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Liu Q, Xie J, Zhou R, Deng J, Nie W, Sun S, Wang H, Shi C. A matrix metalloproteinase-responsive hydrogel system controls angiogenic peptide release for repair of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:503-517. [PMID: 38819063 PMCID: PMC11317963 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01322] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202502000-00028/figure1/v/2024-05-28T214302Z/r/image-tiff Vascular endothelial growth factor and its mimic peptide KLTWQELYQLKYKGI (QK) are widely used as the most potent angiogenic factors for the treatment of multiple ischemic diseases. However, conventional topical drug delivery often results in a burst release of the drug, leading to transient retention (inefficacy) and undesirable diffusion (toxicity) in vivo. Therefore, a drug delivery system that responds to changes in the microenvironment of tissue regeneration and controls vascular endothelial growth factor release is crucial to improve the treatment of ischemic stroke. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is gradually upregulated after cerebral ischemia. Herein, vascular endothelial growth factor mimic peptide QK was self-assembled with MMP-2-cleaved peptide PLGLAG (TIMP) and customizable peptide amphiphilic (PA) molecules to construct nanofiber hydrogel PA-TIMP-QK. PA-TIMP-QK was found to control the delivery of QK by MMP-2 upregulation after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and had a similar biological activity with vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro. The results indicated that PA-TIMP-QK promoted neuronal survival, restored local blood circulation, reduced blood-brain barrier permeability, and restored motor function. These findings suggest that the self-assembling nanofiber hydrogel PA-TIMP-QK may provide an intelligent drug delivery system that responds to the microenvironment and promotes regeneration and repair after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jianye Xie
- Department of General Practice, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Runxue Zhou
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jin Deng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Weihong Nie
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shuwei Sun
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Haiping Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Chunying Shi
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
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Bian Y, Cai X, Zhou R, Lv Z, Xu Y, Wang Y, Wang H, Zhu W, Sun H, Zhao X, Feng B, Weng X. Advances in meniscus tissue engineering: Towards bridging the gaps from bench to bedside. Biomaterials 2025; 312:122716. [PMID: 39121731 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Meniscus is vital for maintaining the anatomical and functional integrity of knee. Injuries to meniscus, commonly caused by trauma or degenerative processes, can result in knee joint dysfunction and secondary osteoarthritis, while current conservative and surgical interventions for meniscus injuries bear suboptimal outcomes. In the past decade, there has been a significant focus on advancing meniscus tissue engineering, encompassing isolated scaffold strategies, biological augmentation, physical stimulus, and meniscus organoids, to improve the prognosis of meniscus injuries. Despite noteworthy promising preclinical results, translational gaps and inconsistencies in the therapeutic efficiency between preclinical and clinical studies exist. This review comprehensively outlines the developments in meniscus tissue engineering over the past decade (Scheme 1). Reasons for the discordant results between preclinical and clinical trials, as well as potential strategies to expedite the translation of bench-to-bedside approaches are analyzed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Bian
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xuejie Cai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Runze Zhou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zehui Lv
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yiming Xu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hanyang Sun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiuli Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Bin Feng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Xisheng Weng
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Yang Y, Sai H, Egner SA, Qiu R, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Peptide programming of supramolecular vinylidene fluoride ferroelectric phases. Nature 2024:10.1038/s41586-024-08041-4. [PMID: 39385033 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08041-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Ferroelectric structures have spontaneous macroscopic polarization that can be inverted using external electric fields and have potential applications including information storage, energy transduction, ultralow-power nanoelectronics1,2 and biomedical devices3. These functions would benefit from nanoscale control of ferroelectric structure, the ability to switch polarization with lower applied fields (low coercive field) and biocompatibility. Soft ferroelectrics based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)4-6 have a thermodynamically unstable ferroelectric phase in the homopolymer, complex semi-crystalline structures, and high coercive fields. Here we report on ferroelectric materials formed by water-soluble molecules containing only six VDF repeating units covalently conjugated to a tetrapeptide, with the propensity to assemble into the β-sheet structures that are ubiquitous in proteins. This led to the discovery of ribbon-shaped ferroelectric supramolecular assemblies that are thermodynamically stable with their long axes parallel to both the preferred hydrogen-bonding direction of β-sheets and the bistable polar axes of VDF hexamers. Relative to a commonly used ferroelectric copolymer, the biomolecular assemblies exhibit a coercive field that is two orders of magnitude lower, as the result of supramolecular dynamics, and a similar level of remnant polarization, despite having a peptide content of 49 wt%. Furthermore, the Curie temperature of the assemblies is about 40 °C higher than that of a copolymer containing a similar amount of VDF. This supramolecular system was created using a biologically inspired strategy that is attractive in terms of sustainability and that could lead to new functions for soft ferroelectrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hiroaki Sai
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Simon A Egner
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Ruomeng Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Center for Bio-inspired Energy Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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Guo J, Tan W, Xu B. Enzymatic self-assembly of short peptides for cell spheroid formation. J Mater Chem B 2024. [PMID: 39370899 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb01154f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
Cell spheroids, including organoids, serve as a valuable link between in vitro systems and in vivo animal models, offering powerful tools for studying cell biology in a three-dimensional environment. However, existing methods for generating cell spheroids are time consuming or difficult to scale up for large-scale production. Our recent study has revealed that transcytotic peptide assemblies, which transform from nanoparticles to nanofibers by enzymatic reactions, can create an intercellular fibril/gel, accelerating cell spheroid formation from a 2D cell culture or a cell suspension. While this finding presents an alternative approach for generating cell spheroids, the specific structural features required for efficient cell spheroid formation remain unclear. Based on our observation that a phosphotetrapeptide with a biphenyl cap at its N-terminus enables cell spheroid formation, we produced 10 variants of the original peptide. The variants explored modifications to the peptide backbone, length, electronic properties of the biphenyl capping group, and the type of phosphorylated amino acid residue. We then evaluated their ability for inducing cell spheroid formation. Our analysis revealed that, among the tested molecules, peptides with C-terminal phosphotyrosine, low critical micelle concentration, and dephosphorylation-guided nanoparticle to nanofiber morphological transition were the most effective in inducing the formation of cell spheroids. This work represents the first example to correlate the thermodynamic properties (e.g., self-assembling ability) and kinetic behavior (e.g., enzymatic dephosphorylation) of peptides with the efficacy of controlling intercellular interaction, thus offering valuable insights into using enzymatic self-assembly to generate peptide assemblies for biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, USA.
| | - Weiyi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, USA.
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham, MA 02453, USA.
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Li N, He J. Hydrogel-based therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injury repair: Recent advances and future prospects. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 277:134591. [PMID: 39127289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that can result in significant functional impairment and loss of quality of life. There is a growing interest in developing new therapies for SCI, and hydrogel-based multimodal therapeutic strategies have emerged as a promising approach. They offer several advantages for SCI repair, including biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, low immunogenicity, and the ability to deliver therapeutic agents. This article provides an overview of the recent advances in hydrogel-based therapy strategies for SCI repair, particularly within the past three years. We summarize the SCI hydrogels with varied characteristics such as phase-change hydrogels, self-healing hydrogel, oriented fibers hydrogel, and self-assembled microspheres hydrogel, as well as different functional hydrogels such as conductive hydrogels, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, adhesive hydrogel, antioxidant hydrogel, sustained-release hydrogel, etc. The composition, preparation, and therapeutic effect of these hydrogels are briefly discussed and comprehensively evaluated. In the end, the future development of hydrogels in SCI repair is prospected to inspire more researchers to invest in this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266113, China
| | - Jintao He
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao 266113, China.
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Haque F, Thompson SW, Ishizuka F, Kuchel RP, Singh D, Sanjayan GJ, Zetterlund PB. Block Copolymer Self-assembly: Exploitation of Hydrogen Bonding for Nanoparticle Morphology Control via Incorporation of Triazine Based Comonomers by RAFT Polymerization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2401129. [PMID: 38837298 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Synthesis of polymeric nanoparticles of controlled non-spherical morphology is of profound interest for a wide variety of potential applications. Self-assembly of amphiphilic diblock copolymers is an attractive bottom-up approach to prepare such nanoparticles. In the present work, RAFT polymerization is employed to synthesize a variety of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-poly[butyl acrylate-stat-GCB] copolymers, where GCB represents vinyl monomer containing triazine based Janus guanine-cytosine nucleobase motifs featuring multiple hydrogen bonding arrays. Hydrogen bonding between the hydrophobic blocks exert significant influence on the morphology of the resulting nanoparticles self-assembled in water. The Janus feature of the GCB moieties makes it possible to use a single polymer type in self-assembly, unlike previous work exploiting, e.g., thymine-containing polymer and adenine-containing polymer. Moreover, the strength of the hydrogen bonding interactions enables use of a low molar fraction of GCB units, thereby rendering it possible to use the present approach for copolymers based on common vinyl monomers for the development of advanced nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Haque
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Steven W Thompson
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Fumi Ishizuka
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Rhiannon P Kuchel
- Electron Microscope Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Dharmendra Singh
- Organic Chemistry Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific, Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Gangadhar J Sanjayan
- Organic Chemistry Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific, Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Per B Zetterlund
- Cluster for Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD), School of Chemical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Sollenberger CH, Qiu R, Sai H, Carrow JK, Fyrner T, Gao Z, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Boosting Chondrocyte Bioactivity with Ultra-Sulfated Glycopeptide Supramolecular Polymers. Acta Biomater 2024:S1742-7061(24)00574-9. [PMID: 39362449 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.09.047] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Although autologous chondrocyte transplantation can be effective in articular cartilage repair, negative side effects limit the utility of the treatment, such as long recovery times, poor engraftment or chondrogenic dedifferentiation, and cell leakage. Peptide-based supramolecular polymers have emerged as promising bioactive systems to promote tissue regeneration through cell signaling and dynamic behavior. We report here on the development of a series of glycopeptide amphiphile supramolecular nanofibers with chondrogenic bioactivity. These supramolecular polymers were found to have the ability to boost TGFβ-1 signaling by displaying galactosamine moieties with differing degrees of sulfation on their surfaces. We were also able to encapsulate chondrocytes with these nanostructures as single cells without affecting viability and proliferation. Among the monomers tested, assemblies of trisulfated glycopeptides led to elevated expression of chondrogenic markers relative to those with lower degrees of sulfation that mimic chondroitin sulfate repeating units. We hypothesize the enhanced bioactivity is rooted in specific interactions of the supramolecular assemblies with TGFβ-1 and its consequence on cell signaling, which may involve elevated levels of supramolecular motion as a result of high charge in trisulfated glycopeptide amphiphiles. Our findings suggest that supramolecular polymers formed by the ultra-sulfated glycopeptide amphiphiles could provide better outcomes in chondrocyte transplantation therapies for cartilage regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : This study prepares glycopeptide amphiphiles conjugated at their termini with chondroitin sulfate mimetic residues with varying degrees of sulfation that self-assemble into supramolecular nanofibers in aqueous solution. These supramolecular polymers encapsulate chondrocytes as single cells through intimate contact with cell surface structures, forming artificial matrix that can localize the growth factor TGFβ-1 in the intercellular environment. A high degree of sulfation on the glycopeptide amphiphile is found to be critical in elevating chondrogenic cellular responses that supersede the efficacy of natural chondroitin sulfate. This work demonstrates that supramolecular assembly of a unique molecular structure designed to mimic chondroitin sulfate successfully boosts chondrocyte bioactivity by single cell encapsulation, suggesting a new avenue implementing chondrocyte transplantation with supramolecular nanomaterials for cartilage regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Sollenberger
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Ruomeng Qiu
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Hiroaki Sai
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - James K Carrow
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Timmy Fyrner
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Zijun Gao
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.
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Moghaddam AS, Dunne K, Breyer W, Wu Y, Pashuck ET. Hydrogels with Independently Controlled Adhesion Ligand Mobility and Viscoelasticity Increase Cell Adhesion and Spreading. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.23.614501. [PMID: 39386463 PMCID: PMC11463488 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.23.614501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
A primary objective in designing hydrogels for cell culture is recreating the cell-matrix interactions found within human tissues. Identifying the most important biomaterial features for these interactions is challenging because it is difficult to independently adjust variables such as matrix stiffness, stress relaxation, the mobility of adhesion ligands and the ability of these ligands to support cellular forces. In this work we designed a hydrogel platform consisting of interpenetrating polymer networks of covalently crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and self-assembled peptide amphiphiles (PA). We can tailor the storage modulus of the hydrogel by altering the concentration and composition of each network, and we can tune the stress relaxation half-life through the non-covalent bonding in the PA network. Ligand mobility can be adjusted independently of the matrix mechanical properties by attaching the RGD cell adhesion ligand to either the covalent PEG network, the dynamic PA network, or both networks at once. Interestingly, our findings show that endothelial cell adhesion formation and spreading is maximized in soft, viscoelastic gels in which RGD adhesion ligands are present on both the covalent PEG and non-covalent PA networks. The dynamic nature of cell adhesion domains, coupled with their ability to exert substantial forces on the matrix, suggests that having different presentations of RGD ligands which are either mobile or are capable of withstanding significant forces are needed mimic different aspects of complex cell-matrix adhesions. By demonstrating how different presentations of RGD ligands affect cell behavior independently of viscoelastic properties, these results contribute to the rational design of hydrogels that facilitate desired cell-matrix interactions, with the potential of improving in vitro models and regenerative therapies.
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Yuan T, Li W, Zhou M, Wang X, Wang B, Zhao Y. Biomimetic Multichannel Silk Nerve Conduits With Multicellular Spatiotemporal Distributions for Spinal Cord Injury Repair. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2411628. [PMID: 39268784 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202411628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Bioengineered nerve conduits have shown great promise for spinal cord injury (SCI) repair, while their practical values are limited by poor regenerative efficacy and lack of multi-level structural design. Here, inspired by the ingenious anatomy of natural spinal cords, a biomimetic multichannel silk nerve conduit (namely BNC@MSCs/SCs) with multicellular spatiotemporal distributions for effective SCI repair is presented. The biomimetic silk nerve conduit (BNC) with hierarchical channels and aligned pore structures is prepared via a modified directional freeze-casting strategy. Such hierarchical structures provide appropriate space for the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) settled in specific channels, which contributes to the generation of BNC@MSCs/SCs resembling the cellular spatiotemporal distributions of natural spinal cords. The in vitro results reveal the facilitated SC migration and MSC differentiation in such BNC@MSCs/SCs multicellular system, which further promotes the tube formation and cell migration of endothelial cells as well as M2 polarization of macrophages. Moreover, BNC@MSCs/SCs can effectively promote the tissue repair and function recovery in SCI rats by attenuating glial scar formation while promoting neuron regeneration and myelin sheath reconstruction. Thus, it is believed that the biomimetic multichannel silk nerve conduits with multicellular spatiotemporal distributions are valuable for SCI repair and other neural tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yuan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Hunan Digital Spine Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Wenzhao Li
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China
| | - Minyu Zhou
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China
| | - Xiaocheng Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
- Hunan Digital Spine Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Southeast University, Shenzhen, 518071, China
- Institute of Organoids on Chips Translational Research, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
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Rijns L, Rutten MGTA, Vrehen AF, Aldana AA, Baker MB, Dankers PYW. Mimicking the extracellular world: from natural to fully synthetic matrices utilizing supramolecular biomaterials. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:16290-16312. [PMID: 39161293 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr02088j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) has evolved around complex covalent and non-covalent interactions to create impressive function-from cellular signaling to constant remodeling. A major challenge in the biomedical field is the de novo design and control of synthetic ECMs for applications ranging from tissue engineering to neuromodulation to bioelectronics. As we move towards recreating the ECM's complexity in hydrogels, the field has taken several approaches to recapitulate the main important features of the native ECM (i.e. mechanical, bioactive and dynamic properties). In this review, we first describe the wide variety of hydrogel systems that are currently used, ranging from fully natural to completely synthetic to hybrid versions, highlighting the advantages and limitations of each class. Then, we shift towards supramolecular hydrogels that show great potential for their use as ECM mimics due to their biomimetic hierarchical structure, inherent (controllable) dynamic properties and their modular design, allowing for precise control over their mechanical and biochemical properties. In order to make the next step in the complexity of synthetic ECM-mimetic hydrogels, we must leverage the supramolecular self-assembly seen in the native ECM; we therefore propose to use supramolecular monomers to create larger, hierarchical, co-assembled hydrogels with complex and synergistic mechanical, bioactive and dynamic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rijns
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Martin G T A Rutten
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Annika F Vrehen
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ana A Aldana
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B Baker
- Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y W Dankers
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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11
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Ma D, Fu C, Li F, Ruan R, Lin Y, Li X, Li M, Zhang J. Functional biomaterials for modulating the dysfunctional pathological microenvironment of spinal cord injury. Bioact Mater 2024; 39:521-543. [PMID: 38883317 PMCID: PMC11179178 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in irreversible loss of sensory and motor functions, and most SCIs are incurable with current medical practice. One of the hardest challenges in treating SCI is the development of a dysfunctional pathological microenvironment, which mainly comprises excessive inflammation, deposition of inhibitory molecules, neurotrophic factor deprivation, glial scar formation, and imbalance of vascular function. To overcome this challenge, implantation of functional biomaterials at the injury site has been regarded as a potential treatment for modulating the dysfunctional microenvironment to support axon regeneration, remyelination at injury site, and functional recovery after SCI. This review summarizes characteristics of dysfunctional pathological microenvironment and recent advances in biomaterials as well as the technologies used to modulate inflammatory microenvironment, regulate inhibitory microenvironment, and reshape revascularization microenvironment. Moreover, technological limitations, challenges, and future prospects of functional biomaterials to promote efficient repair of SCI are also discussed. This review will aid further understanding and development of functional biomaterials to regulate pathological SCI microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezun Ma
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
| | - Changlong Fu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
| | - Fenglu Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, 1 Xueyuan Road, Quanzhou, 362801, PR China
| | - Renjie Ruan
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, 1 Xueyuan Road, Quanzhou, 362801, PR China
| | - Yanming Lin
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
| | - Xihai Li
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1 Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350122, PR China
| | - Min Li
- Fujian Children's Hospital, Fujian Branch of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, 966 Hengyu Road, Fuzhou, 350014, PR China
- Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, 111 Daoshan Road, Fuzhou, 350005, PR China
- College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, 111 Daoshan Road, Fuzhou, 350005, PR China
| | - Jin Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, 2 Xueyuan Road, Fuzhou, 350108, PR China
- Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, 1 Xueyuan Road, Quanzhou, 362801, PR China
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12
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Guest JD, Santamaria AJ, Solano JP, de Rivero Vaccari JP, Dietrich WD, Pearse DD, Khan A, Levi AD. Challenges in advancing Schwann cell transplantation for spinal cord injury repair. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00827-2. [PMID: 39387736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS In this article we aimed to provide an expert synthesis of the current status of Schwann cell (SC)therapeutics and potential steps to increase their clinical utility. METHODS We provide an expert synthesis based on preclinical, clinical and manufacturing experience. RESULTS Schwann cells (SCs) are essential for peripheral nerve regeneration and are of interest in supporting axonal repair after spinal cord injury (SCI). SCs can be isolated and cultivated in tissue culture from adult nerve biopsies or generated from precursors and neural progenitors using specific differentiation protocols leading to expanded quantities. In culture, they undergo dedifferentiation to a state similar to "repair" SCs. The known repertoire of SC functions is increasing beyond axon maintenance, myelination, and axonal regeneration to include immunologic regulation and the release of potentially therapeutic extracellular vesicles. Recently, autologous human SC cultures purified under cGMP conditions have been tested in both nerve repair and subacute and chronic SCI clinical trials. Although the effects of SCs to support nerve regeneration are indisputable, their efficacy for clinical SCI has been limited according to the outcomes examined. CONCLUSIONS This review discusses the current limitations of transplanted SCs within the damaged spinal cord environment. Limitations include limited post-transplant cell survival, the inability of SCs to migrate within astrocytic parenchyma, and restricted axonal regeneration out of SC-rich graft regions. We describe steps to amplify the survival and integration of transplanted SCs and to expand the repertoire of uses of SCs, including SC-derived extracellular vesicles. The relative merits of transplanting autologous versus allogeneic SCs and the role that endogenous SCs play in spinal cord repair are described. Finally, we briefly describe the issues requiring solutions to scale up SC manufacturing for commercial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Guest
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Andrea J Santamaria
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Juan P Solano
- Pediatric Critical Care, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Juan P de Rivero Vaccari
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - William D Dietrich
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Damien D Pearse
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Aisha Khan
- The Stem Cell Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Allan D Levi
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Neurological Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
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13
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Lewis JA, Nemke B, Lu Y, Sather NA, McClendon MT, Mullen M, Yuan SC, Ravuri SK, Bleedorn JA, Philippon MJ, Huard J, Markel MD, Stupp SI. A bioactive supramolecular and covalent polymer scaffold for cartilage repair in a sheep model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2405454121. [PMID: 39106310 PMCID: PMC11331086 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405454121] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Regeneration of hyaline cartilage in human-sized joints remains a clinical challenge, and it is a critical unmet need that would contribute to longer healthspans. Injectable scaffolds for cartilage repair that integrate both bioactivity and sufficiently robust physical properties to withstand joint stresses offer a promising strategy. We report here on a hybrid biomaterial that combines a bioactive peptide amphiphile supramolecular polymer that specifically binds the chondrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor β-1 (TGFβ-1) and crosslinked hyaluronic acid microgels that drive formation of filament bundles, a hierarchical motif common in natural musculoskeletal tissues. The scaffold is an injectable slurry that generates a porous rubbery material when exposed to calcium ions once placed in cartilage defects. The hybrid material was found to support in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated stem cells in response to sustained delivery of TGFβ-1. Using a sheep model, we implanted the scaffold in shallow osteochondral defects and found it can remain localized in mechanically active joints. Evaluation of resected joints showed significantly improved repair of hyaline cartilage in osteochondral defects injected with the scaffold relative to defects injected with the growth factor alone, including implantation in the load-bearing femoral condyle. These results demonstrate the potential of the hybrid biomimetic scaffold as a niche to favor cartilage repair in mechanically active joints using a clinically relevant large-animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A. Lewis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Brett Nemke
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Nicholas A. Sather
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Mark T. McClendon
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Michael Mullen
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO81657
| | - Shelby C. Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Sudheer K. Ravuri
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO81657
| | - Jason A. Bleedorn
- Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Marc J. Philippon
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO81657
| | - Johnny Huard
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO81657
| | - Mark D. Markel
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI53706
| | - Samuel I. Stupp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
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14
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Rozans S, Moghaddam AS, Wu Y, Atanasoff K, Nino L, Dunne K, Pashuck ET. Quantifying and Controlling the Proteolytic Degradation of Cell Adhesion Peptides. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:4916-4926. [PMID: 38968389 PMCID: PMC11322908 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00736] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Peptides are widely used within biomaterials to improve cell adhesion, incorporate bioactive ligands, and enable cell-mediated degradation of the matrix. While many of the peptides incorporated into biomaterials are intended to be present throughout the life of the material, their stability is not typically quantified during culture. In this work, we designed a series of peptide libraries containing four different N-terminal peptide functionalizations and three C-terminal functionalizations to better understand how simple modifications can be used to reduce the nonspecific degradation of peptides. We tested these libraries with three cell types commonly used in biomaterials research, including mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs), endothelial cells, and macrophages, and quantified how these cell types nonspecifically degraded peptides as a function of terminal amino acid and chemistry. We found that peptides in solution which contained N-terminal amines were almost entirely degraded by 48 h, irrespective of the terminal amino acid, and that degradation occurred even at high peptide concentrations. Peptides with C-terminal carboxylic acids also had significant degradation when cultured with the cells. We found that simple modifications to the termini could significantly reduce or completely abolish nonspecific degradation when soluble peptides were added to cells cultured on tissue culture plastic or within hydrogel matrices, and that functionalizations which mimicked peptide conjugations to hydrogel matrices significantly slowed nonspecific degradation. We also found that there were minimal differences in peptide degradation across cell donors and that sequences mimicking different peptides commonly used to functionalize biomaterials all had significant nonspecific degradation. Finally, we saw that there was a positive trend between RGD stability and hMSC spreading within hydrogels, indicating that improving the stability of peptides within biomaterial matrices may improve the performance of engineered matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel
J. Rozans
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Abolfazl Salehi Moghaddam
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Yingjie Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Kayleigh Atanasoff
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Liliana Nino
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - Katelyn Dunne
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
| | - E. Thomas Pashuck
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, 7
Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015, United States
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15
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Rijns L, Duijs H, Lafleur RP, Cardinaels R, Palmans ARA, Dankers PYW, Su L. Molecularly Engineered Supramolecular Thermoresponsive Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical and Dynamic Properties. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4686-4696. [PMID: 39059106 PMCID: PMC11323010 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic supramolecular polymers and hydrogels in water are emerging as promising biomaterials due to their modularity and intrinsic dynamics. Here, we introduce temperature sensitivity into the nonfunctionalized benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide (BTA-EG4) supramolecular system by incorporating a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-functionalized (BTA-PNIPAM) moiety, enabling 3D cell encapsulation applications. The viscous and structural properties in the solution state as well as the mechanical and dynamic features in the gel state of BTA-PNIPAM/BTA-EG4 mixtures were investigated and modulated. In the dilute state (c ∼μM), BTA-PNIPAM acted as a chain capper below the cloud point temperature (Tcp = 24 °C) but served as a cross-linker above Tcp. At higher concentrations (c ∼mM), weak or stiff hydrogels were obtained, depending on the BTA-PNIPAM/BTA-EG4 ratio. The mixture with the highest BTA-PNIPAM ratio was ∼100 times stiffer and ∼10 times less dynamic than BTA-EG4 hydrogel. Facile cell encapsulation in 3D was realized by leveraging the temperature-sensitive sol-gel transition, opening opportunities for utilizing this hydrogel as an extracellular matrix mimic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rijns
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems
(ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Heleen Duijs
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg
76, Leiden 2333 AL, The Netherlands
| | - René P.
M. Lafleur
- Laboratory
of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular
Systems (ICMS), Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth Cardinaels
- Processing
and Performance of Materials, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems
(ICMS), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- Soft
Matter, Rheology and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
| | - Anja R. A. Palmans
- Laboratory
of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular
Systems (ICMS), Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y. W. Dankers
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems
(ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Su
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg
76, Leiden 2333 AL, The Netherlands
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16
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Li Q, Gao S, Qi Y, Shi N, Wang Z, Saiding Q, Chen L, Du Y, Wang B, Yao W, Sarmento B, Yu J, Lu Y, Wang J, Cui W. Regulating Astrocytes via Short Fibers for Spinal Cord Repair. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2406742. [PMID: 39120009 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202406742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Reactive astrogliosis is the main cause of secondary injury to the central nerves. Biomaterials can effectively suppress astrocyte activation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Herein, Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) are identified through whole transcriptome sequencing in a mouse model of spinal cord injury, revealing the VIM gene as a pivotal regulator in the reactive astrocytes. Moreover, DEGs are predominantly concentrated in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Based on these, 3D injectable electrospun short fibers are constructed to inhibit reactive astrogliosis. Histological staining and functional analysis indicated that fibers with unique 3D network spatial structures can effectively constrain the reactive astrocytes. RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing results reveal that short fibers downregulate the expression of the VIM gene in astrocytes by modulating the "ECM receptor interaction" pathway, inhibiting the transcription of downstream Vimentin protein, and thereby effectively suppressing reactive astrogliosis. Additionally, fibers block the binding of Vimentin protein with inflammation-related proteins, downregulate the NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibit neuron apoptosis, and consequently promote the recovery of spinal cord neural function. Through mechanism elucidation-material design-feedback regulation, this study provides a detailed analysis of the mechanism chain by which short fibers constrain the abnormal spatial expansion of astrocytes and promote spinal cord neural function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyi Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- Pˆole Sino-Franc¸ais de Recherches en Sciences du Vivant et G´enomique, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- International Laboratory in Cancer, Aging and Hematology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/Inserm/Cote d'Azur University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Shuaiyun Gao
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- Pˆole Sino-Franc¸ais de Recherches en Sciences du Vivant et G´enomique, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- International Laboratory in Cancer, Aging and Hematology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/Inserm/Cote d'Azur University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yang Qi
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Nuo Shi
- Peterson's Lab, Shanghai, 200030, P. R. China
| | | | - Qimanguli Saiding
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yawei Du
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Bo Wang
- Pˆole Sino-Franc¸ais de Recherches en Sciences du Vivant et G´enomique, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- International Laboratory in Cancer, Aging and Hematology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/Inserm/Cote d'Azur University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Wenfei Yao
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- I3-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde and INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, Porto, 4200-135, Portugal
- IUCS-Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, CESPU, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, Gandra, 4585-116, Portugal
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yiming Lu
- Department of Emergency, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- Pˆole Sino-Franc¸ais de Recherches en Sciences du Vivant et G´enomique, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- International Laboratory in Cancer, Aging and Hematology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/Inserm/Cote d'Azur University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
- Division of Critical Care, Nanxiang Hospital of Jiading District, Shanghai, 201802, P. R. China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Wenguo Cui
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
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17
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Yuan SC, Álvarez Z, Lee SR, Pavlović RZ, Yuan C, Singer E, Weigand SJ, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Supramolecular Motion Enables Chondrogenic Bioactivity of a Cyclic Peptide Mimetic of Transforming Growth Factor-β1. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:21555-21567. [PMID: 39054767 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c05170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a multifunctional protein that is essential in many cellular processes that include fibrosis, inflammation, chondrogenesis, and cartilage repair. In particular, cartilage repair is important to avoid physical disability since this tissue does not have the inherent capacity to regenerate beyond full development. We report here on supramolecular coassemblies of two peptide amphiphile molecules, one containing a TGF-β1 mimetic peptide, and another which is one of two constitutional isomers lacking bioactivity. Using human articular chondrocytes, we investigated the bioactivity of the supramolecular copolymers of each isomer displaying either the previously reported linear form of the mimetic peptide or a novel cyclic analogue. Based on fluorescence depolarization and 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation times, we found that coassemblies containing the cyclic compound and the most dynamic isomer exhibited the highest intracellular TGF-β1 signaling and gene expression of cartilage extracellular matrix components. We conclude that control of supramolecular motion is emerging as an important factor in the binding of synthetic molecules to receptors that can be tuned through chemical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby C Yuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Zaida Álvarez
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Sieun Ruth Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Radoslav Z Pavlović
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Chunhua Yuan
- Campus Chemical Instrument Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Ethan Singer
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Steven J Weigand
- DuPont-Northwestern-Dow Collaborative Access Team Synchrotron Research Center, Northwestern University, Advanced Photon Source/Argonne National Laboratory 432-A004, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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18
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López-Gandul L, Lavarda G, van den Bersselaar BWL, Vantomme G, Meijer EW, Sánchez L. Supramolecular polymerization and bulk properties relationship in ester-functionalized N-annulated perylenediimides. Chem Sci 2024:d4sc03797a. [PMID: 39144454 PMCID: PMC11318647 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03797a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of a series of N-annulated perylenediimides (NPDIs) 1-4 with an ester group and an alkyl spacer of different length in the peripheral chains was carried out, and the influence of the side chain architecture on the self-assembly, both in solution and in the solid state, was investigated. Solution studies evidenced that the carbonyl group plays a key role in the supramolecular organization of these derivatives, changing from an H-type isodesmic polymerization (4) to a J-type cooperative process as the spacer length decreases (1-3). On the other hand, bulk assays revealed an odd-even effect that correlates with the length of the alkyl spacer. Whereas the odd-spaced derivatives (2 and 4) organize in a disordered columnar hexagonal fashion, the even-spaced ones (1 and 3) show the formation of multiple crystalline (and liquid crystalline) structures. The results presented herein highlight the importance of side chain functionalization in the design of building blocks for in-solution and bulk purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía López-Gandul
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Giulia Lavarda
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Bart W L van den Bersselaar
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Ghislaine Vantomme
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - E W Meijer
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Laboratory of Macromolecular and Organic Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands
| | - Luis Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
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19
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Piskorz T, Perez-Chirinos L, Qiao B, Sasselli IR. Tips and Tricks in the Modeling of Supramolecular Peptide Assemblies. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:31254-31273. [PMID: 39072142 PMCID: PMC11270692 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Supramolecular peptide assemblies (SPAs) hold promise as materials for nanotechnology and biomedicine. Although their investigation often entails adapting experimental techniques from their protein counterparts, SPAs are fundamentally distinct from proteins, posing unique challenges for their study. Computational methods have emerged as indispensable tools for gaining deeper insights into SPA structures at the molecular level, surpassing the limitations of experimental techniques, and as screening tools to reduce the experimental search space. However, computational studies have grappled with issues stemming from the absence of standardized procedures and relevant crystal structures. Fundamental disparities between SPAs and protein simulations, such as the absence of experimentally validated initial structures and the importance of the simulation size, number of molecules, and concentration, have compounded these challenges. Understanding the roles of various parameters and the capabilities of different models and simulation setups remains an ongoing endeavor. In this review, we aim to provide readers with guidance on the parameters to consider when conducting SPA simulations, elucidating their potential impact on outcomes and validity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Perez-Chirinos
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Baofu Qiao
- Department
of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, City
University of New York, New York, New York 10010, United States
| | - Ivan R. Sasselli
- Centro
de Física de Materiales (CFM), CSIC-UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
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20
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Paschold A, Schäffler M, Miao X, Gardon L, Krüger S, Heise H, Röhr MIS, Ott M, Strodel B, Binder WH. Photocontrolled Reversible Amyloid Fibril Formation of Parathyroid Hormone-Derived Peptides. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:981-995. [PMID: 38865349 PMCID: PMC11261605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Peptide fibrillization is crucial in biological processes such as amyloid-related diseases and hormone storage, involving complex transitions between folded, unfolded, and aggregated states. We here employ light to induce reversible transitions between aggregated and nonaggregated states of a peptide, linked to the parathyroid hormone (PTH). The artificial light-switch 3-{[(4-aminomethyl)phenyl]diazenyl}benzoic acid (AMPB) is embedded into a segment of PTH, the peptide PTH25-37, to control aggregation, revealing position-dependent effects. Through in silico design, synthesis, and experimental validation of 11 novel PTH25-37-derived peptides, we predict and confirm the amyloid-forming capabilities of the AMPB-containing peptides. Quantum-chemical studies shed light on the photoswitching mechanism. Solid-state NMR studies suggest that β-strands are aligned parallel in fibrils of PTH25-37, while in one of the AMPB-containing peptides, β-strands are antiparallel. Simulations further highlight the significance of π-π interactions in the latter. This multifaceted approach enabled the identification of a peptide that can undergo repeated phototriggered transitions between fibrillated and defibrillated states, as demonstrated by different spectroscopic techniques. With this strategy, we unlock the potential to manipulate PTH to reversibly switch between active and inactive aggregated states, representing the first observation of a photostimulus-responsive hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Paschold
- Macromolecular
Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science II, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Moritz Schäffler
- Institute
of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Xincheng Miao
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry (CNC), Theodor-Boveri Weg, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Luis Gardon
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
- Institut
für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität
Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stephanie Krüger
- Biozentrum,
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Weinberweg 22, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Henrike Heise
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
- Institut
für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität
Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Merle I. S. Röhr
- Center
for Nanosystems Chemistry (CNC), Theodor-Boveri Weg, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Maria Ott
- Institute
of Biophysics, Faculty of Natural Science I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3, Halle 06120, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute
of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Binder
- Macromolecular
Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science II, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, von-Danckelmann-Platz 4, Halle 06120, Germany
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21
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Huang T, Mu J, Wu J, Cao J, Zhang X, Guo J, Zhu M, Ma T, Jiang X, Feng S, Gao J. A Functionalized Scaffold Facilitates Neurites Extension for Spinal Cord Injury Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2401020. [PMID: 39012061 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202401020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Scaffolds have garnered considerable attention for enhancing neural repairment for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. Both microstructural features and biochemical modifications play pivotal roles in influencing the interaction of cells with the scaffold, thereby affecting tissue regeneration. Here, a scaffold is designed with spiral structure and gradient peptide modification (GS) specifically for SCI treatment. The spiral structure provides crucial support and space, while the gradient peptide isoleucine-lysine-valine-alanine-valine (IKVAV) modification imparts directional guidance for neuronal and axonal extension. GS scaffold shows a significant nerve extension induction effect through its interlayer gap and gradient peptide density to dorsal root ganglia in vitro, while in vivo studies reveal its substantial promotion for functional recovery and neural repair. Additionally, the GS scaffold displays impressive drug-loading capacity, mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes can be efficiently loaded into the GS scaffold and delivered to the injury site, thereby synergistically promoting SCI repair. Overall, the GS scaffold can serve as a versatile platform and present a promising multifunctional approach for SCI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Huang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Jiafu Mu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Jiahe Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer, Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, P. R. China
| | - Jian Cao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Xunqi Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Jing Guo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Manning Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Teng Ma
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Xinchi Jiang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Shiqing Feng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord, Tianjin, 300052, P. R. China
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, P. R. China
| | - Jianqing Gao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321002, P. R. China
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22
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Bostani A, Hoveizi E, Naddaf H, Razeghi J. Nerve Regeneration Through Differentiation of Endometrial-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Nerve-Like Cells Using Polyacrylonitrile/Chitosan Conduit and Berberine in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04344-9. [PMID: 38997619 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04344-9] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Nervous injuries are common in humans. One of the most advanced treatment methods is neural tissue engineering. This research aims to utilize nerve-like cells (NLCs) derived from endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSCs) on a polyacrylonitrile/chitosan (PAN/CS) scaffold, along with berberine, for the reconstruction of a rat sciatic nerve injury model. In this experimental study, EnMSCs were obtained through enzymatic digestion and identified using flow cytometry and their differentiation into adipocyte and osteoblast. PAN nanofiber scaffolds were produced through electrospinning, and EnMSCs were neurally differentiated on these scaffolds for grafting into an animal model. The expression of Nestin, Map-2, Tuj-1, and NF genes in NLCs was confirmed through RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Twenty-five adult male rats were used in this study, divided into 5 groups: (1) Scaffold/Cells/Berberine, (2) Scaffold/Cells, (3) Scaffold, (4) Berberine, and (5) Control. The animals were maintained for 8 weeks, and their sciatic nerve function (SFI) was assessed. Additionally, histological examinations were performed using hematoxylin/eosin, luxol fast blue staining, and immunohistochemistry. According to the results, extraction, identification, and differentiation of EnMSCs and fabrication of PAN conduit and its transplantation were successfully performed. The best behavioral performance and histology were observed in the Scaffold/Cells/Berberine group. The SFI test results were -24.08 for the Scaffold/Cells/Berberine group and -39.27 for the control group. The nerve diameter in these two groups was 591 µm and 80 µm, respectively, and the percentage of new nerve formation was 18.5% in the Scaffold/Cells/Berberine group and 0.2% in the control group. The immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the intensity of the green color was higher in the groups with cells compared to the groups without cells. Furthermore, in the luxol staining results, all groups showed a significant improvement compared to the control group. In the Scaffold/Cells/Berberine group, fibers, and axons appeared denser, more organized, and displayed a higher intensity of blue staining. According to the results of this study, EnMSCs demonstrated efficient differentiation into NLCs. With the assistance of PAN/CS scaffolds and simultaneous administration of berberine, EnMSCs have the potential for nerve regeneration and recovery from sciatic nerve injury in the rat animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliasghar Bostani
- Department of Plant, Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elham Hoveizi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Hadi Naddaf
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Jafar Razeghi
- Department of Plant, Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
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23
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Tian F, Guo RC, Wu C, Liu X, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Wang H, Li G, Yu Z. Assembly of Glycopeptides in Living Cells Resembling Viral Infection for Cargo Delivery. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202404703. [PMID: 38655625 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404703] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Self-assembly in living cells represents one versatile strategy for drug delivery; however, it suffers from the limited precision and efficiency. Inspired by viral traits, we here report a cascade targeting-hydrolysis-transformation (THT) assembly of glycosylated peptides in living cells holistically resembling viral infection for efficient cargo delivery and combined tumor therapy. We design a glycosylated peptide via incorporating a β-galactose-serine residue into bola-amphiphilic sequences. Co-assembling of the glycosylated peptide with two counterparts containing irinotecan (IRI) or ligand TSFAEYWNLLSP (PMI) results in formation of the glycosylated co-assemblies SgVEIP, which target cancer cells via β-galactose-galectin-1 association and undergo galactosidase-induced morphological transformation. While GSH-reduction causes release of IRI from the co-assemblies, the PMI moieties release p53 and facilitate cell death via binding with protein MDM2. Cellular experiments show membrane targeting, endo-/lysosome-mediated internalization and in situ formation of nanofibers in cytoplasm by SgVEIP. This cascade THT process enables efficient delivery of IRI and PMI into cancer cells secreting Gal-1 and overexpressing β-galactosidase. In vivo studies illustrate enhanced tumor accumulation and retention of the glycosylated co-assemblies, thereby suppressing tumor growth. Our findings demonstrate an in situ assembly strategy mimicking viral infection, thus providing a new route for drug delivery and cancer therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Tian
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Ruo-Chen Guo
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Chunxia Wu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zeyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yamei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Research Center for Analytical Science and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Gongyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Research Center for Analytical Science and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhilin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, 21 West 15th Avenue, Tianjin, 300308, China
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24
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Rijns L, Baker MB, Dankers PYW. Using Chemistry To Recreate the Complexity of the Extracellular Matrix: Guidelines for Supramolecular Hydrogel-Cell Interactions. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:17539-17558. [PMID: 38888174 PMCID: PMC11229007 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogels have emerged as a promising class of extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking materials in regenerative medicine. Here, we briefly describe current state-of-the-art of ECM-mimicking hydrogels, ranging from natural to hybrid to completely synthetic versions, giving the prelude to the importance of supramolecular interactions to make true ECM mimics. The potential of supramolecular interactions to create ECM mimics for cell culture is illustrated through a focus on two different supramolecular hydrogel systems, both developed in our laboratories. We use some recent, significant findings to present important design principles underlying the cell-material interaction. To achieve cell spreading, we propose that slow molecular dynamics (monomer exchange within fibers) is crucial to ensure the robust incorporation of cell adhesion ligands within supramolecular fibers. Slow bulk dynamics (stress-relaxation─fiber rearrangements, τ1/2 ≈ 1000 s) is required to achieve cell spreading in soft gels (<1 kPa), while gel stiffness overrules dynamics in stiffer gels. Importantly, this resonates with the findings of others which specialize in different material types: cell spreading is impaired in case substrate relaxation occurs faster than clutch binding and focal adhesion lifetime. We conclude with discussing considerations and limitations of the supramolecular approach as well as provide a forward thinking perspective to further understand supramolecular hydrogel-cell interactions. Future work may utilize the presented guidelines underlying cell-material interactions to not only arrive at the next generation of ECM-mimicking hydrogels but also advance other fields, such as bioelectronics, opening up new opportunities for innovative applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rijns
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Matthew B. Baker
- Department
of Complex Tissue Regeneration, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology
Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht
University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patricia Y. W. Dankers
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven
University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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25
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Ren X, Wei J, Luo X, Liu Y, Li K, Zhang Q, Gao X, Yan S, Wu X, Jiang X, Liu M, Cao D, Wei L, Zeng X, Shi J. HydrogelFinder: A Foundation Model for Efficient Self-Assembling Peptide Discovery Guided by Non-Peptidal Small Molecules. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400829. [PMID: 38704695 PMCID: PMC11234452 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Self-assembling peptides have numerous applications in medicine, food chemistry, and nanotechnology. However, their discovery has traditionally been serendipitous rather than driven by rational design. Here, HydrogelFinder, a foundation model is developed for the rational design of self-assembling peptides from scratch. This model explores the self-assembly properties by molecular structure, leveraging 1,377 self-assembling non-peptidal small molecules to navigate chemical space and improve structural diversity. Utilizing HydrogelFinder, 111 peptide candidates are generated and synthesized 17 peptides, subsequently experimentally validating the self-assembly and biophysical characteristics of nine peptides ranging from 1-10 amino acids-all achieved within a 19-day workflow. Notably, the two de novo-designed self-assembling peptides demonstrated low cytotoxicity and biocompatibility, as confirmed by live/dead assays. This work highlights the capacity of HydrogelFinder to diversify the design of self-assembling peptides through non-peptidal small molecules, offering a powerful toolkit and paradigm for future peptide discovery endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanbai Ren
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Jiaying Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio‐Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical SciencesHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Xiaoli Luo
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Yuansheng Liu
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Kenli Li
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- ZJU‐Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation CenterHangzhou311200China
- College of Computer Science and TechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310013China
| | - Xin Gao
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering DivisionKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Thuwal23955‐6900Saudi Arabia
| | - Sizhe Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio‐Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical SciencesHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Xia Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio‐Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical SciencesHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Xingyue Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio‐Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical SciencesHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Mingquan Liu
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Dongsheng Cao
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCentral South UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Leyi Wei
- School of SoftwareShandong UniversityJinan250100China
- Joint SDU‐NTU Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (C‐FAIR)Shandong UniversityJinan250100China
| | - Xiangxiang Zeng
- College of Information Science and EngineeringHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
| | - Junfeng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio‐Sensing and Chemometrics, School of Biomedical SciencesHunan UniversityChangsha410003China
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26
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Sangji MH, Lee SR, Sai H, Weigand S, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Self-Sorting vs Coassembly in Peptide Amphiphile Supramolecular Nanostructures. ACS NANO 2024; 18:15878-15887. [PMID: 38848478 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c03083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
The functionality of supramolecular nanostructures can be expanded if systems containing multiple components are designed to either self-sort or mix into coassemblies. This is critical to gain the ability to craft self-assembling materials that integrate functions, and our understanding of this process is in its early stages. In this work, we have utilized three different peptide amphiphiles with the capacity to form β-sheets within supramolecular nanostructures and found binary systems that self-sort and others that form coassemblies. This was measured using atomic force microscopy to reveal the nanoscale morphology of assemblies and confocal laser scanning microscopy to determine the distribution of fluorescently labeled monomers. We discovered that PA assemblies with opposite supramolecular chirality self-sorted into chemically distinct nanostructures. In contrast, the PA molecules that formed a mixture of right-handed, left-handed, and flat nanostructures on their own were able to coassemble with the other PA molecules. We attribute this phenomenon to the energy barrier associated with changing the handedness of a β-sheet twist in a coassembly of two different PA molecules. This observation could be useful for designing biomolecular nanostructures with dual bioactivity or interpenetrating networks of PA supramolecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hussain Sangji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Sieun Ruth Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Hiroaki Sai
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E Superior St., Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
| | - Steven Weigand
- DuPont-Northwestern-Dow Collaborative Access Team Synchrotron Research Center, Northwestern University, Advanced Photon Source/Argonne National Laboratory 432-A004, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E Superior St., Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, 303 E Superior St., Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N St. Clair Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
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27
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Li Y, Vrana NE, Letellier B, Lavalle P, Guilbaud-Chéreau C. The use of supramolecular systems in biomedical applications for antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility, and drug delivery. Biomed Mater 2024; 19:042005. [PMID: 38729193 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ad49f4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Supramolecular chemistry is versatile for developing stimuli-responsive, dynamic and multifunctional structures. In the context of biomedical engineering applications, supramolecular assemblies are particularly useful as coatings for they can closely mimic the natural structure and organisation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), they can also fabricate other complex systems like drug delivery systems and bioinks. In the current context of growing medical device-associated complications and the developments in the controlled drug delivery and regenerative medicine fields, supramolecular assemblies are becoming an indispensable part of the biomedical engineering arsenal. This review covers the different supramolecular assemblies in different biomedical applications with a specific focus on antimicrobial coatings, coatings that enhance biocompatibility, surface modifications on implantable medical devices, systems that promote therapeutic efficiency in cancer therapy, and the development of bioinks. The introduced supramolecular systems include multilayer coating by polyelectrolytes, polymers incorporated with nanoparticles, coating simulation of ECM, and drug delivery systems. A perspective on the application of supramolecular systems is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Li
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, CNRS EMR 7003, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg F-67000, France
- SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nihal Engin Vrana
- SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg, France
| | - Baptiste Letellier
- SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Lavalle
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, CNRS EMR 7003, Université de Strasbourg, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg F-67000, France
- SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg, France
| | - Chloé Guilbaud-Chéreau
- SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 rue Eugène Boeckel, Strasbourg, France
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28
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Ramasubbu K, Venkatraman G, Ramanathan G, Dhanasekar S, Rajeswari VD. Molecular and cellular signalling pathways for promoting neural tissue growth - A tissue engineering approach. Life Sci 2024; 346:122640. [PMID: 38614302 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Neural tissue engineering is a sub-field of tissue engineering that develops neural tissue. Damaged central and peripheral nervous tissue can be fabricated with a suitable scaffold printed with biomaterials. These scaffolds promote cell growth, development, and migration, yet they vary according to the biomaterial and scaffold printing technique, which determine the physical and biochemical properties. The physical and biochemical properties of scaffolds stimulate diverse signalling pathways, such as Wnt, NOTCH, Hedgehog, and ion channels- mediated pathways to promote neuron migration, elongation and migration. However, neurotransmitters like dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma amino butyric acid, and other signalling molecules are critical in neural tissue engineering to tissue fabrication. Thus, this review focuses on neural tissue regeneration with a tissue engineering approach highlighting the signalling pathways. Further, it explores the interaction of the scaffolds with the signalling pathways for generating neural tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanagavalli Ramasubbu
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology-, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ganesh Venkatraman
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology-, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ganasambanthan Ramanathan
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology-, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sivaraman Dhanasekar
- Department of Biotechnology, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar 382007, Gujarat, India
| | - V Devi Rajeswari
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology-, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India.
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29
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Pardo A, Gomez‐Florit M, Davidson MD, Öztürk‐Öncel MÖ, Domingues RMA, Burdick JA, Gomes ME. Hierarchical Design of Tissue-Mimetic Fibrillar Hydrogel Scaffolds. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303167. [PMID: 38400658 PMCID: PMC11209813 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303167] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Most tissues of the human body present hierarchical fibrillar extracellular matrices (ECMs) that have a strong influence over their physicochemical properties and biological behavior. Of great interest is the introduction of this fibrillar structure to hydrogels, particularly due to the water-rich composition, cytocompatibility, and tunable properties of this class of biomaterials. Here, the main bottom-up fabrication strategies for the design and production of hierarchical biomimetic fibrillar hydrogels and their most representative applications in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are reviewed. For example, the controlled assembly/arrangement of peptides, polymeric micelles, cellulose nanoparticles (NPs), and magnetically responsive nanostructures, among others, into fibrillar hydrogels is discussed, as well as their potential use as fibrillar-like hydrogels (e.g., those from cellulose NPs) with key biofunctionalities such as electrical conductivity or remote stimulation. Finally, the major remaining barriers to the clinical translation of fibrillar hydrogels and potential future directions of research in this field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Pardo
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on BiomaterialsBiodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia Zona Industrial da Gandra BarcoGuimarães4805‐017Portugal
- ICVS/3B's ‐ PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães4710‐057Portugal
- Colloids and Polymers Physics GroupParticle Physics DepartmentMaterials Institute (iMATUS)and Health Research Institute (IDIS)University of Santiago de CompostelaSantiago de Compostela15782Spain
| | - Manuel Gomez‐Florit
- Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa)Palma07010Spain
- Research Unit, Son Espases University Hospital (HUSE)Palma07010Spain
- Group of Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering (TERCIT)Research Institute on Health Sciences (IUNICS)University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5Palma07122Spain
| | - Matthew D. Davidson
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
| | - Meftune Özgen Öztürk‐Öncel
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on BiomaterialsBiodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia Zona Industrial da Gandra BarcoGuimarães4805‐017Portugal
- ICVS/3B's ‐ PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães4710‐057Portugal
| | - Rui M. A. Domingues
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on BiomaterialsBiodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia Zona Industrial da Gandra BarcoGuimarães4805‐017Portugal
- ICVS/3B's ‐ PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães4710‐057Portugal
| | - Jason A. Burdick
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
| | - Manuela E. Gomes
- 3B's Research Group I3Bs – Research Institute on BiomaterialsBiodegradables and Biomimetics University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine AvePark – Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia Zona Industrial da Gandra BarcoGuimarães4805‐017Portugal
- ICVS/3B's ‐ PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/Guimarães4710‐057Portugal
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Wu X, Yan M, Shen J, Xiang Y, Jian K, Pan X, Yuan D, Shi J. Enhancing calvarial defects repair with PDGF-BB mimetic peptide hydrogels. J Control Release 2024; 370:277-286. [PMID: 38679161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Addressing bone defects represents a significant challenge to public health. Localized delivery of growth factor has emerged as promising approach for bone regeneration. However, the clinical application of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) is hindered by its high cost and short half-life. In this work, we introduce the application of PDGF-mimicking peptide (PMP1) hydrogels for calvarial defect restoration, showcasing their remarkable effectiveness. Through osteogenic differentiation assays and q-PCR analyses, we demonstrate PMP1's substantial capacity to enhance osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC), leading to increased expression of crucial osteogenic genes. Further molecular mechanistic investigations reveal PMP1's activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, a key element of its osteogenic effect. In vivo experiments utilizing a rat calvaria critical-sized defect model underscore the hydrogels' exceptional ability to accelerate new bone formation, thereby significantly advancing the restoration of calvaria defects. This research provides a promising bioactive material for bone tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wu
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Longhua District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518116, China
| | - Mingming Yan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Jun Shen
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Yatong Xiang
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Ke Jian
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Xiaoyun Pan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
| | - Dan Yuan
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China.
| | - Junfeng Shi
- The Affliated XiangTan Central Hospital of Hunan University, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China.
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31
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Shen T, Zhang W, Lan R, Wang Z, Qin J, Chen J, Wang J, Wu Z, Shen Y, Lin Q, Xu Y, Chen Y, Wei Y, Liu Y, Ning Y, Deng H, Cao Z, Ren X. Developing preclinical dog models for reconstructive severed spinal cord continuity via spinal cord fusion technique. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2024; 16:560-566. [PMID: 38764541 PMCID: PMC11099315 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe impairment of the central nervous system, leading to motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. The present study investigates the efficacy of the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated spinal cord fusion (SCF) techniques, demonstrating efficacious in various animal models with complete spinal cord transection at the T10 level. This research focuses on a comparative analysis of three SCF treatment models in beagles: spinal cord transection (SCT), vascular pedicle hemisected spinal cord transplantation (vSCT), and vascularized allograft spinal cord transplantation (vASCT) surgical model. Methods Seven female beagles were included in the SCT surgical model, while four female dogs were enrolled in the vSCT surgical model. Additionally, twelve female dogs underwent vASCT in a paired donor-recipient setup. Three surgical model were evaluated and compared through electrophysiology, imaging and behavioral recovery. Results The results showed a progressive recovery in the SCT, vSCT and vASCT surgical models, with no statistically significant differences observed in cBBB scores at both 2-month and 6-month post-operation (both P>0.05). Neuroimaging analysis across the SCT, vSCT and vASCT surgical models revealed spinal cord graft survival and fiber regrowth across transection sites at 6 months postoperatively. Also, positive MEP waveforms were recorded in all three surgical models at 6-month post-surgery. Conclusion The study underscores the clinical relevance of PEG-mediated SCF techniques in promoting nerve fusion, repair, and motor functional recovery in SCI. SCT, vSCT, and vASCT, tailored to specific clinical characteristics, demonstrated similar effective therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Shen
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Weihua Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Rongyu Lan
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Jie Qin
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Jiayang Chen
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Jiaxing Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
- Department of Medicine School, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Zhuotan Wu
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Yangyang Shen
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Qikai Lin
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Yudong Xu
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Yuan Chen
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Yi Wei
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
| | - Yiwen Liu
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Yuance Ning
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Haixuan Deng
- Department of Imaging, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
| | - Zhenbin Cao
- Department of Imaging, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
| | - Xiaoping Ren
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530001, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Institute of Orthopedics, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi 530011, China
- Global Initiative to Cure Paralysis (GICUP Alliance), Columbus, OH 43221, United States
- Department of Medicine School, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
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32
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Schwalb AJ, García F, Sánchez L. Electronically and geometrically complementary perylenediimides for kinetically controlled supramolecular copolymers. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8137-8144. [PMID: 38817561 PMCID: PMC11134332 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01322k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of 3,4,9,10-benzo[d,e]isoquinolino[1,8-g,h]quinoline-tetracarboxylic diimide (BQQDI) 1 endowed with peripheral trialkoxybenzamide fragments is reported and its self-assembling features investigated. The peripheral benzamide moieties generate metastable monomeric species that afford a kinetically controlled supramolecular polymerization. The electron-withdrawing character of 1 in comparison with previously reported PDIs 2, together with the similar geometry, makes this dye an optimal candidate to perform seeded supramolecular copolymerization yielding four different supramolecular block copolymers. Whilst heteropolymers poly-1-co-2a, poly-2a-co-1 and poly-1-co-2b present an H-type arrangement of the monomeric units, heteropolymer poly-2b-co-1, prepared by seeding the chiral, metastable monomers of 2b with achiral seeds of 1, produces chiral, J-type aggregates. Interestingly, the monosignated CD signal of pristine poly-2b changes to a bisignated CD signal most probably due to the formation of columnar domains around the seeds of 1 which implies the blocky nature of the supramolecular copolymers formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso J Schwalb
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
| | - Fátima García
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
| | - Luis Sánchez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040 Madrid Spain
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Dore MD, Rafique MG, Yang TP, Zorman M, Platnich CM, Xu P, Trinh T, Rizzuto FJ, Cosa G, Li J, Guarné A, Sleiman HF. Heat-activated growth of metastable and length-defined DNA fibers expands traditional polymer assembly. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4384. [PMID: 38782917 PMCID: PMC11116425 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48722-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Biopolymers such as nucleic acids and proteins exhibit dynamic backbone folding, wherein site-specific intramolecular interactions determine overall structure. Proteins then hierarchically assemble into supramolecular polymers such as microtubules, that are robust yet dynamic, constantly growing or shortening to adjust to cellular needs. The combination of dynamic, energy-driven folding and growth with structural stiffness and length control is difficult to achieve in synthetic polymer self-assembly. Here we show that highly charged, monodisperse DNA-oligomers assemble via seeded growth into length-controlled supramolecular fibers during heating; when the temperature is lowered, these metastable fibers slowly disassemble. Furthermore, the specific molecular structures of oligomers that promote fiber formation contradict the typical theory of block copolymer self-assembly. Efficient curling and packing of the oligomers - or 'curlamers' - determine morphology, rather than hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio. Addition of a small molecule stabilises the DNA fibers, enabling temporal control of polymer lifetime and underscoring their potential use in nucleic-acid delivery, stimuli-responsive biomaterials, and soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Dore
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada
| | | | - Tianxiao Peter Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Marlo Zorman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Casey M Platnich
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada
| | - Pengfei Xu
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada
| | - Tuan Trinh
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada
| | - Felix J Rizzuto
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Gonzalo Cosa
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jianing Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Alba Guarné
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St W, Montréal, QC, H3A 08B, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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Iscen A, Kaygisiz K, Synatschke CV, Weil T, Kremer K. Multiscale Simulations of Self-Assembling Peptides: Surface and Core Hydrophobicity Determine Fibril Stability and Amyloid Aggregation. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:3063-3075. [PMID: 38652055 PMCID: PMC11094720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Assemblies of peptides and proteins through specific intermolecular interactions set the basis for macroscopic materials found in nature. Peptides provide easily tunable hydrogen-bonding interactions, which can lead to the formation of ordered structures such as highly stable β-sheets that can form amyloid-like supramolecular peptide nanofibrils (PNFs). PNFs are of special interest, as they could be considered as mimics of various fibrillar structures found in nature. In their ability to serve as supramolecular scaffolds, they could mimic certain features of the extracellular matrix to provide stability, interact with pathogens such as virions, and transduce signals between the outside and inside of cells. Many PNFs have been reported that reveal rich bioactivities. PNFs supporting neuronal cell growth or lentiviral gene transduction have been studied systematically, and their material properties were correlated to bioactivities. However, the impact of the structure of PNFs, their dynamics, and stabilities on their unique functions is still elusive. Herein, we provide a microscopic view of the self-assembled PNFs to unravel how the amino acid sequence of self-assembling peptides affects their secondary structure and dynamic properties of the peptides within supramolecular fibrils. Based on sequence truncation, amino acid substitution, and sequence reordering, we demonstrate that peptide-peptide aggregation propensity is critical to form bioactive β-sheet-rich structures. In contrast to previous studies, a very high peptide aggregation propensity reduces bioactivity due to intermolecular misalignment and instabilities that emerge when fibrils are in close proximity to other fibrils in solution. Our multiscale simulation approach correlates changes in biological activity back to single amino acid modifications. Understanding these relationships could lead to future material discoveries where the molecular sequence predictably determines the macroscopic properties and biological activity. In addition, our studies may provide new insights into naturally occurring amyloid fibrils in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysenur Iscen
- Department
of Polymer Theory, Max Planck Institute
for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kübra Kaygisiz
- Department
of Synthesis of Macromolecules, Max Planck
Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Christopher V. Synatschke
- Department
of Synthesis of Macromolecules, Max Planck
Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Department
of Synthesis of Macromolecules, Max Planck
Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Kurt Kremer
- Department
of Polymer Theory, Max Planck Institute
for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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35
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Miao X, Lin J, Li A, Gao T, Liu T, Shen J, Sun Y, Wei J, Bao B, Zheng X. AAV-mediated VEGFA overexpression promotes angiogenesis and recovery of locomotor function following spinal cord injury via PI3K/Akt signaling. Exp Neurol 2024; 375:114739. [PMID: 38401852 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disorder of the central nervous system resulting from various factors such as trauma, inflammation, tumors, and other etiologies. This condition leads to impairment in motor, sensory, and autonomic functions below the level of injury. Limitations of current therapeutic approaches prompt an investigation into therapeutic angiogenesis through persistent local expression of proangiogenic factors. Here, we investigated whether overexpression of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in mouse SCI promoted locomotor function recovery, and whether the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway was mechanistically involved. Three weeks before SCI, AAV-VEGFA was injected at the T10 level to induce VEGFA overexpression. Neurofunctional, histological, and biochemical assessments were done to determine tissue damage and/or recovery of neuromuscular and behavioral impairments. Daily injections of the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002 were made to assess a possible mechanism. AAV-VEGFA overexpression dramatically improved locomotor function and ameliorated pathological injury caused by SCI. Improved motor-evoked potentials in hindlimbs and more spinal CD31-positive microvessels were observed in AAV-VEGFA-overexpressing mice. LY294002 reduced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation levels and attenuated AAV-VEGFA-related improvements. In conclusion, sustained local AAV-mediated VEGFA overexpression in spinal cord can significantly promote angiogenesis and ameliorate locomotor impairment after SCI in a contusion mouse model through activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Miao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Junqing Lin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Gao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiexin Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Shen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiabao Wei
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingbo Bao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianyou Zheng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; National Center for Orthopaedics, Shanghai, China.
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36
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Yi Y, An HW, Wang H. Intelligent Biomaterialomics: Molecular Design, Manufacturing, and Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2305099. [PMID: 37490938 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Materialomics integrates experiment, theory, and computation in a high-throughput manner, and has changed the paradigm for the research and development of new functional materials. Recently, with the rapid development of high-throughput characterization and machine-learning technologies, the establishment of biomaterialomics that tackles complex physiological behaviors has become accessible. Breakthroughs in the clinical translation of nanoparticle-based therapeutics and vaccines have been observed. Herein, recent advances in biomaterials, including polymers, lipid-like materials, and peptides/proteins, discovered through high-throughput screening or machine learning-assisted methods, are summarized. The molecular design of structure-diversified libraries; high-throughput characterization, screening, and preparation; and, their applications in drug delivery and clinical translation are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the prospects and main challenges in future biomaterialomics and high-throughput screening development are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yi
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hong-Wei An
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hao Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing, 100190, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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37
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Ortega JA, Soares de Aguiar GP, Chandravanshi P, Levy N, Engel E, Álvarez Z. Exploring the properties and potential of the neural extracellular matrix for next-generation regenerative therapies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 16:e1962. [PMID: 38723788 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and complex network of proteins and molecules that surrounds cells and tissues in the nervous system and orchestrates a myriad of biological functions. This review carefully examines the diverse interactions between cells and the ECM, as well as the transformative chemical and physical changes that the ECM undergoes during neural development, aging, and disease. These transformations play a pivotal role in shaping tissue morphogenesis and neural activity, thereby influencing the functionality of the central nervous system (CNS). In our comprehensive review, we describe the diverse behaviors of the CNS ECM in different physiological and pathological scenarios and explore the unique properties that make ECM-based strategies attractive for CNS repair and regeneration. Addressing the challenges of scalability, variability, and integration with host tissues, we review how advanced natural, synthetic, and combinatorial matrix approaches enhance biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and functional recovery. Overall, this review highlights the potential of decellularized ECM as a powerful tool for CNS modeling and regenerative purposes and sets the stage for future research in this exciting field. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alberto Ortega
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Gisele P Soares de Aguiar
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Palash Chandravanshi
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natacha Levy
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Engel
- IMEM-BRT Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain
| | - Zaida Álvarez
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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38
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Zhong X, Zhang S, Wang H, Wang M, Feng Z, Su W, Wang J, Liu Z, Ye L. Dynamic RGD ligands derived from highly mobile cyclodextrins regulate spreading and proliferation of endothelial cells to promote vasculogenesis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131667. [PMID: 38636761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
A thiolated RGD was incorporated into the threaded allyl-β-cyclodextrins (Allyl-β-CDs) of the polyrotaxane (PR) through a thiol-ene click reaction, resulting in the formation of dynamic RGD ligands on the PR surface (dRGD-PR). When maintaining consistent RGD density and other physical properties, endothelial cells (ECs) cultured on dRGD-PR exhibited significantly increased cell proliferation and a larger cell spreading area compared to those on the non-dynamic RGD (nRGD-PCL). Furthermore, ECs on dRGD-PR demonstrated elevated expression levels of FAK, p-FAK, and p-AKT, along with a larger population of cells in the G2/M stage during cell cycle analysis, in contrast to cells on nRGD-PCL. These findings suggest that the movement of the RGD ligands may exert additional beneficial effects in promoting EC spreading and proliferation, beyond their essential adhesion and proliferation-promoting capabilities, possibly mediated by the RGD-integrin-FAK-AKT pathway. Moreover, in vitro vasculogenesis tests were conducted using two methods, revealing that ECs cultured on dRGD-PR exhibited much better vasculogenesis than nRGD-PCL in vitro. In vivo testing further demonstrated an increased presence of CD31-positive tissues on dRGD-PR. In conclusion, the enhanced EC spreading and proliferation resulting from the dynamic RGD ligands may contribute to improved in vitro vasculogenesis and in vivo vascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanshu Zhong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shulei Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Han Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Division of Medical Device, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 102629, China
| | - Mengjie Wang
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Zengguo Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Wei Su
- Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China.
| | - Jin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Multifunctional Nanomaterials and Smart Systems, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zongjian Liu
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100044, China.
| | - Lin Ye
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Tangshan Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Tangshan 063000, China.
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39
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Shang Y, Zhu Q, Ding J, Zhao L, Zhang F, Lu J, Feng Y, Wang J, Liu Z, Kuang M, Li C. Bioactive peptide relieves glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis by giant macrocyclic encapsulation. J Control Release 2024; 369:75-87. [PMID: 38458570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.02.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Bioactive peptides play a crucial role in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, their application in vivo and clinic is hindered by their poor stability, short half-life, and low retention rate. Herein, we propose a novel strategy for encapsulating bioactive peptides using giant macrocycles. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) bioactive mimicking peptide Nap-FFGVRKKP (P) was selected as the representative of a bioactive peptide. Quaterphen[4]arene (4) exhibited extensive host-guest complexation with P, and the binding constant was (1.16 ± 0.10) × 107 M-1. In vitro cell experiments confirmed that P + 4 could promote the proliferation of BMSCs by 2.27 times. Even with the addition of the inhibitor dexamethasone (Dex), P + 4 was still able to save 76.94% of the cells in the control group. Compared to the Dex group, the bone mass of the mice with osteoporosis in the P + 4 group was significantly increased. The mean trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) increased by 17.03%, and the trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) values increased by 40.55%. This supramolecular bioactive peptide delivery strategy provides a general approach for delivering bioactive peptides and opens up new opportunities for the development of peptide-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Shang
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Qingrun Zhu
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jiaming Ding
- Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Jiayi Lu
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Yinyin Feng
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Jiayu Wang
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Zhixue Liu
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Mingjie Kuang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
| | - Chunju Li
- Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies on Intelligent Molecules, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Structure and Performance for Functional Molecules, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
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40
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Rozans SJ, Moghaddam AS, Wu Y, Atanasoff K, Nino L, Dunne K, Pashuck ET. Quantifying and controlling the proteolytic degradation of cell adhesion peptides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.19.590329. [PMID: 38712239 PMCID: PMC11071418 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.19.590329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Peptides are widely used within biomaterials to improve cell adhesion, incorporate bioactive ligands, and enable cell-mediated degradation of the matrix. While many of the peptides incorporated into biomaterials are intended to be present throughout the life of the material, their stability is not typically quantified during culture. In this work we designed a series of peptide libraries containing four different N-terminal peptide functionalizations and three C-terminal functionalization to better understand how simple modifications can be used to reduce non-specific degradation of peptides. We tested these libraries with three cell types commonly used in biomaterials research, including mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs), endothelial cells, and macrophages, and quantified how these cell types non-specifically degraded peptide as a function of terminal amino acid and chemistry. We found that peptides in solution which contained N-terminal amines were almost entirely degraded by 48 hours, irrespective of the terminal amino acid, and that degradation occurred even at high peptide concentrations. Peptides with C-terminal carboxylic acids also had significant degradation when cultured with cells. We found that simple modifications to the termini could significantly reduce or completely abolish non-specific degradation when soluble peptides were added to cells cultured on tissue culture plastic or within hydrogel matrices, and that functionalizations which mimicked peptide conjugations to hydrogel matrices significantly slowed non-specific degradation. We also found that there were minimal differences across cell donors, and that sequences mimicking different peptides commonly-used to functionalized biomaterials all had significant non-specific degradation. Finally, we saw that there was a positive trend between RGD stability and hMSC spreading within hydrogels, indicating that improving the stability of peptides within biomaterial matrices may improve the performance of engineered matrices.
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41
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Kim H, Taslakjian B, Kim S, Tirrell MV, Guler MO. Therapeutic Peptides, Proteins and their Nanostructures for Drug Delivery and Precision Medicine. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300831. [PMID: 38408302 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Peptide and protein nanostructures with tunable structural features, multifunctionality, biocompatibility and biomolecular recognition capacity enable development of efficient targeted drug delivery tools for precision medicine applications. In this review article, we present various techniques employed for the synthesis and self-assembly of peptides and proteins into nanostructures. We discuss design strategies utilized to enhance their stability, drug-loading capacity, and controlled release properties, in addition to the mechanisms by which peptide nanostructures interact with target cells, including receptor-mediated endocytosis and cell-penetrating capabilities. We also explore the potential of peptide and protein nanostructures for precision medicine, focusing on applications in personalized therapies and disease-specific targeting for diagnostics and therapeutics in diseases such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- HaRam Kim
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
| | - Boghos Taslakjian
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
| | - Sarah Kim
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
| | - Matthew V Tirrell
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
| | - Mustafa O Guler
- The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
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42
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Wu Y, Tang C, Lee JT, Zhang R, Bhunia S, Kundu P, Stern CL, Chen AXY, Shen D, Yang S, Han H, Li X, Wu H, Feng Y, Armstrong DW, Stoddart JF. Metal-Assisted Carbohydrate Assembly. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:9801-9810. [PMID: 38551407 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c14427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The sequence-controlled assembly of nucleic acids and amino acids into well-defined superstructures constitutes one of the most revolutionary technologies in modern science. The elaboration of such superstructures from carbohydrates, however, remains elusive and largely unexplored on account of their intrinsic constitutional and configurational complexity, not to mention their inherent conformational flexibility. Here, we report the bottom-up assembly of two classes of hierarchical superstructures that are formed from a highly flexible cyclo-oligosaccharide─namely, cyclofructan-6 (CF-6). The formation of coordinative bonds between the oxygen atoms of CF-6 and alkali metal cations (i) locks a myriad of flexible conformations of CF-6 into a few rigid conformations, (ii) bridges adjacent CF-6 ligands, and (iii) gives rise to the multiple-level assembly of three extended frameworks. The hierarchical superstructures present in these frameworks have been shown to modulate their nanomechanical properties. This research highlights the unique opportunities of constructing convoluted superstructures from carbohydrates and should encourage future endeavors in this underinvestigated field of science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Chun Tang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | | | - Ruihua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Surojit Bhunia
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Pramita Kundu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Charlotte L Stern
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Aspen X-Y Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Dengke Shen
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Shuliang Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Han Han
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Xuesong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82072, United States
| | - Huang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Yuanning Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Daniel W Armstrong
- AZYP LLC, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
| | - J Fraser Stoddart
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
- Stoddart Institute of Molecular Science, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311215, China
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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43
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Sindhurattavej N, Jampana S, Pham MP, Romero LC, Rogers AG, Stevens GA, Fowler WC. Tuning Molecular Motion Enhances Intrinsic Fluorescence in Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:2531-2541. [PMID: 38508219 PMCID: PMC11005007 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) are highly tunable molecules that were recently found to exhibit aggregation-induced emission (AIE) when they self-assemble into nanofibers. Here, we leverage decades of molecular design and self-assembly study of PAs to strategically tune their molecular motion within nanofibers to enhance AIE, making them a highly useful platform for applications such as sensing, bioimaging, or materials property characterization. Since AIE increases when aggregated molecules are rigidly and closely packed, we altered the four most closely packed amino acids nearest to the hydrophobic core by varying the order and composition of glycine, alanine, and valine pairs. Of the six PA designs studied, C16VVAAK2 had the highest quantum yield at 0.17, which is a more than 10-fold increase from other PA designs including the very similar C16AAVVK2, highlighting the importance of precise amino acid placement to anchor rigidity closest to the core. We also altered temperature to increase AIE. C16VVAAK2 exhibited an additional 4-fold increase in maximum fluorescence intensity when the temperature was raised from 5 to 65 °C. As the temperature increased, the secondary structure transitioned from β-sheet to random coil, indicating that further packing an already aligned molecular system makes it even more readily able to transfer energy between the electron-rich amides. This work both unveils a highly fluorescent AIE PA system design and sheds insights into the molecular orientation and packing design traits that can significantly enhance AIE in self-assembling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shreya Jampana
- Department
of Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Mai Phuong Pham
- Department
of Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Leonardo C. Romero
- Department
of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Anna Grace Rogers
- Department
of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Griffin A. Stevens
- Department
of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
| | - Whitney C. Fowler
- Department
of Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California 91711, United States
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44
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Martínez-Orts M, Pujals S. Responsive Supramolecular Polymers for Diagnosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4077. [PMID: 38612886 PMCID: PMC11012635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074077] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymers are ordered nanosized materials that are held together by non-covalent interactions (hydrogen-bonding, metal-ligand coordination, π-stacking and, host-guest interactions) and can reversibly undergo self-assembly. Their non-covalent nature endows supramolecular polymers with the ability to respond to external stimuli (temperature, light, ultrasound, electric/magnetic field) or environmental changes (temperature, pH, redox potential, enzyme activity), making them attractive candidates for a variety of biomedical applications. To date, supramolecular research has largely evolved in the development of smart water-soluble self-assemblies with the aim of mimicking the biological function of natural supramolecular systems. Indeed, there is a wide variety of synthetic biomaterials formulated with responsiveness to control and trigger, or not to trigger, aqueous self-assembly. The design of responsive supramolecular polymers ranges from the use of hydrophobic cores (i.e., benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide) to the introduction of macrocyclic hosts (i.e., cyclodextrins). In this review, we summarize the most relevant advances achieved in the design of stimuli-responsive supramolecular systems used to control transport and release of both diagnosis agents and therapeutic drugs in order to prevent, diagnose, and treat human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Pujals
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
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Zheng H, Wang H, Xu Y, Xu X, Zhu Z, Fang J, Song Z, Liu J. MST2 Acts via AKT Activity to Promote Neurite Outgrowth and Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04158-9. [PMID: 38581538 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04158-9] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) constitutes a significant clinical challenge, and there is extensive research focused on identifying molecular activities that can facilitate the repair of spinal cord injuries. Mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 2 (MST2), a core component of the Hippo signaling pathway, plays a key role in apoptosis and cell growth. However, its role in neurite outgrowth after spinal cord injury remains unknown. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrated that MST2, predominantly expressed in neurons, actively participated in the natural development of the CNS. Post-SCI, MST2 expression significantly increased, indicating its activation and potential role in the early stages of neural recovery. Detailed analyses showed that MST2 knockdown impaired neurite outgrowth and motor function recovery, whereas MST2 overexpression led to the opposite effects, underscoring MST2's neuroprotective role in enhancing neural repair. Further, we elucidated the mechanism underlying MST2's action, revealing its interaction with AKT and positive regulation of AKT activity, a well-established promoter of neurite outgrowth. Notably, MST2's promotion of neurite outgrowth and motor functional recovery was diminished by AKT inhibitors, highlighting the dependency of MST2's neuroprotective effects on AKT signaling. In conclusion, our findings affirmed MST2's pivotal role in fostering neuronal neurite outgrowth and facilitating functional recovery after SCI, mediated through its positive modulation of AKT activity. In conclusion, our findings confirmed MST2's crucial role in neural protection, promoting neurite outgrowth and functional recovery after SCI through positive AKT activity modulation. These results position MST2 as a potential therapeutic target for SCI, offering new insights into strategies for enhancing neuroregeneration and functional restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongming Zheng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The People's Hospital of Danyang, Danyang, 212300, China
| | - Honghai Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The NO. 2 People's Hospital of Fuyang, Fuyang, China
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Xu Xu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Zhenghuan Zhu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Fang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Zhiwen Song
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.
| | - Jinbo Liu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.
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Lu S, Ge Q, Yang M, Zhuang Y, Xu X, Niu F, Liu B, Tian R. Decoupling the mutual promotion of inflammation and oxidative stress mitigates cognitive decline and depression-like behavior in rmTBI mice by promoting myelin renewal and neuronal survival. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116419. [PMID: 38479178 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) can lead to somatic, emotional, and cognitive symptoms that persist for years after the initial injury. Although the ability of various treatments to promote recovery after rmTBI has been explored, the optimal time window for early intervention after rmTBI is unclear. Previous research has shown that hydrogen-rich water (HRW) can diffuse through the blood-brain - barrier, attenuate local oxidative stress, and reduce neuronal apoptosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. However, research on the effect of HRW on rmTBI is scarce. AIMS The objectives of this study were to explore the following changes after rmTBI and HRW treatment: (i) temporal changes in inflammasome activation and oxidative stress-related protein expression through immunoblotting, (ii) temporal changes in neuron/myelin-related metabolite concentrations in vivo through magnetic resonance spectroscopy, (iii) myelin structural changes in late-stage rmTBI via immunofluorescence, and (iv) postinjury anxiety/depression-like behaviors and spatial learning and memory impairment. RESULTS NLRP-3 expression in the rmTBI group was elevated at 7 and 14 DPI, and inflammasome marker levels returned to normal at 30 DPI. Oxidative stress persisted throughout the first month postinjury. HRW replacement significantly decreased Nrf2 expression in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampal CA2 region at 14 and 30 DPI, respectively. Edema and local gliosis in the hippocampus and restricted diffusion in the thalamus were observed on MR-ADC images. The tCho/tCr ratio in the rmTBI group was elevated, and the tNAA/tCr ratio was decreased at 30 DPI. Compared with the mice in the other groups, the mice in the rmTBI group spent more time exploring the open arms in the elevated plus maze (P < 0.05) and were more active in the maze (longer total distance traveled). In the sucrose preference test, the rmTBI group exhibited anhedonia. In the Morris water maze test, the latency to find the hidden platform in the rmTBI group was longer than that in the sham and HRW groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Early intervention with HRW can attenuate inflammasome assembly and reduce oxidative stress after rmTBI. These changes may restore local oligodendrocyte function, promote myelin repair, prevent axonal damage and neuronal apoptosis, and alleviate depression-like behavior and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghua Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - QianQian Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - MengShi Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zhuang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojian Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Niu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Baiyun Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Center for Nerve Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.
| | - Runfa Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Center for Nerve Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Beijing, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China.
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47
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Nekanti U, Sakthivel PS, Zahedi A, Creasman DA, Nishi RA, Dumont CM, Piltti KM, Guardamondo GL, Hernandez N, Chen X, Song H, Lin X, Martinez J, On L, Lakatos A, Pawar K, David BT, Guo Z, Seidlits SK, Xu X, Shea LD, Cummings BJ, Anderson AJ. Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI. NPJ Regen Med 2024; 9:12. [PMID: 38499577 PMCID: PMC10948859 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-024-00356-0] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair. While transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSC) myelinate axons after spinal cord injury (SCI), hNSC fate is highly influenced by the SCI inflammatory microenvironment, also limiting functional repair. Accordingly, we investigated the combination of PLG scaffold bridges with hNSC to improve histological and functional outcome after SCI. In vitro, hNSC culture on a PLG scaffold increased oligodendroglial lineage selection after inflammatory challenge. In vivo, acute PLG bridge implantation followed by chronic hNSC transplantation demonstrated a robust capacity of donor human cells to migrate into PLG bridge channels along regenerating axons and integrate into the host spinal cord as myelinating oligodendrocytes and synaptically integrated neurons. Axons that regenerated through the PLG bridge formed synaptic circuits that connected the ipsilateral forelimb muscle to contralateral motor cortex. hNSC transplantation significantly enhanced the total number of regenerating and myelinated axons identified within the PLG bridge. Finally, the combination of acute bridge implantation and hNSC transplantation exhibited robust improvement in locomotor recovery. These data identify a successful strategy to enhance neurorepair through a temporally layered approach using acute bridge implantation and chronic cell transplantation to spare tissue, promote regeneration, and maximize the function of new axonal connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usha Nekanti
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Pooja S Sakthivel
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Atena Zahedi
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Dana A Creasman
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Nishi
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Courtney M Dumont
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katja M Piltti
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Glenn L Guardamondo
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Norbert Hernandez
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xingyuan Chen
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Hui Song
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Martinez
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lillian On
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Anita Lakatos
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kiran Pawar
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Brian T David
- Department of Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Zhiling Guo
- Department of Medicine & Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie K Seidlits
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Center for Neural Circuit Mapping, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lonnie D Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brian J Cummings
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Memory Impairments & Neurological Disorder, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Aileen J Anderson
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Institute for Memory Impairments & Neurological Disorder, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Lee S, Carrow JK, Fraser LA, Yan J, Jeyamogan S, Sambandam Y, Clemons TD, Kolberg-Edelbrock AN, He J, Mathew J, Zhang ZJ, Leventhal JP, Gallon L, Palmer LC, Stupp SI. Single-cell coating with biomimetic extracellular nanofiber matrices. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:50-61. [PMID: 38331132 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.002] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Cell therapies offer great promise in the treatment of diseases and tissue regeneration, but their clinical use has many challenges including survival, optimal performance in their intended function, or localization at sites where they are needed for effective outcomes. We report here on a method to coat a biodegradable matrix of biomimetic nanofibers on single cells that could have specific functions ranging from cell signaling to targeting and helping cells survive when used for therapies. The fibers are composed of peptide amphiphile (PA) molecules that self-assemble into supramolecular nanoscale filaments. The PA nanofibers were able to create a mesh-like coating for a wide range of cell lineages with nearly 100 % efficiency, without interrupting the natural cellular phenotype or functions. The targeting abilities of this system were assessed in vitro using human primary regulatory T (hTreg) cells coated with PAs displaying a vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) targeting motif. This approach provides a biocompatible method for single-cell coating that does not negatively alter cellular phenotype, binding capacity, or immunosuppressive functionality, with potential utility across a broad spectrum of cell therapies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cell therapies hold great promise in the treatment of diseases and tissue regeneration, but their clinical use has been limited by cell survival, targeting, and function. We report here a method to coat single cells with a biodegradable matrix of biomimetic nanofibers composed of peptide amphiphile (PA) molecules. The nanofibers were able to coat cells, such as human primary regulatory T cells, with nearly 100 % efficiency, without interrupting the natural cellular phenotype or functions. The approach provides a biocompatible method for single-cell coating that does not negatively alter cellular phenotype, binding capacity, or immunosuppressive functionality, with potential utility across a broad spectrum of cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slgirim Lee
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - James K Carrow
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Lewis A Fraser
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Jianglong Yan
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Shareni Jeyamogan
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Yuvaraj Sambandam
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Tristan D Clemons
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Alexandra N Kolberg-Edelbrock
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Jie He
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - James Mathew
- Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Zheng Jenny Zhang
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Joseph P Leventhal
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Lorenzo Gallon
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Liam C Palmer
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States.
| | - Samuel I Stupp
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States; Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, United States.
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Dranseike D, Ota Y, Edwardson TGW, Guzzi EA, Hori M, Nakic ZR, Deshmukh DV, Levasseur MD, Mattli K, Tringides CM, Zhou J, Hilvert D, Peters C, Tibbitt MW. Designed modular protein hydrogels for biofabrication. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:107-117. [PMID: 38382830 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Designing proteins that fold and assemble over different length scales provides a way to tailor the mechanical properties and biological performance of hydrogels. In this study, we designed modular proteins that self-assemble into fibrillar networks and, as a result, form hydrogel materials with novel properties. We incorporated distinct functionalities by connecting separate self-assembling (A block) and cell-binding (B block) domains into single macromolecules. The number of self-assembling domains affects the rigidity of the fibers and the final storage modulus G' of the materials. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels could be tuned over a broad range (G' = 0.1 - 10 kPa), making them suitable for the cultivation and differentiation of multiple cell types, including cortical neurons and human mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, we confirmed the bioavailability of cell attachment domains in the hydrogels that can be further tailored for specific cell types or other biological applications. Finally, we demonstrate the versatility of the designed proteins for application in biofabrication as 3D scaffolds that support cell growth and guide their function. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Designed proteins that enable the decoupling of biophysical and biochemical properties within the final material could enable modular biomaterial engineering. In this context, we present a designed modular protein platform that integrates self-assembling domains (A blocks) and cell-binding domains (B blocks) within a single biopolymer. The linking of assembly domains and cell-binding domains this way provided independent tuning of mechanical properties and inclusion of biofunctional domains. We demonstrate the use of this platform for biofabrication, including neural cell culture and 3D printing of scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture and differentiation. Overall, this work highlights how informed design of biopolymer sequences can enable the modular design of protein-based hydrogels with independently tunable biophysical and biochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Dranseike
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yusuke Ota
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Elia A Guzzi
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mao Hori
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Mattli
- Biosystems Technology, ZHAW, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | | | - Jiangtao Zhou
- Laboratory of Food and Soft Materials, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Mark W Tibbitt
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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50
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Li Y, Li P, Tao Q, Abuqeis IJA, Xiyang Y. Role and limitation of cell therapy in treating neurological diseases. IBRAIN 2024; 10:93-105. [PMID: 38682022 PMCID: PMC11045202 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The central role of the brain in governing systemic functions within human physiology underscores its paramount significance as the focal point of physiological regulation. The brain, a highly sophisticated organ, orchestrates a diverse array of physiological processes encompassing motor control, sensory perception, cognition, emotion, and the regulation of vital functions, such as heartbeat, respiration, and hormonal equilibrium. A notable attribute of neurological diseases manifests as the depletion of neurons and the occurrence of tissue necrosis subsequent to injury. The transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into the brain exhibits the potential for the replacement of lost neurons and the reconstruction of neural circuits. Furthermore, the transplantation of other types of cells in alternative locations can secrete nutritional factors that indirectly contribute to the restoration of nervous system equilibrium and the mitigation of neural inflammation. This review summarized a comprehensive investigation into the role of NSCs, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and support cells like astrocytes and microglia in alleviating neurological deficits after cell infusion. Moreover, a thorough assessment was undertaken to discuss extant constraints in cellular transplantation therapies, concurrently delineating indispensable model-based methodologies, specifically on organoids, which were essential for guiding prospective research initiatives in this specialized field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational MedicineKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingChina
| | - Peng‐Fei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational MedicineKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingChina
| | - Qian Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational MedicineKunming University of Science and TechnologyKunmingChina
| | | | - Yan‐Bin Xiyang
- School of Basic MedicineKunming Medical UniversityKunmingChina
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of PharmacologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizonaUSA
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