 430022 , People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbao Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering , Hubei University , Wuhan 430062 , People's Republic of China
| | - Shuilin Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, Ministry-of-Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering , Hubei University , Wuhan 430062 , People's Republic of China
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology by the Ministry of Education of China , Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072 , People's Republic of China
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Guo L, Li H, Wang Y, Li Z, Albeck J, Zhao M, Qing Q. Controlling ERK Activation Dynamics in Mammary Epithelial Cells with Alternating Electric Fields through Microelectrodes. NANO LETTERS 2019; 19:7526-7533. [PMID: 31487192 PMCID: PMC6786939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Amplitude, duration, and frequency of activation of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway code distinct information to instruct cells to migrate, proliferate, or differentiate. Synchronized frequency control of ERK activation would provide a powerful approach to regulate cell behaviors. Here we demonstrated modulation of ERK activities using alternative current (AC) electric fields (EFs) applied through high-k dielectric passivated microelectrodes. Both the amplitude and frequency of ERK activation can be precisely synchronized and modulated. ERK activation in our system is independent of Faradaic currents and electroporation, thus excluding mechanisms of changes in pH, reactive oxygen species, and other electrochemical reaction. Further experiments pinpointed a mechanism of phosphorylation site of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor to activate the EGFR-ERK pathway, and independent of EGF. AC EFs thus provide a powerful platform for practical and precise control of EGFR-ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhuo Li
- Key Laboratory of Radar Imaging and Microwave Photonics, Ministry of Education, College of Electronic and Information Engineering , Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing 211106 , People's Republic of China
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Hernández-Bule ML, Medel E, Colastra C, Roldán R, Úbeda A. Response of neuroblastoma cells to RF currents as a function of the signal frequency. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:889. [PMID: 31488097 PMCID: PMC6728948 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-6090-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Capacitive-resistive electric transfer (CRET) is a non-invasive therapeutic strategy that applies radiofrequency electric currents within the 400-600 kHz range to tissue repair and regeneration. Previous studies by our group have shown that 48 h of intermittent exposure to a 570 kHz CRET signal at a subthermal density of 50 μA/mm2 causes significant changes in the expression and activation of cell cycle control proteins, leading to cycle arrest in human cancer cell cultures. The present study investigates the relevance of the signal frequency in the response of the human neuroblastoma cell line NB69 to subthermal electric treatment with four different signal frequency currents within the 350-650 kHz range. METHODS Trypan blue assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunoblot were used to study the effects of subthermal CRET currents on cell viability, cell cycle progression and the expression of several marker proteins involved in NB69 cell death and proliferation. RESULTS The results reveal that among the frequencies tested, only a 448 kHz signal elicited both proapoptotic and antiproliferative, statistically significant responses. The apoptotic effect would be due, at least in part, to significant changes induced by the 448 kHz signal in the expression of p53, Bax and caspase-3. The cytostatic response was preceded by alterations in the kinetics of the cell cycle and in the expression of proteins p-ERK1/2, cyclin D1 and p27, which is consistent with a potential involvement of the EGF receptor in electrically induced changes in the ERK1/2 pathway. This receives additional support from results indicating that the proapototic and antiproliferative responses to CRET can be transiently blocked when the electric stimulus is applied in the presence of PD98059, a chemical inhibitor of the ERK1/2 pathway. CONCLUSION The understanding of the mechanisms underlying the ability of slowing down cancer cell growth through electrically-induced changes in the expression of proteins involved in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis might afford new insights in the field of oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Luisa Hernández-Bule
- BEM-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital - IRYCIS, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9-100, 28034, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Enrique Medel
- BEM-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital - IRYCIS, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9-100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Colastra
- BEM-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital - IRYCIS, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9-100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Roldán
- BEM-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital - IRYCIS, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9-100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Úbeda
- BEM-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital - IRYCIS, Ctra. Colmenar Viejo km 9-100, 28034, Madrid, Spain
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Zheng Y, Cheng J, Dong L, Ma X, Kong Q. Effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on hippocampal long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 region. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 517:513-519. [PMID: 31376941 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.07.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental electromagnetic fields, especially to the extremely low-frequency (ELF < 300 Hz) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) might produce modulation effects on neuronal activity. Long-term changes in synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP) involved in learning and memory may have contributions to a number of neurological diseases. However, the modulation effects of ELF-EMFs on LTP are not yet fully understood. In our present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to ELF-EMFs on LTP in hippocampal CA1 region in rats. Hippocampal slices were exposed to magnetic fields generated by sXcELF system with different frequencies (15, 50, and 100 Hz [Hz]), intensities (0.5, 1, and 2 mT [mT]), and duration (10 s [s], 20 s, 40 s, 60 s, and 5 min), then the baseline signal recordings for 20 min and the evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded. We found that the LTP amplitudes decreased after magnetic field exposure, and the LTP amplitudes decreased in proportion to exposure doses and durations, suggesting ELF-EMFs may have dose and duration-dependent inhibition effects. Among multiple exposure duration and doses combinations, upon 5 min magnetic field exposure, 15 Hz/2 mT maximally inhibited LTP. Under 15 Hz/2 mT ELF-EMFs, LTP amplitude decreases in proportion to the length of exposure durations within 5 min time frame. Our findings illustrated the potential effects of ELF-EMFs on synaptic plasticity and will lead to better understanding of the influence on learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
| | - Jianhao Cheng
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiaoxu Ma
- School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Qingyao Kong
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Low ZWK, Li Z, Owh C, Chee PL, Ye E, Kai D, Yang DP, Loh XJ. Using Artificial Skin Devices as Skin Replacements: Insights into Superficial Treatment. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1805453. [PMID: 30690897 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201805453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Artificial skin devices are able to mimic the flexibility and sensory perception abilities of the skin. They have thus garnered attention in the biomedical field as potential skin replacements. This Review delves into issues pertaining to these skin-deep devices. It first elaborates on the roles that these devices have to fulfill as skin replacements, and identify strategies that are used to achieve such functionality. Following which, a comparison is done between the current state of these skin-deep devices and that of natural skin. Finally, an outlook on artificial skin devices is presented, which discusses how complementary technologies can create skin enhancements, and what challenges face such devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Wei Kenny Low
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Cally Owh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Pei Lin Chee
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
| | - Enyi Ye
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Dan Kai
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - Da-Peng Yang
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, 362000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Xian Jun Loh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08-03, Singapore, 138634, Singapore
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore
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Bhavsar MB, Cato G, Hauschild A, Leppik L, Costa Oliveira KM, Eischen-Loges MJ, Barker JH. Membrane potential (V mem) measurements during mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6341. [PMID: 30775170 PMCID: PMC6369823 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Electrochemical signals play an important role in cell communication and behavior. Electrically charged ions transported across cell membranes maintain an electrochemical imbalance that gives rise to bioelectric signaling, called membrane potential or Vmem. Vmem plays a key role in numerous inter- and intracellular functions that regulate cell behaviors like proliferation, differentiation and migration, all playing a critical role in embryonic development, healing, and regeneration. Methods With the goal of analyzing the changes in Vmem during cell proliferation and differentiation, here we used direct current electrical stimulation (EStim) to promote cell proliferation and differentiation and simultaneously tracked the corresponding changes in Vmem in adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSC). Results We found that EStim caused increased AT-MSC proliferation that corresponded to Vmem depolarization and increased osteogenic differentiation that corresponded to Vmem hyperpolarization. Taken together, this shows that Vmem changes associated with EStim induced cell proliferation and differentiation can be accurately tracked during these important cell functions. Using this tool to monitor Vmem changes associated with these important cell behaviors we hope to learn more about how these electrochemical cues regulate cell function with the ultimate goal of developing new EStim based treatments capable of controlling healing and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mit Balvantray Bhavsar
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Gloria Cato
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Alexander Hauschild
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Liudmila Leppik
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Karla Mychellyne Costa Oliveira
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Maria José Eischen-Loges
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - John Howard Barker
- Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
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Shi F, Steuer A, Zhuang J, Kolb JF. Bioimpedance Analysis of Epithelial Monolayers after Exposure to Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2018; 66:2010-2021. [PMID: 30452351 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2018.2882299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Exposures to pulsed electric fields (PEFs) are known to affect cell membranes and consequently also cell-cell interactions as well as associated characteristics. Bioimpedance analysis offers direct and non-invasive insights into structural and functional changes of cell membranes and extracellular matrices through a rigorous evaluation of electrical parameters. Accordingly, the multi-frequency impedance of confluent monolayers of rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells was monitored in situ before and after exposure to nanosecond PEFs (nsPEFs). The results were fitted by two Cole models in series to obtain the Cole parameters for the monolayer. For an interpretation of the results, dielectric parameters, were correlated with changes of the TJ protein zonula occludens (ZO-1) and the paracellular permeability of the monolayer Cole parameters in general change as a function of pulse number and time. The findings demonstrate that impedance analysis is an effective method to monitor changes of TJs cell-cell contacts and paracellular permeability and relate them to exposure parameters.
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Vaca-González JJ, Escobar JF, Guevara JM, Hata YA, Gallego Ferrer G, Garzón-Alvarado DA. Capacitively coupled electrical stimulation of rat chondroepiphysis explants: A histomorphometric analysis. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 126:1-11. [PMID: 30471483 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The growth plate is a cartilaginous layer present from the gestation period until the end of puberty where it ossifies joining diaphysis and epiphysis. During this period several endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine processes within the growth plate are carried out by chondrocytes; therefore, a disruption in cellular functions may lead to pathologies affecting bone development. It is known that electric fields impact the growth plate; however, parameters such as stimulation time and electric field intensity are not well documented. Accordingly, this study presents a histomorphometrical framework to assess the effect of electric fields on chondroepiphysis explants. Bones were stimulated with 3.5 and 7 mV/cm, and for each electric field two exposure times were tested for 30 days (30 min and 1 h). Results evidenced that electric fields increased the hypertrophic zones compared with controls. In addition, a stimulation of 3.5 mV/cm applied for 1 h preserved the columnar cell density and its orientation. Moreover, a pre-hypertrophy differentiation in the center of the chondroepiphysis was observed when explants were stimulated during 1 h with both electric fields. These findings allow the understanding of the effect of electrical stimulation over growth plate organization and how the stimulation modifies chondrocytes morphophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Vaca-González
- Biomimetics Laboratory, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Numerical Methods and Modeling Research Group (GNUM), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - J F Escobar
- Biomimetics Laboratory, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Numerical Methods and Modeling Research Group (GNUM), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J M Guevara
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Y A Hata
- Biomimetics Laboratory, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Numerical Methods and Modeling Research Group (GNUM), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - G Gallego Ferrer
- Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain
| | - D A Garzón-Alvarado
- Biomimetics Laboratory, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Numerical Methods and Modeling Research Group (GNUM), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Calder S, O’Grady G, Cheng LK, Du P. Torso-Tank Validation of High-Resolution Electrogastrography (EGG): Forward Modelling, Methodology and Results. Ann Biomed Eng 2018; 46:1183-1193. [DOI: 10.1007/s10439-018-2030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Sella S, Adami V, Amati E, Bernardi M, Chieregato K, Gatto P, Menarin M, Pozzato A, Pozzato G, Astori G. In-vitro analysis of Quantum Molecular Resonance effects on human mesenchymal stromal cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190082. [PMID: 29293552 PMCID: PMC5749755 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Electromagnetic fields play an essential role in cellular functions interfering with cellular pathways and tissue physiology. In this context, Quantum Molecular Resonance (QMR) produces waves with a specific form at high-frequencies (4–64 MHz) and low intensity through electric fields. We evaluated the effects of QMR stimulation on bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). MSC were treated with QMR for 10 minutes for 4 consecutive days for 2 weeks at different nominal powers. Cell morphology, phenotype, multilineage differentiation, viability and proliferation were investigated. QMR effects were further investigated by cDNA microarray validated by real-time PCR. After 1 and 2 weeks of QMR treatment morphology, phenotype and multilineage differentiation were maintained and no alteration of cellular viability and proliferation were observed between treated MSC samples and controls. cDNA microarray analysis evidenced more transcriptional changes on cells treated at 40 nominal power than 80 ones. The main enrichment lists belonged to development processes, regulation of phosphorylation, regulation of cellular pathways including metabolism, kinase activity and cellular organization. Real-time PCR confirmed significant increased expression of MMP1, PLAT and ARHGAP22 genes while A2M gene showed decreased expression in treated cells compared to controls. Interestingly, differentially regulated MMP1, PLAT and A2M genes are involved in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling through the fibrinolytic system that is also implicated in embryogenesis, wound healing and angiogenesis. In our model QMR-treated MSC maintained unaltered cell phenotype, viability, proliferation and the ability to differentiate into bone, cartilage and adipose tissue. Microarray analysis may suggest an involvement of QMR treatment in angiogenesis and in tissue regeneration probably through ECM remodelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Sella
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- High Throughput Screening Core Facility, Center for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Eliana Amati
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Martina Bernardi
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
- Hematology Project Foundation, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Katia Chieregato
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
- Hematology Project Foundation, Vicenza, Italy
| | - Pamela Gatto
- High Throughput Screening Core Facility, Center for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Martina Menarin
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Astori
- Advanced Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Hematology Unit, Vicenza Hospital, Vicenza, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Genchi GG, Marino A, Grillone A, Pezzini I, Ciofani G. Remote Control of Cellular Functions: The Role of Smart Nanomaterials in the Medicine of the Future. Adv Healthc Mater 2017; 6. [PMID: 28338285 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The remote control of cellular functions through smart nanomaterials represents a biomanipulation approach with unprecedented potential applications in many fields of medicine, ranging from cancer therapy to tissue engineering. By actively responding to external stimuli, smart nanomaterials act as real nanotransducers able to mediate and/or convert different forms of energy into both physical and chemical cues, fostering specific cell behaviors. This report describes those classes of nanomaterials that have mostly paved the way to a "wireless" control of biological phenomena, focusing the discussion on some examples close to the clinical practice. In particular, magnetic fields, light irradiation, ultrasound, and pH will be presented as means to manipulate the cellular fate, due to the peculiar physical/chemical properties of some smart nanoparticles, thus providing realistic examples of "nanorobots" approaching the visionary ideas of Richard Feynman.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Graziana Genchi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
| | - Attilio Marino
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
| | - Agostina Grillone
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
| | - Ilaria Pezzini
- Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera (Pisa), Italy
- Politecnico di Torino, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
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Lei T, Li F, Liang Z, Tang C, Xie K, Wang P, Dong X, Shan S, Liu J, Xu Q, Luo E, Shen G. Effects of four kinds of electromagnetic fields (EMF) with different frequency spectrum bands on ovariectomized osteoporosis in mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:553. [PMID: 28373666 PMCID: PMC5428825 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00668-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) was considered as a non-invasive modality for treatment of osteoporosis while the effects were diverse with EMF parameters in time domain. In present study, we extended analysis of EMF characteristics from time domain to frequency domain, aiming to investigate effects of four kinds of EMF (LP (1–100 Hz), BP (100–3,000 Hz), HP (3,000–50,000 Hz) and AP (1–50,000 Hz)) on ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporosis (OP) in mice. Forty-eight 3-month-old female BALB/c mice were equally assigned to Sham, OVX, OVX + LP, OVX + BP, OVX + HP and OVX + AP groups (n = 8). After 8-week exposure (3 h/day), LP and BP significantly increased serum bone formation markers and osteogenesis-related gene expressions compared with OVX. Bedsides, LP and BP also slightly increased bone resorption activity compared with OVX, evidenced by increased RANKL/OPG ratio. HP sharply decreased serum bone formation and resporption markers and osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis related gene expressions compared with OVX. AP had accumulative effects of LP, BP and HP, which significantly increased bone formation and decreased bone resporption activity compared with OVX. As a result, LP, BP and HP exposure did not later deterioration of bone mass, microarchitecture and mechanical strength in OVX mice with OP. However, AP stimulation attenuated OVX-induced bone loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Feijiang Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuowen Liang
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Xijing hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chi Tang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Kangning Xie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Pan Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Xu Dong
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuai Shan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Qiaoling Xu
- School of Nursing, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China
| | - Erping Luo
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China.
| | - Guanghao Shen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical University, 17 West Changle Road, Xi'an, China.
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Robinson VS, Garner AL, Loveless AM, Neculaes VB. Calculated plasma membrane voltage induced by applying electric pulses using capacitive coupling. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2017. [DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/aa630a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Zheng Y, Gao Y, Chen R, Wang H, Dong L, Dou J. A new theoretical model for transmembrane potential and ion currents induced in a spherical cell under low frequency electromagnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 2016; 37:481-92. [PMID: 27438778 DOI: 10.1002/bem.21993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Time-varying electromagnetic fields (EMF) can induce some physiological effects in neuronal tissues, which have been explored in many applications such as transcranial magnetic stimulation. Although transmembrane potentials and induced currents have already been the subjects of many theoretical studies, most previous works about this topic are mainly completed by utilizing Maxwell's equations, often by solving a Laplace equation. In previous studies, cells were often considered to be three-compartment models with different electroconductivities in different regions (three compartments are often intracellular regions, membrane, and extracellular regions). However, models like that did not take dynamic ion channels into consideration. Therefore, one cannot obtain concrete ionic current changes such as potassium current change or sodium current change by these models. The aim of the present work is to present a new and more detailed model for calculating transmembrane potentials and ionic currents induced by time-varying EMF. Equations used in the present paper originate from Nernst-Plank equations, which are ionic current-related equations. The main work is to calculate ionic current changes induced by EMF exposure, and then transmembrane potential changes are calculated with Hodgkin-Huxley model. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:481-492, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruijuan Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China
| | - Huiquan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Dong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China
| | - Junrong Dou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China
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