1
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Kim R, Sung JH. Recent Advances in Gut- and Gut-Organ-Axis-on-a-Chip Models. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302777. [PMID: 38243887 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302777] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The human gut extracts nutrients from the diet while forming the largest barrier against the outer environment. In addition, the gut actively maintains homeostasis through intricate interactions with the gut microbes, the immune system, the enteric nervous system, and other organs. These interactions influence digestive health and, furthermore, play crucial roles in systemic health and disease. Given its primary role in absorbing and metabolizing orally administered drugs, there is significant interest in the development of preclinical in vitro model systems that can accurately emulate the intestine in vivo. A gut-on-a-chip system holds great potential as a testing and screening platform because of its ability to emulate the physiological aspects of in vivo tissues and expandability to incorporate and combine with other organs. This review aims to identify the key physiological features of the human gut that need to be incorporated to build more accurate preclinical models and highlights the recent progress in gut-on-a-chip systems and competing technologies toward building more physiologically relevant preclinical model systems. Furthermore, various efforts to construct multi-organ systems with the gut, called gut-organ-axis-on-a-chip models, are discussed. In vitro gut models with physiological relevance can provide valuable platforms for bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raehyun Kim
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong, 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
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2
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Torras N, Zabalo J, Abril E, Carré A, García-Díaz M, Martínez E. A bioprinted 3D gut model with crypt-villus structures to mimic the intestinal epithelial-stromal microenvironment. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 153:213534. [PMID: 37356284 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
The intestine is a complex tissue with a characteristic three-dimensional (3D) crypt-villus architecture, which plays a key role in the intestinal function. This function is also regulated by the intestinal stroma that actively supports the intestinal epithelium, maintaining the homeostasis of the tissue. Efforts to account for the 3D complex structure of the intestinal tissue have been focused mainly in mimicking the epithelial barrier, while solutions to include the stromal compartment are scarce and unpractical to be used in routine experiments. Here we demonstrate that by employing an optimized bioink formulation and the suitable printing parameters it is possible to produce fibroblast-laden crypt-villus structures by means of digital light projection stereolithography (DLP-SLA). This process provides excellent cell viability, accurate spatial resolution, and high printing throughput, resulting in a robust biofabrication approach that yields functional gut mucosa tissues compatible with conventional testing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Torras
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jon Zabalo
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Abril
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albane Carré
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María García-Díaz
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Elena Martínez
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Macedo MH, Torras N, García-Díaz M, Barrias C, Sarmento B, Martínez E. The shape of our gut: Dissecting its impact on drug absorption in a 3D bioprinted intestinal model. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 153:213564. [PMID: 37482042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The small intestine is a complex organ with a characteristic architecture and a major site for drug and nutrient absorption. The three-dimensional (3D) topography organized in finger-like protrusions called villi increases surface area remarkably, granting a more efficient absorption process. The intestinal mucosa, where this process occurs, is a multilayered and multicell-type tissue barrier. In vitro intestinal models are routinely used to study different physiological and pathological processes in the gut, including compound absorption. Still, standard models are typically two-dimensional (2D) and represent only the epithelial barrier, lacking the cues offered by the 3D architecture and the stromal components present in vivo, often leading to inaccurate results. In this work, we studied the impact of the 3D architecture of the gut on drug transport using a bioprinted 3D model of the intestinal mucosa containing both the epithelial and the stromal compartments. Human intestinal fibroblasts were embedded in a previously optimized hydrogel bioink, and enterocytes and goblet cells were seeded on top to mimic the intestinal mucosa. The embedded fibroblasts thrived inside the hydrogel, remodeling the surrounding extracellular matrix. The epithelial cells fully covered the hydrogel scaffolds and formed a uniform cell layer with barrier properties close to in vivo. In particular, the villus-like model revealed overall increased permeability compared to a flat counterpart composed by the same hydrogel and cells. In addition, the efflux activity of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter was significantly reduced in the villus-like scaffold compared to a flat model, and the genetic expression of other drugs transporters was, in general, more relevant in the villus-like model. Globally, this study corroborates that the presence of the 3D architecture promotes a more physiological differentiation of the epithelial barrier, providing more accurate data on drug absorbance measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Helena Macedo
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Rua Alfredo, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Núria Torras
- IBEC - Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, BIST - The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María García-Díaz
- IBEC - Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, BIST - The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Barrias
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Rua Alfredo, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Rua Alfredo, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; CESPU - Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Elena Martínez
- IBEC - Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, BIST - The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER-BBN - Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Avenida Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Electronics and Biomedical Engineering Department, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí I Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Matejčić M, Trepat X. Mechanobiological approaches to synthetic morphogenesis: learning by building. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:95-111. [PMID: 35879149 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.06.013] [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: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Tissue morphogenesis occurs in a complex physicochemical microenvironment with limited experimental accessibility. This often prevents a clear identification of the processes that govern the formation of a given functional shape. By applying state-of-the-art methods to minimal tissue systems, synthetic morphogenesis aims to engineer the discrete events that are necessary and sufficient to build specific tissue shapes. Here, we review recent advances in synthetic morphogenesis, highlighting how a combination of microfabrication and mechanobiology is fostering our understanding of how tissues are built.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Matejčić
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Trepat
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Barcelona, Spain.
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5
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Rudolph SE, Longo BN, Tse MW, Houchin MR, Shokoufandeh MM, Chen Y, Kaplan DL. Crypt-Villus Scaffold Architecture for Bioengineering Functional Human Intestinal Epithelium. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4942-4955. [PMID: 36191009 PMCID: PMC10379436 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Crypt-villus architecture in the small intestine is crucial for the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelium and maintenance of gut homeostasis. We utilized three-dimensional (3D) printing and inverse molding techniques to form three-dimensional (3D) spongy scaffold systems that resemble the intestinal crypt-villus microarchitecture. The scaffolds consist of silk fibroin protein with curved lumens with rows of protruding villi with invaginating crypts to generate the architecture. Intestinal cell (Caco-2, HT29-MTX) attachment and growth, as well as long-term culture support were demonstrated with cell polarization and tissue barrier properties compared to two-dimensional (2D) Transwell culture controls. Further, physiologically relevant oxygen gradients were generated in the 3D system. The various advantages of this system may be ascribed to the more physiologically relevant 3D environment, offering a system for the exploration of disease pathogenesis, host-microbiome interactions, and therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Rudolph
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Brooke N Longo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Megan W Tse
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Megan R Houchin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Mina M Shokoufandeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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6
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Chen Y, Rudolph S, Longo BN, Pace F, Roh T, Condruti R, Gee M, Watnick P, Kaplan DL. Bioengineered 3D Tissue Model of Intestine Epithelium with Oxygen Gradients to Sustain Human Gut Microbiome. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200447. [PMID: 35686484 PMCID: PMC9388577 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The human gut microbiome is crucial to hosting physiology and health. Therefore, stable in vitro coculture of primary human intestinal cells with a microbiome community is essential for understanding intestinal disease progression and revealing novel therapeutic targets. Here, a three-dimensional scaffold system is presented to regenerate an in vitro human intestinal epithelium that recapitulates many functional characteristics of the native small intestines. The epithelium, derived from human intestinal enteroids, contains mature intestinal epithelial cells and possesses selectively permeable barrier functions. Importantly, by properly positioning the scaffolds cultured under normal atmospheric conditions, two physiologically relevant oxygen gradients, a proximal-to-distal oxygen gradient along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and a radial oxygen gradient across the epithelium, are distinguished in the tissues when the lumens are faced up and down in cultures, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of the low oxygen gradients supported the coculture of intestinal epithelium along with a complex living commensal gut microbiome (including obligate anaerobes) to simulate temporal microbiome dynamics in the native human gut. This unique silk scaffold platform may enable the exploration of microbiota-related mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and host-pathogen dynamics in infectious diseases including the potential to explore the human microbiome-gut-brain axis and potential novel microbiome-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA,To whom correspondence may be addressed. ;
| | - Sara Rudolph
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Brooke N. Longo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Fernanda Pace
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Terrence Roh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Rebecca Condruti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Michelle Gee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Paula Watnick
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St, Medford, MA, 02155, USA,Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA,To whom correspondence may be addressed. ;
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7
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García-Díaz M, Cendra MDM, Alonso-Roman R, Urdániz M, Torrents E, Martínez E. Mimicking the Intestinal Host-Pathogen Interactions in a 3D In Vitro Model: The Role of the Mucus Layer. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1552. [PMID: 35893808 PMCID: PMC9331835 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal mucus lines the luminal surface of the intestinal epithelium. This mucus is a dynamic semipermeable barrier and one of the first-line defense mechanisms against the outside environment, protecting the body against chemical, mechanical, or biological external insults. At the same time, the intestinal mucus accommodates the resident microbiota, providing nutrients and attachment sites, and therefore playing an essential role in the host-pathogen interactions and gut homeostasis. Underneath this mucus layer, the intestinal epithelium is organized into finger-like protrusions called villi and invaginations called crypts. This characteristic 3D architecture is known to influence the epithelial cell differentiation and function. However, when modelling in vitro the intestinal host-pathogen interactions, these two essential features, the intestinal mucus and the 3D topography are often not represented, thus limiting the relevance of the models. Here we present an in vitro model that mimics the small intestinal mucosa and its interactions with intestinal pathogens in a relevant manner, containing the secreted mucus layer and the epithelial barrier in a 3D villus-like hydrogel scaffold. This 3D architecture significantly enhanced the secretion of mucus. In infection with the pathogenic adherent invasive E. coli strain LF82, characteristic of Crohn's disease, we observed that this secreted mucus promoted the adhesion of the pathogen and at the same time had a protective effect upon its invasion. This pathogenic strain was able to survive inside the epithelial cells and trigger an inflammatory response that was milder when a thick mucus layer was present. Thus, we demonstrated that our model faithfully mimics the key features of the intestinal mucosa necessary to study the interactions with intestinal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- María García-Díaz
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
| | - Maria del Mar Cendra
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
| | - Raquel Alonso-Roman
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
| | - María Urdániz
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
| | - Eduard Torrents
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
- Microbiology Section, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Biology Faculty, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Martínez
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.d.M.C.); (R.A.-R.); (M.U.); (E.T.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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8
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Cao M, Liu C, Li M, Zhang X, Peng L, Liu L, Liao J, Yang J. Recent Research on Hybrid Hydrogels for Infection Treatment and Bone Repair. Gels 2022; 8:gels8050306. [PMID: 35621604 PMCID: PMC9140391 DOI: 10.3390/gels8050306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The repair of infected bone defects (IBDs) is still a great challenge in clinic. A successful treatment for IBDs should simultaneously resolve both infection control and bone defect repair. Hydrogels are water-swollen hydrophilic materials that maintain a distinct three-dimensional structure, helping load various antibacterial drugs and biomolecules. Hybrid hydrogels may potentially possess antibacterial ability and osteogenic activity. This review summarizes the recent progress of different kinds of antibacterial agents (including inorganic, organic, and natural) encapsulated in hydrogels. Several representative hydrogels of each category and their antibacterial mechanism and effect on bone repair are presented. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of antibacterial agent hybrid hydrogels are discussed. The challenge and future research directions are further prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (M.C.); (M.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Chengcheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Mengxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (M.C.); (M.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Li Peng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
| | - Lijia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (M.C.); (M.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Jinfeng Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (M.C.); (M.L.); (L.L.)
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (J.Y.)
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9
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Luciano M, Versaevel M, Vercruysse E, Procès A, Kalukula Y, Remson A, Deridoux A, Gabriele S. Appreciating the role of cell shape changes in the mechanobiology of epithelial tissues. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:011305. [PMID: 38505223 PMCID: PMC10903419 DOI: 10.1063/5.0074317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The wide range of epithelial cell shapes reveals the complexity and diversity of the intracellular mechanisms that serve to construct their morphology and regulate their functions. Using mechanosensitive steps, epithelial cells can sense a variety of different mechanochemical stimuli and adapt their behavior by reshaping their morphology. These changes of cell shape rely on a structural reorganization in space and time that generates modifications of the tensional state and activates biochemical cascades. Recent studies have started to unveil how the cell shape maintenance is involved in mechanical homeostatic tasks to sustain epithelial tissue folding, identity, and self-renewal. Here, we review relevant works that integrated mechanobiology to elucidate some of the core principles of how cell shape may be conveyed into spatial information to guide collective processes such as epithelial morphogenesis. Among many other parameters, we show that the regulation of the cell shape can be understood as the result of the interplay between two counteracting mechanisms: actomyosin contractility and intercellular adhesions, and that both do not act independently but are functionally integrated to operate on molecular, cellular, and tissue scales. We highlight the role of cadherin-based adhesions in force-sensing and mechanotransduction, and we report recent developments that exploit physics of liquid crystals to connect cell shape changes to orientational order in cell aggregates. Finally, we emphasize that the further intermingling of different disciplines to develop new mechanobiology assays will lead the way toward a unified picture of the contribution of cell shape to the pathophysiological behavior of epithelial tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Luciano
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Marie Versaevel
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Eléonore Vercruysse
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Anthony Procès
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Yohalie Kalukula
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Remson
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Amandine Deridoux
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- University of Mons, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Mechanobiology and Biomaterials Group, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, 20 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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10
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Carthew J, Taylor JBJ, Garcia-Cruz MR, Kiaie N, Voelcker NH, Cadarso VJ, Frith JE. The Bumpy Road to Stem Cell Therapies: Rational Design of Surface Topographies to Dictate Stem Cell Mechanotransduction and Fate. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:23066-23101. [PMID: 35192344 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c22109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cells sense and respond to a variety of physical cues from their surrounding microenvironment, and these are interpreted through mechanotransductive processes to inform their behavior. These mechanisms have particular relevance to stem cells, where control of stem cell proliferation, potency, and differentiation is key to their successful application in regenerative medicine. It is increasingly recognized that surface micro- and nanotopographies influence stem cell behavior and may represent a powerful tool with which to direct the morphology and fate of stem cells. Current progress toward this goal has been driven by combined advances in fabrication technologies and cell biology. Here, the capacity to generate precisely defined micro- and nanoscale topographies has facilitated the studies that provide knowledge of the mechanotransducive processes that govern the cellular response as well as knowledge of the specific features that can drive cells toward a defined differentiation outcome. However, the path forward is not fully defined, and the "bumpy road" that lays ahead must be crossed before the full potential of these approaches can be fully exploited. This review focuses on the challenges and opportunities in applying micro- and nanotopographies to dictate stem cell fate for regenerative medicine. Here, key techniques used to produce topographic features are reviewed, such as photolithography, block copolymer lithography, electron beam lithography, nanoimprint lithography, soft lithography, scanning probe lithography, colloidal lithography, electrospinning, and surface roughening, alongside their advantages and disadvantages. The biological impacts of surface topographies are then discussed, including the current understanding of the mechanotransductive mechanisms by which these cues are interpreted by the cells, as well as the specific effects of surface topographies on cell differentiation and fate. Finally, considerations in translating these technologies and their future prospects are evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Carthew
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jason B J Taylor
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Maria R Garcia-Cruz
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Nasim Kiaie
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Nicolas H Voelcker
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- CSIRO Manufacturing, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Victor J Cadarso
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Centre to Impact Antimicrobial Resistance, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jessica E Frith
- Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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11
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Hauck N, Neuendorf TA, Männel MJ, Vogel L, Liu P, Stündel E, Zhang Y, Thiele J. Processing of fast-gelling hydrogel precursors in microfluidics by electrocoalescence of reactive species. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10312-10321. [PMID: 34664052 PMCID: PMC8612358 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01176f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microscopic hydrogels, also referred to as microgels, find broad application in life and materials science. A well-established technique for fabricating uniform microgels is droplet microfluidics. Here, optimal mixing of hydrogel precursor components is crucial to yield homogeneous microgels with respect to their morphology, mechanics, and distribution of functional moieties. However, when processing premixed polymer precursors that are highly reactive, fast or even instantaneous gelation inside fluid reservoirs or the microchannels of the flow cell commonly occurs, leading to an increase of fluid viscosity over time, and thus exacerbating the intrinsic control over fluid flow rates, droplet and microgel uniformity, which are key selling points of microfluidics in material design. To address these challenges, we utilize microflow cells with integrated electrodes, which enable fast addition and mixing of hydrogel precursors on demand by means of emulsion droplet coalescence. Here, two populations of surfactant-stabilized aqueous droplets - the first containing the material basis of the microgel, and the second containing another gel-forming component (e.g., a crosslinker) are formed at two consecutive microchannel junctions and merged via temporary thin-film instability. Our approach provides the ability to process such hydrogel systems that are otherwise challenging to process into uniform droplets and microgels by conventional droplet microfluidics. To demonstrate its versatility, we fabricate microgels with uniform shape and composition using fast hydrogelation via thiol-Michael addition reaction or non-covalent self-assembly. Furthermore, we elucidate the limitations of electrocoalescence of reactive hydrogel precursors by processing sodium alginate, crosslinked by calcium-induced ionic interactions. For this instantaneous type of hydrogelation, electrocoalescence of alginate and calcium ions does not result in the formation of morphologically isotropic microgels. Instead, it enables the creation of anisotropic microgel morphologies with tunable shape, which have previously only been achieved by selective crosslinking of elaborate higher-order emulsions or by aqueous two-phase systems as microgel templates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Hauck
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Talika A Neuendorf
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Max J Männel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Lucas Vogel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ping Liu
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Enno Stündel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Yixin Zhang
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julian Thiele
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
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12
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Soheilmoghaddam F, Rumble M, Cooper-White J. High-Throughput Routes to Biomaterials Discovery. Chem Rev 2021; 121:10792-10864. [PMID: 34213880 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many existing clinical treatments are limited in their ability to completely restore decreased or lost tissue and organ function, an unenviable situation only further exacerbated by a globally aging population. As a result, the demand for new medical interventions has increased substantially over the past 20 years, with the burgeoning fields of gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine showing promise to offer solutions for full repair or replacement of damaged or aging tissues. Success in these fields, however, inherently relies on biomaterials that are engendered with the ability to provide the necessary biological cues mimicking native extracellular matrixes that support cell fate. Accelerating the development of such "directive" biomaterials requires a shift in current design practices toward those that enable rapid synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials and the coupling of these processes with techniques that enable similarly rapid quantification and optimization of the interactions between these new material systems and target cells and tissues. This manuscript reviews recent advances in combinatorial and high-throughput (HT) technologies applied to polymeric biomaterial synthesis, fabrication, and chemical, physical, and biological screening with targeted end-point applications in the fields of gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Limitations of, and future opportunities for, the further application of these research tools and methodologies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Soheilmoghaddam
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - Madeleine Rumble
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - Justin Cooper-White
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
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13
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Berg IC, Mohagheghian E, Habing K, Wang N, Underhill GH. Microtissue Geometry and Cell-Generated Forces Drive Patterning of Liver Progenitor Cell Differentiation in 3D. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100223. [PMID: 33890430 PMCID: PMC8222189 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
3D microenvironments provide a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of intrinsic mechanical signaling on progenitor cell differentiation. Using a hydrogel-based microwell platform, arrays of 3D, multicellular microtissues in constrained geometries, including toroids and cylinders are produced. These generated distinct mechanical profiles to investigate the impact of geometry and stress on early liver progenitor cell fate using a model liver development system. Image segmentation allows the tracking of individual cell fate and the characterization of distinct patterning of hepatocytic makers to the outer shell of the microtissues, and the exclusion from the inner diameter surface of the toroids. Biliary markers are distributed throughout the interior regions of micropatterned tissues and are increased in toroidal tissues when compared with those in cylindrical tissues. Finite element models of predicted stress distributions, combined with mechanical measurements, demonstrates that intercellular tension correlates with increased hepatocytic fate, while compression correlates with decreased hepatocytic and increased biliary fate. This system, which integrates microfabrication, imaging, mechanical modeling, and quantitative analysis, demonstrates how microtissue geometry can drive patterning of mechanical stresses that regulate cell differentiation trajectories. This approach may serve as a platform for further investigation of signaling mechanisms in the liver and other developmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C. Berg
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Erfan Mohagheghian
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Building, 1206 W. Green St. MC 244, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Krista Habing
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ning Wang
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Building, 1206 W. Green St. MC 244, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Gregory H. Underhill
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Bioengineering, 1102 Everitt Lab, MC-278, 1406 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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14
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Creff J, Malaquin L, Besson A. In vitro models of intestinal epithelium: Toward bioengineered systems. J Tissue Eng 2021; 12:2041731420985202. [PMID: 34104387 PMCID: PMC8164551 DOI: 10.1177/2041731420985202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium, the fastest renewing tissue in human, is a complex
tissue hosting multiple cell types with a dynamic and multiparametric
microenvironment, making it particularly challenging to recreate in
vitro. Convergence of recent advances in cellular biology and
microfabrication technologies have led to the development of various
bioengineered systems to model and study the intestinal epithelium. Theses
microfabricated in vitro models may constitute an alternative
to current approaches for studying the fundamental mechanisms governing
intestinal homeostasis and pathologies, as well as for in vitro
drug screening and testing. Herein, we review the recent advances in
bioengineered in vitro intestinal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Creff
- LBCMCP, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex, France.,LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Arnaud Besson
- LBCMCP, Centre de Biologie Intégrative, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex, France
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15
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Giordano L, Mihaila SM, Eslami Amirabadi H, Masereeuw R. Microphysiological Systems to Recapitulate the Gut-Kidney Axis. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 39:811-823. [PMID: 33419585 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically appears alongside other comorbidities, highlighting an underlying complex pathophysiology that is thought to be vastly modulated by the bidirectional gut-kidney crosstalk. By combining advances in tissue engineering, biofabrication, microfluidics, and biosensors, microphysiological systems (MPSs) have emerged as promising approaches for emulating the in vitro interconnection of multiple organs, while addressing the limitations of animal models. Mimicking the (patho)physiological states of the gut-kidney axis in vitro requires an MPS that can simulate not only this direct bidirectional crosstalk but also the contributions of other physiological participants such as the liver and the immune system. We discuss recent developments in the field that could potentially lead to in vitro modeling of the gut-kidney axis in CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Giordano
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Maria Mihaila
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hossein Eslami Amirabadi
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Metabolic Health Research group, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalinde Masereeuw
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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16
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Manufacturing micropatterned collagen scaffolds with chemical-crosslinking for development of biomimetic tissue-engineered oral mucosa. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22192. [PMID: 33335194 PMCID: PMC7747639 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79114-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The junction between the epithelium and the underlying connective tissue undulates, constituting of rete ridges, which lack currently available soft tissue constructs. In this study, using a micro electro mechanical systems process and soft lithography, fifteen negative molds, with different dimensions and aspect ratios in grid- and pillar-type configurations, were designed and fabricated to create three-dimensional micropatterns and replicated onto fish-scale type I collagen scaffolds treated with chemical crosslinking. Image analyses showed the micropatterns were well-transferred onto the scaffold surfaces, showing the versatility of our manufacturing system. With the help of rheological test, the collagen scaffold manufactured in this study was confirmed to be an ideal gel and have visco-elastic features. As compared with our previous study, its mechanical and handling properties were improved by chemical cross-linking, which is beneficial for grafting and suturing into the complex structures of oral cavity. Histologic evaluation of a tissue-engineered oral mucosa showed the topographical microstructures of grid-type were well-preserved, rather than pillar-type, a well-stratified epithelial layer was regenerated on all scaffolds and the epithelial rete ridge-like structure was developed. As this three-dimensional microstructure is valuable for maintaining epithelial integrity, our micropatterned collagen scaffolds can be used not only intraorally but extraorally as a graft material for human use.
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