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Cheung BCH, Chen X, Davis HJ, Nordmann CS, Toth J, Hodgson L, Segall JE, Shenoy VB, Wu M. Identification of CD44 as a key mediator of cell traction force generation in hyaluronic acid-rich extracellular matrices. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.24.563860. [PMID: 37961689 PMCID: PMC10634813 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) critically regulate a number of important cell functions including growth, differentiation and migration. Type I collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are two primary components of ECMs that contribute to mammalian tissue mechanics, with the collagen fiber network sustaining tension, and GAGs withstanding compression. The architecture and stiffness of the collagen network are known to be important for cell-ECM mechanical interactions via integrin cell surface adhesion receptors. In contrast, studies of GAGs in modulating cell-ECM interactions are limited. Here, we present experimental studies on the roles of hyaluronic acid (HA, an unsulfated GAG) in single tumor cell traction force generation using a recently developed 3D cell traction force microscopy method. Our work reveals that CD44, a cell surface adhesion receptor to HA, is engaged in cell traction force generation in conjunction with β1-integrin. We find that HA significantly modifies the architecture and mechanics of the collagen fiber network, decreasing tumor cells' propensity to remodel the collagen network, attenuating traction force generation, transmission distance, and tumor invasion. Our findings point to a novel role for CD44 in traction force generation, which can be a potential therapeutic target for diseases involving HA rich ECMs such as breast cancer and glioblastoma.
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2
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Mauro F, Natale CF, Panzetta V, Netti PA. Development of an Azobenzene-Based Cell Culture Photoresponsive Platform for In Situ Modulation of Surface Topography in Wet Environments. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:29823-29833. [PMID: 38829198 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04186] [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: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Azopolymers are light-responsive materials that hold promise to transform in vitro cell culture systems. Through precise light illumination, they facilitate substrate pattern formation and erasure, allowing for the dynamic control and creation of active interfaces between cells and materials. However, these materials exhibit a tendency to locally detach from the supporting glass in the presence of aqueous solutions, such as cell culture media, due to the formation of blisters, which are liquid-filled cavities generated at the azopolymer film-glass interface. These blisters impede precise structurization of the surface of the azomaterial, limiting their usage for surface photoactivation in the presence of cells. In this study, we present a cost-effective and easily implementable method to improve the azopolymer-glass interface stability through silane functionalization of the glass substrate. This method proved to be efficient in preventing blister formation, thereby enabling the dynamic modulation of the azopolymer surface in situ for live-cell experiments. Furthermore, we proved that the light-illumination conditions used to induce azopolymer surface variations do not induce phototoxic effects. Consequently, this approach facilitates the development of a photoswitchable azopolymer cell culture platform for studying the impact of multiple in situ inscription and erasure cycles on cell functions while maintaining a physiological wet microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mauro
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, IIT@CRIB, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo F Natale
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, IIT@CRIB, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Panzetta
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, IIT@CRIB, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale sui Biomateriali, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo A Netti
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, IIT@CRIB, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Centro di Ricerca Interdipartimentale sui Biomateriali, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
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3
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Toscano E, Cimmino E, Pennacchio FA, Riccio P, Poli A, Liu YJ, Maiuri P, Sepe L, Paolella G. Methods and computational tools to study eukaryotic cell migration in vitro. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1385991. [PMID: 38887515 PMCID: PMC11180820 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1385991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular movement is essential for many vital biological functions where it plays a pivotal role both at the single cell level, such as during division or differentiation, and at the macroscopic level within tissues, where coordinated migration is crucial for proper morphogenesis. It also has an impact on various pathological processes, one for all, cancer spreading. Cell migration is a complex phenomenon and diverse experimental methods have been developed aimed at dissecting and analysing its distinct facets independently. In parallel, corresponding analytical procedures and tools have been devised to gain deep insight and interpret experimental results. Here we review established experimental techniques designed to investigate specific aspects of cell migration and present a broad collection of historical as well as cutting-edge computational tools used in quantitative analysis of cell motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Toscano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Cimmino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio A. Pennacchio
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrizia Riccio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Yan-Jun Liu
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Paolo Maiuri
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Leandra Sepe
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Paolella
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
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4
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Asadi Tokmedash M, Min J. Designer Micro-/Nanocrumpled MXene Multilayer Coatings Accelerate Osteogenesis and Regulate Macrophage Polarization. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:21415-21426. [PMID: 38445580 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18158] [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: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Effective tissue regeneration and immune responses are essential for the success of biomaterial implantation. Although the interaction between synthetic materials and biological systems is well-recognized, the role of surface topographical cues in regulating the local osteoimmune microenvironment─specifically, their impact on host tissue and immune cells, and their dynamic interactions─remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of surface topography on osteogenesis and immunomodulation. We fabricated MXene/hydroxyapatite (HAP)-coated surfaces with controlled 2.5D nano-, submicro-, and microscale topographical patterns using our custom bottom-up patterning method. These engineered surfaces were employed to assess the behavior of osteoblast precursor cells and macrophage polarization. Our results demonstrate that MXene/HAP-coated surfaces with microscale crumpled topography significantly influence osteogenic activity and macrophage polarization: these surfaces notably enhanced osteoblast precursor cell spreading, proliferation, and differentiation and facilitated a shift in macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory, prohealing M2 phenotype. The observed cell responses indicate that the physical cues from the crumpled topographies, combined with the chemical cues from the MXene/HAP coatings, synergistically create a favorable osteoimmune microenvironment. This study presents the first evidence of employing MXene/HAP-multilayer coated surfaces with finely crumpled topography to concurrently facilitate osteogenesis and immunomodulation for improved implant-to-tissue integration. The tunable topographic patterns of these coatings coupled with a facile and scalable fabrication process make them widely applicable for various biomedical purposes. Our results highlight the potential of these multilayer coatings with controlled topography to improve the in vivo performance and fate of implants by modulating the host response at the material interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asadi Tokmedash
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Jouha Min
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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5
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Robitaille MC, Kim C, Christodoulides JA, Calhoun PJ, Kang W, Liu J, Byers JM, Raphael MP. Topographical depth reveals contact guidance mechanism distinct from focal adhesion confinement. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:238-248. [PMID: 38226738 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21810] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Cellular response to the topography of their environment, known as contact guidance, is a crucial aspect to many biological processes yet remains poorly understood. A prevailing model to describe cellular contact guidance involves the lateral confinement of focal adhesions (FA) by topography as an underlying mechanism governing how cells can respond to topographical cues. However, it is not clear how this model is consistent with the well-documented depth-dependent contact guidance responses in the literature. To investigate this model, we fabricated a set of contact guidance chips with lateral dimensions capable of confining focal adhesions and relaxing that confinement at various depths. We find at the shallowest depth of 330 nm, the model of focal adhesion confinement is consistent with our observations. However, the cellular response at depths of 725 and 1000 nm is inadequately explained by this model. Instead, we observe a distinct reorganization of F-actin at greater depths in which topographically induced cell membrane deformation alters the structure of the cytoskeleton. These results are consistent with an alternative curvature-hypothesis to explain cellular response to topographical cues. Together, these results indicate a confluence of two molecular mechanisms operating at increased induced membrane curvature that govern how cells sense and respond to topography.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chunghwan Kim
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | - Wonmo Kang
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Jinny Liu
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jeff M Byers
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
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Mateus JC, Sousa MM, Burrone J, Aguiar P. Beyond a Transmission Cable-New Technologies to Reveal the Richness in Axonal Electrophysiology. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1446232023. [PMID: 38479812 PMCID: PMC10941245 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1446-23.2023] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The axon is a neuronal structure capable of processing, encoding, and transmitting information. This assessment contrasts with a limiting, but deeply rooted, perspective where the axon functions solely as a transmission cable of somatodendritic activity, sending signals in the form of stereotypical action potentials. This perspective arose, at least partially, because of the technical difficulties in probing axons: their extreme length-to-diameter ratio and intricate growth paths preclude the study of their dynamics through traditional techniques. Recent findings are challenging this view and revealing a much larger repertoire of axonal computations. Axons display complex signaling processes and structure-function relationships, which can be modulated via diverse activity-dependent mechanisms. Additionally, axons can exhibit patterns of activity that are dramatically different from those of their corresponding soma. Not surprisingly, many of these recent discoveries have been driven by novel technology developments, which allow for in vitro axon electrophysiology with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. In this review, we outline the state-of-the-art in vitro toolset for axonal electrophysiology and summarize the recent discoveries in axon function it has enabled. We also review the increasing repertoire of microtechnologies for controlling axon guidance which, in combination with the available cutting-edge electrophysiology and imaging approaches, have the potential for more controlled and high-throughput in vitro studies. We anticipate that a larger adoption of these new technologies by the neuroscience community will drive a new era of experimental opportunities in the study of axon physiology and consequently, neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Mateus
- i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - M M Sousa
- i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - J Burrone
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - P Aguiar
- i3S- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Conci C, Sironi L, Jacchetti E, Panzeri D, Inverso D, Martínez Vázquez R, Osellame R, Collini M, Cerullo G, Chirico G, Raimondi MT. In vivo label-free tissue histology through a microstructured imaging window. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016102. [PMID: 38222895 PMCID: PMC10787586 DOI: 10.1063/5.0165411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue histopathology, based on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of thin tissue slices, is the gold standard for the evaluation of the immune reaction to the implant of a biomaterial. It is based on lengthy and costly procedures that do not allow longitudinal studies. The use of non-linear excitation microscopy in vivo, largely label-free, has the potential to overcome these limitations. With this purpose, we develop and validate an implantable microstructured device for the non-linear excitation microscopy assessment of the immune reaction to an implanted biomaterial label-free. The microstructured device, shaped as a matrix of regular 3D lattices, is obtained by two-photon laser polymerization. It is subsequently implanted in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated chicken eggs for 7 days to act as an intrinsic 3D reference frame for cell counting and identification. The histological analysis based on H&E images of the tissue sections sampled around the implanted microstructures is compared to non-linear excitation and confocal images to build a cell atlas that correlates the histological observations to the label-free images. In this way, we can quantify the number of cells recruited in the tissue reconstituted in the microstructures and identify granulocytes on label-free images within and outside the microstructures. Collagen and microvessels are also identified by means of second-harmonic generation and autofluorescence imaging. The analysis indicates that the tissue reaction to implanted microstructures is like the one typical of CAM healing after injury, without a massive foreign body reaction. This opens the path to the use of similar microstructures coupled to a biomaterial, to image in vivo the regenerating interface between a tissue and a biomaterial with label-free non-linear excitation microscopy. This promises to be a transformative approach, alternative to conventional histopathology, for the bioengineering and the validation of biomaterials in in vivo longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Conci
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Sironi
- Department of Physics, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Jacchetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Panzeri
- Department of Physics, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Donato Inverso
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Rebeca Martínez Vázquez
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), CNR and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Osellame
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), CNR and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Maddalena Collini
- Department of Physics, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Cerullo
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (IFN), CNR and Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Chirico
- Department of Physics, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 3, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Teresa Raimondi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
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8
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Akolawala Q, Keuning F, Rovituso M, van Burik W, van der Wal E, Versteeg HH, Rondon AMR, Accardo A. Micro-Vessels-Like 3D Scaffolds for Studying the Proton Radiobiology of Glioblastoma-Endothelial Cells Co-Culture Models. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302988. [PMID: 37944591 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302988] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating cancer of the brain with an extremely poor prognosis. While X-ray radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the current standard, proton beam therapy is an appealing alternative as protons can damage cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. However, the effects of protons on in vitro GBM models at the cellular level, especially when co-cultured with endothelial cells, the building blocks of brain micro-vessels, are still unexplored. In this work, novel 3D-engineered scaffolds inspired by the geometry of brain microvasculature are designed, where GBM cells cluster and proliferate. The architectures are fabricated by two-photon polymerization (2PP), pre-cultured with endothelial cells (HUVECs), and then cultured with a human GBM cell line (U251). The micro-vessel structures enable GBM in vivo-like morphologies, and the results show a higher DNA double-strand breakage in GBM monoculture samples when compared to the U251/HUVECs co-culture, with cells in 2D featuring a larger number of DNA damage foci when compared to cells in 3D. The discrepancy in terms of proton radiation response indicates a difference in the radioresistance of the GBM cells mediated by the presence of HUVECs and the possible induction of stemness features that contribute to radioresistance and improved DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qais Akolawala
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands
- Holland Proton Therapy Center (HollandPTC), Huismansingel 4, 2629 JH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Floor Keuning
- Erasmus University College, Nieuwemarkt 1A, Rotterdam, 3011 HP, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Rovituso
- Holland Proton Therapy Center (HollandPTC), Huismansingel 4, 2629 JH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter van Burik
- Holland Proton Therapy Center (HollandPTC), Huismansingel 4, 2629 JH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Ernst van der Wal
- Holland Proton Therapy Center (HollandPTC), Huismansingel 4, 2629 JH, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Henri H Versteeg
- Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Araci M R Rondon
- Einthoven Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Angelo Accardo
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD, Delft, The Netherlands
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Quiles MT, Rodríguez-Contreras A, Guillem-Marti J, Punset M, Sánchez-Soto M, López-Cano M, Sabadell J, Velasco J, Armengol M, Manero JM, Arbós MA. Effect of Functionalization of Texturized Polypropylene Surface by Silanization and HBII-RGD Attachment on Response of Primary Abdominal and Vaginal Fibroblasts. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:667. [PMID: 38475352 DOI: 10.3390/polym16050667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue defects, such as incisional hernia or pelvic organ prolapse, are prevalent pathologies characterized by a tissue microenvironment rich in fragile and dysfunctional fibroblasts. Precision medicine could improve their surgical repair, currently based on polymeric materials. Nonetheless, biomaterial-triggered interventions need first a better understanding of the cell-material interfaces that truly consider the patients' biology. Few tools are available to study the interactions between polymers and dysfunctional soft tissue cells in vitro. Here, we propose polypropylene (PP) as a matrix to create microscale surfaces w/wo functionalization with an HBII-RGD molecule, a fibronectin fragment modified to include an RGD sequence for promoting cell attachment and differentiation. Metal mold surfaces were roughened by shot blasting with aluminum oxide, and polypropylene plates were obtained by injection molding. HBII-RGD was covalently attached by silanization. As a proof of concept, primary abdominal and vaginal wall fasciae fibroblasts from control patients were grown on the new surfaces. Tissue-specific significant differences in cell morphology, early adhesion and cytoskeletal structure were observed. Roughness and biofunctionalization parameters exerted unique and combinatorial effects that need further investigation. We conclude that the proposed model is effective and provides a new framework to inform the design of smart materials for the treatment of clinically compromised tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Quiles
- General Surgery Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallés, Spain
| | - Alejandra Rodríguez-Contreras
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. D'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Guillem-Marti
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. D'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miquel Punset
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. D'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Sánchez-Soto
- Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. D'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel López-Cano
- General Surgery Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Abdominal Wall Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sabadell
- General Surgery Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Unit, Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janice Velasco
- Department of Surgery, Hospital San Rafael, Germanes Hospitalàries, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 107, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Armengol
- General Surgery Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of General Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose Maria Manero
- Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group (BBT), Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Department Materials Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Campus Diagonal-Besòs, Av. D'Eduard Maristany, 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
- Networking Research Centre of Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Antònia Arbós
- General Surgery Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallés, Spain
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10
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Sriram M, Priya S, Mahajan A, Katti DS. Directing ligament-mimetic bi-directional cell organization in scaffolds through zone-specific microarchitecture for ligament tissue engineering. Biofabrication 2024; 16:025015. [PMID: 38277689 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad22f2] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Ligament tissues exhibit zone-specific anisotropic cell organization. The cells in ligament-proper are longitudinally oriented, whereas, the cells in epiligament are circumferentially oriented. Therefore, scaffolds developed to regenerate ligament tissues should possess adequate architectural features to govern ligament-mimetic bi-directional cell organization. The scaffold architectural features along with ligament-mimetic cell organization may ultimately yield neo-tissues with ligament-like extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and biomechanical properties. Towards this goal, we fabricated a silk/gelatin-based core-shell scaffold (csSG) with zone-specific anisotropic architectural features, wherein, the core of the scaffold possessed longitudinally aligned pores while the shell of the scaffold possessed parallel microgrooves that are aligned circumferentially around the surface of the scaffold. The ligament-mimetic architectural features significantly improved the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Moreover, architectural features of the csSG scaffold governed zone-specific anisotropic organization of cells. The cells in the core were longitudinally oriented as observed in the ligament-proper and the cells on the shell were circumferentially oriented as observed in epiligament. This bi-directional cell orientation partially mimicked the complex cellular network in native ligament tissue. Additionally, both the core and the shell individually supported fibrogenic differentiation of stem cells which further improved their potential for ligament tissue engineering. Further, the aligned pores of the core could govern unidirectional organization of ECM deposited by cells which is crucial for regenerating anisotropic tissues like ligaments. Finally, when implanted subcutaneously in mice, the scaffolds retained their anisotropic architecture for at least 2 weeks, were biocompatible, supported cell infiltration and governed anisotropic organization of cells and ECM. Taken together, the fabricated biomimetic csSG scaffold, through its zone-specific architectural features, could govern ligament-mimetic cellular and ECM organization which is ultimately expected to achieve regeneration of ligament tissues with native-like hierarchical structure and biomechanical properties. Consequently, this study introduces bi-directional structural parameters as design criteria for developing scaffolds for ligament tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sriram
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Smriti Priya
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Aman Mahajan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dhirendra S Katti
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
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11
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Posada VM, Marin A, Mesa-Restrepo A, Nashed J, Allain JP. Enhancing silk fibroin structures and applications through angle-dependent Ar + plasma treatment. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128352. [PMID: 38043660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128352] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
This study tackles limitations of Silk Fibroin (SF), including availability of sites for modification. This is achieved by Direct Plasma Nanosynthesis (DPNS), an Ar+ bombardment method, to generate and modify nanostructures and nanoscale properties on the SF surface. SF samples were treated with DPNS at incidence angles of 45o and 60o, with specific ion dose and energy parameters (1 × 1018 ions/cm2 and 500 eV, respectively) maintained throughout the process. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) primarily underscored transformations in SF's nitrogenous components. Specifically, treatment produced a boost in C-NH2, particularly pronounced in the 45o-treated samples, suggesting changes were more superficial than alterations to the secondary structure. The DPNS treatment gave rise to periodic nanocone structures on the SF surface, with a scale increase correlated to a higher angle of incidence. This resulted in a decrease in surface stiffness and significant changes in the motility of J774 macrophages interacting with the transformed SF. Furthermore, the SF samples treated at a 60o incidence showcased a confinement effect, moderating the macrophages' motility, morphology, and inflammatory response. The DPNS-induced alterations not only mitigate SF's limitations but also affect cellular behavior, expanding potential for SF in biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana M Posada
- Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
| | - Alexandru Marin
- Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA; Surface Analysis Laboratory, Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti, Mioveni 115400, Romania
| | | | - Jordan Nashed
- Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA
| | - Jean Paul Allain
- Ken and Mary Alice Lindquist Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, USA; Lloyd & Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair in Plasma Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, USA
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12
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Kim C, Robitaille M, Christodoulides J, Ng Y, Raphael M, Kang W. Hs27 fibroblast response to contact guidance cues. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21691. [PMID: 38066191 PMCID: PMC10709656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48913-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Contact guidance is the phenomena of how cells respond to the topography of their external environment. The morphological and dynamic cell responses are strongly influenced by topographic features such as lateral and vertical dimensions, namely, ridge and groove widths and groove depth ([Formula: see text], respectively). However, experimental studies that independently quantify the effect of the individual dimensions as well as their coupling on cellular function are still limited. In this work, we perform extensive parametric studies in the dimensional space-well beyond the previously studied range in the literature-to explore topographical effects on morphology and migration of Hs27 fibroblasts via static and dynamic analyses of live cell images. Our static analysis reveals that the [Formula: see text] is most significant, followed by the [Formula: see text]. The fibroblasts appear to be more elongated and aligned in the groove direction as the [Formula: see text] increases, but their trend changes after 725 nm. Interestingly, the cell shape and alignment show a very strong correlation regardless of [Formula: see text]. Our dynamic analysis confirms that directional cell migration is also strongly influenced by the [Formula: see text], while the effect of the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is statistically insignificant. Directional cell migration, as observed in the static cell behavior, shows the statistically significant transition when the [Formula: see text] is 725 nm, showing the intimate links between cell morphology and migration. We propose possible scenarios to offer mechanistic explanations of the observed cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Kim
- Mechanical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - M Robitaille
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | | | - Y Ng
- Mechanical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - M Raphael
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - W Kang
- Mechanical Engineering, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA.
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13
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Guo M, Liu XY, Li T, Duan Q, Dong XZ, Liu J, Jin F, Zheng ML. Cross-Scale Topography Achieved by MOPL with Positive Photoresist to Regulate the Cell Behavior. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2303572. [PMID: 37592111 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303572] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Cross-scale micro-nano structures play an important role in semiconductors, MEMS, chemistry, and cell biology. Positive photoresist is widely used in lithography due to the advantages of high resolution and environmental friendliness. However, cross-scale micro-nano structures of positive photoresist are difficult to flexibly pattern, and the feature resolution is limited by the optical diffraction. Here, cross-scale patterned micro-nano structures are achieved using the positive photoresist based on the femtosecond laser maskless optical projection lithography (MOPL) technique. The dependence between exposure dose and groove width is comprehensively analyzed, and a feature size of 112 nm is obtained at 110 µW. Furthermore, large-area topography considering cell size is efficiently fabricated by the MOPL technique, which enables the regulation of cell behavior. The proposed protocol of achieving cross-scale structures with the exact size by MOPL of positive photoresist would provide new avenues for potential applications in nanoelectronics and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Guo
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yanqihu Campus, Beijing, 101407, P. R. China
| | - Xiang-Yang Liu
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yanqihu Campus, Beijing, 101407, P. R. China
| | - Teng Li
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yanqihu Campus, Beijing, 101407, P. R. China
| | - Qi Duan
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yanqihu Campus, Beijing, 101407, P. R. China
| | - Xian-Zi Dong
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Jie Liu
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Feng Jin
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Mei-Ling Zheng
- Laboratory of Organic NanoPhotonics and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29, Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
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14
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Couvrette LJ, Walker KLA, Bui TV, Pelling AE. Plant Cellulose as a Substrate for 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1309. [PMID: 38002433 PMCID: PMC10669287 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10111309] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cell (NSC)-based therapies are at the forefront of regenerative medicine strategies for various neural defects and injuries such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury. For several clinical applications, NSC therapies require biocompatible scaffolds to support cell survival and to direct differentiation. Here, we investigate decellularized plant tissue as a novel scaffold for three-dimensional (3D), in vitro culture of NSCs. Plant cellulose scaffolds were shown to support the attachment and proliferation of adult rat hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs). Further, NSCs differentiated on the cellulose scaffold had significant increases in their expression of neuron-specific beta-III tubulin and glial fibrillary acidic protein compared to 2D culture on a polystyrene plate, indicating that the scaffold may enhance the differentiation of NSCs towards astrocytic and neuronal lineages. Our findings suggest that plant-derived cellulose scaffolds have the potential to be used in neural tissue engineering and can be harnessed to direct the differentiation of NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J. Couvrette
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 5N5, Canada
| | - Krystal L. A. Walker
- Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, STEM Complex, 150 Louis Pasteur Pvt., Ottawa, ON K1N 5N5, Canada
| | - Tuan V. Bui
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 5N5, Canada
| | - Andrew E. Pelling
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 5N5, Canada
- Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, STEM Complex, 150 Louis Pasteur Pvt., Ottawa, ON K1N 5N5, Canada
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15
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Chen J, Chen X, Ma Y, Liu Y, Li J, Peng K, Dai Y, Chen X. Effect of Anisotropic Structural Depth on Orientation and Differentiation Behavior of Skeletal Muscle Cells. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:41374-41382. [PMID: 37969971 PMCID: PMC10634202 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04981] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted to examine how substrate topological factors are involved in modulating the cell behavior. Among numerous topological factors, the vital influence of the touchable depth of substrates on cell behaviors has already been extensively characterized, but the response of cells to the topological structure at untouchable depth is still elusive. Herein, the influences of substrate depth on myoblast behaviors are systematically investigated using substrates with depths ranging from touchable depth (microgrooved) to untouchable depth (microbridges). The results show that an increase in microgroove depth is accompanied by an inhibited cell spreading, an enhanced elongation, and a more obvious orientation along microgrooves. Interestingly, myoblasts located on microbridges show a more pronounced elongation with increasing culture time but a position-dependent orientation. Myoblasts on the center and parallel boundary of microbridges orient along the bridges, while myoblasts on the vertical boundary align perpendicular to the microbridges. Moreover, the differentiation results of the myoblasts indicate that the differentiated myotubes can maintain this position-dependent orientation. The simulation of the stress field in cell monolayers suggests that the position-dependent orientation is caused by the comprehensive response of myoblasts to the substrate discontinuity and substrate depth. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanism of cell depth sensing and could inform the design of tissue engineering scaffolds for skeletal muscle and biohybrid actuation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Chen
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Xuefei Chen
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yihao Ma
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yiran Liu
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Jin Li
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Kai Peng
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yichuan Dai
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Chen
- School
of Advanced Manufacturing, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, P. R. China
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16
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Bril M, Saberi A, Jorba I, van Turnhout MC, Sahlgren CM, Bouten CV, Schenning AP, Kurniawan NA. Shape-Morphing Photoresponsive Hydrogels Reveal Dynamic Topographical Conditioning of Fibroblasts. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303136. [PMID: 37740666 PMCID: PMC10625123 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303136] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular environment defines a physical boundary condition with which cells interact. However, to date, cell response to geometrical environmental cues is largely studied in static settings, which fails to capture the spatiotemporally varying cues cells receive in native tissues. Here, a photoresponsive spiropyran-based hydrogel is presented as a dynamic, cell-compatible, and reconfigurable substrate. Local stimulation with blue light (455 nm) alters hydrogel swelling, resulting in on-demand reversible micrometer-scale changes in surface topography within 15 min, allowing investigation into cell response to controlled geometry actuations. At short term (1 h after actuation), fibroblasts respond to multiple rounds of recurring topographical changes by reorganizing their nucleus and focal adhesions (FA). FAs form primarily at the dynamic regions of the hydrogel; however, this propensity is abolished when the topography is reconfigured from grooves to pits, demonstrating that topographical changes dynamically condition fibroblasts. Further, this dynamic conditioning is found to be associated with long-term (72 h) maintenance of focal adhesions and epigenetic modifications. Overall, this study offers a new approach to dissect the dynamic interplay between cells and their microenvironment and shines a new light on the cell's ability to adapt to topographical changes through FA-based mechanotransduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Bril
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Aref Saberi
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Ignasi Jorba
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Mark C. van Turnhout
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M. Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Faculty of Science and EngineeringÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFI‐20520Finland
| | - Carlijn V.C. Bouten
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
| | - Albert P.H.J. Schenning
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Engineering & ChemistryEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5612 AEThe Netherlands
| | - Nicholas A. Kurniawan
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular SystemsEindhoven University of TechnologyEindhoven5600 MBThe Netherlands
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17
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Villanueva-Flores F, Garcia-Atutxa I, Santos A, Armendariz-Borunda J. Toward a New Generation of Bio-Scaffolds for Neural Tissue Engineering: Challenges and Perspectives. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1750. [PMID: 37376198 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061750] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tissue engineering presents a compelling technological breakthrough in restoring brain function, holding immense promise. However, the quest to develop implantable scaffolds for neural culture that fulfill all necessary criteria poses a remarkable challenge for material science. These materials must possess a host of desirable characteristics, including support for cellular survival, proliferation, and neuronal migration and the minimization of inflammatory responses. Moreover, they should facilitate electrochemical cell communication, display mechanical properties akin to the brain, emulate the intricate architecture of the extracellular matrix, and ideally allow the controlled release of substances. This comprehensive review delves into the primary requisites, limitations, and prospective avenues for scaffold design in brain tissue engineering. By offering a panoramic overview, our work aims to serve as an essential resource, guiding the creation of materials endowed with bio-mimetic properties, ultimately revolutionizing the treatment of neurological disorders by developing brain-implantable scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Villanueva-Flores
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Chihuahua, Av. Heroico Colegio Militar 4700, Nombre de Dios, Chihuahua 31300, Chihuahua, Mexico
| | - Igor Garcia-Atutxa
- Máster en Bioinformática y Bioestadística, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla del Poblenou, 156, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arturo Santos
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara, Av. Gral Ramón Corona No 2514, Colonia Nuevo México, Zapopan 45201, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Juan Armendariz-Borunda
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara, Av. Gral Ramón Corona No 2514, Colonia Nuevo México, Zapopan 45201, Jalisco, Mexico
- Instituto de Biología Molecular en Medicina y Terapia Génica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950, Independencia Oriente, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
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18
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Trembleau A, Breau MA. Editorial for the special issue "Driving forces behind the wiring of neuronal circuits". Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 140:1-2. [PMID: 36088209 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR8246), Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - M A Breau
- Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR 7622), Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Developmental Biology Laboratory, Paris, France.
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19
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Brooks S, Mittler S, Hamilton DW. Contact Guidance of Connective Tissue Fibroblasts on Submicrometer Anisotropic Topographical Cues Is Dependent on Tissue of Origin, β1 Integrins, and Tensin-1 Recruitment. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:19817-19832. [PMID: 37067372 PMCID: PMC10141244 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The substratum topography of both natural and synthetic materials is a prominent regulator of cell behaviors including adhesion, migration, matrix fibrillogenesis, and cell phenotype. Connective tissue fibroblasts are known to respond to repeating groove topographical modifications by aligning and exhibiting directed migration, a phenomenon termed contact guidance. Although both reside in collagen rich connective tissues, dermal and gingival fibroblasts are known to exhibit differences in phenotype during wound healing, with gingival tissue showing a fetal-like scarless response. Differences in adhesion formation and maturation are known to underlie both a scarring phenotype and cell response to topographical features. Utilizing repeating groove substrates with periodicities of 600, 900, and 1200 nm (depth, 100 nm), we investigated the roles of integrins αvβ3 and β1 associated adhesions on contact guidance of human gingival (HGFs) and dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). HGFs showed a higher degree of orientation with the groove long axis than HDFs, with alignment of both vinculin and tensin-1 evident on 600 and 900 nm periodicities in both cell types. Orientation with grooves of any periodicity in HGFs and HDFs did not alter the adhesion number or area compared to smooth control surfaces. Growth of both cell types on all periodicities reduced fibronectin fibrillogenesis compared to control surfaces. Independent inhibition of integrin αvβ3 and β1 in both cell types induced changes in spreading up to 6 h and reduced alignment with the groove long axis. At 24 h post-seeding with blocking antibodies, HGFs recovered orientation, but in HDFs, blocking of β1, but not αvβ3 integrins, inhibited alignment. Blocking of β1 and αvβ3 in HDFs, but not HGFs, inhibited tensin-1-associated fibrillar adhesion formation. Furthermore, inhibition of β1 integrins in HDFs, but not HGFs, resulted in recruitment of tensin-1 to αvβ3 focal adhesions, preventing HDFs from aligning with the groove long axis. Our work demonstrates that tensin-1 localization with specific integrins in adhesion sites is an important determinant of contact guidance. This work emphasizes further the need for tissue-specific biomaterials, when integration into host tissues is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Brooks
- School
of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Silvia Mittler
- School
of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Douglas W. Hamilton
- School
of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department
of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A
5C1, Canada
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20
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Pramotton FM, Cousin L, Roy T, Giampietro C, Cecchini M, Masciullo C, Ferrari A, Poulikakos D. Accelerated epithelial layer healing induced by tactile anisotropy in surface topography. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd1581. [PMID: 37027475 PMCID: PMC10081848 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add1581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian cells respond to tactile cues from topographic elements presented by the substrate. Among these, anisotropic features distributed in an ordered manner give directionality. In the extracellular matrix, this ordering is embedded in a noisy environment altering the contact guidance effect. To date, it is unclear how cells respond to topographical signals in a noisy environment. Here, using rationally designed substrates, we report morphotaxis, a guidance mechanism enabling fibroblasts and epithelial cells to move along gradients of topographic order distortion. Isolated cells and cell ensembles perform morphotaxis in response to gradients of different strength and directionality, with mature epithelia integrating variations of topographic order over hundreds of micrometers. The level of topographic order controls cell cycle progression, locally delaying or promoting cell proliferation. In mature epithelia, the combination of morphotaxis and noise-dependent distributed proliferation provides a strategy to enhance wound healing as confirmed by a mathematical model capturing key elements of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Michela Pramotton
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Lucien Cousin
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tamal Roy
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- Experimental Continuum Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Marco Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Cecilia Masciullo
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Aldo Ferrari
- EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Science and Technologies, Überlandstrasse 129, Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
| | - Dimos Poulikakos
- Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, Zurich CH-8092, Switzerland
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21
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Neves MI, Bidarra SJ, Magalhães MV, Torres AL, Moroni L, Barrias CC. Microstructured click hydrogels for cell contact guidance in 3D. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100604. [PMID: 36969695 PMCID: PMC10034521 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major biophysical regulator of cell behavior. While this has inspired the design of cell-instructive biomaterials, the ability to present topographic cues to cells in a true 3D setting remains challenging, particularly in ECM-like hydrogels made from a single polymer. Herein, we report the design of microstructured alginate hydrogels for injectable cell delivery and show their ability to orchestrate morphogenesis via cellular contact guidance in 3D. Alginate was grafted with hydrophobic cyclooctyne groups (ALG-K), yielding amphiphilic derivatives with self-associative potential and ionic crosslinking ability. This allowed the formation of microstructured ALG-KH hydrogels, triggered by the spontaneous segregation between hydrophobic/hydrophilic regions of the polymer that generated 3D networks with stiffer microdomains within a softer lattice. The azide-reactivity of cyclooctynes also allowed ALG-K functionalization with bioactive peptides via cytocompatible strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC). Hydrogel-embedded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were able to integrate spatial information and to mechano-sense the 3D topography, which regulated cell shape and stress fiber organization. MSCs clusters initially formed on microstructured regions could then act as seeds for neo-tissue formation, inducing cells to produce their own ECM and self-organize into multicellular structures throughout the hydrogel. By combining 3D topography, click functionalization, and injectability, using a single polymer, ALG-K hydrogels provide a unique cell delivery platform for tissue regeneration.
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22
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Rojas-Rodríguez M, Fiaschi T, Mannelli M, Mortati L, Celegato F, Wiersma DS, Parmeggiani C, Martella D. Cellular Contact Guidance on Liquid Crystalline Networks with Anisotropic Roughness. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15. [PMID: 36791024 PMCID: PMC10037237 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cell contact guidance is widely employed to manipulate cell alignment and differentiation in vitro. The use of nano- or micro-patterned substrates allows efficient control of cell organization, thus opening up to biological models that cannot be reproduced spontaneously on standard culture dishes. In this paper, we explore the concept of cell contact guidance by Liquid Crystalline Networks (LCNs) presenting different surface topographies obtained by self-assembly of the monomeric mixture. The materials are prepared by photopolymerization of a low amount of diacrylate monomer dissolved in a liquid crystalline solvent, not participating in the reaction. The alignment of the liquid crystals, obtained before polymerization, determines the scaffold morphology, characterized by a nanometric structure. Such materials are able to drive the organization of different cell lines, e.g., fibroblasts and myoblasts, allowing for the alignment of single cells or high-density cell cultures. These results demonstrate the capabilities of rough surfaces prepared from the spontaneous assembly of liquid crystals to control biological models without the need of lithographic patterning or complex fabrication procedures. Interestingly, during myoblast differentiation, also myotube structuring in linear arrays is observed along the LCN fiber orientation. The implementation of this technology will open up to the formation of muscular tissue with well-aligned fibers in vitro mimicking the structure of native tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rojas-Rodríguez
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Tania Fiaschi
- Department
of Biomedical, Experimental, and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, viale Morgagni 50, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Mannelli
- Department
of Biomedical, Experimental, and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, viale Morgagni 50, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Mortati
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Celegato
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
| | - Diederik S. Wiersma
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Florence, via Sansone
1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3−13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Daniele Martella
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
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23
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Topographical cues of PLGA membranes modulate the behavior of hMSCs, myoblasts and neuronal cells. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 222:113070. [PMID: 36495697 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.113070] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biomaterial surface modification through the introduction of defined and repeated patterns of topography helps study cell behavior in response to defined geometrical cues. The lithographic molding technique is widely used for conferring biomaterial surface microscale cues and enhancing the performance of biomedical devices. In this work, different master molds made by UV mask lithography were used to prepare poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) - PLGA micropatterned membranes to present different features of topography at the cellular interface: channels, circular pillars, rectangular pillars, and pits. The effects of geometrical cues were investigated on different cell sources, such as neuronal cells, myoblasts, and stem cells. Morphological evaluation revealed a peculiar cell arrangement in response to a specific topographical stimulus sensed over the membrane surface. Cells seeded on linear-grooved membranes showed that this cue promoted elongated cell morphology. Rectangular and circular pillars act instead as discontinuous cues at the cell-membrane interface, inducing cell growth in multiple directions. The array of pits over the surface also highlighted the precise spatiotemporal organization of the cell; they grew between the interconnected membrane space within the pits, avoiding the microscale hole. The overall approach allowed the evaluation of the responses of different cell types adhered to various surface patterns, build-up on the same polymeric membrane, and disclosing the effect of specific topographical features. We explored how various microtopographic signals play distinct roles in different cells, thus affecting cell adhesion, migration, differentiation, cell-cell interactions, and other metabolic activities.
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24
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Contact guidance of mesenchymal stem cells by flagellin-modified substrates: aspects of cell-surface interaction from the point of view of liquid crystal theory. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.131113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
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25
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Loesel KE, Hiraki HL, Baker BM, Parent CA. An adaptive and versatile method to quantitate and characterize collective cell migration behaviors on complex surfaces. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1106653. [PMID: 36776562 PMCID: PMC9909417 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1106653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Collective cell migration is critical for proper embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer cell invasion. However, much of our knowledge of cell migration has been performed using flat surfaces that lack topographical features and do not recapitulate the complex fibrous architecture of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The recent availability of synthetic fibrous networks designed to mimic in vivo ECM has been key to identify the topological features that dictate cell migration patterns as well as to determine the underlying mechanisms that regulate topography-sensing. Recent studies have underscored the prevalence of collective cell migration during cancer invasion, and these observations present a compelling need to understand the mechanisms controlling contact guidance within migratory, multicellular groups. Therefore, we designed an integrated migration analysis platform combining tunable electrospun fibers that recapitulate aspects of the biophysical properties of the ECM, and computational approaches to investigate collective cell migration. To quantitatively assess migration as a function of matrix topography, we developed an automated MATLAB code that quantifies cell migration dynamics, including speed, directionality, and the number of detached cells. This platform enables live cell imaging while providing enough cells for biochemical, proteomic, and genomic analyses, making our system highly adaptable to multiple experimental investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E. Loesel
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Harrison L. Hiraki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Brendon M. Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Carole A. Parent
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Carole A. Parent,
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26
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Kolel A, Ergaz B, Goren S, Tchaicheeyan O, Lesman A. Strain Gradient Programming in 3D Fibrous Hydrogels to Direct Graded Cell Alignment. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2201070. [PMID: 36408763 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202201070] [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: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biological tissues experience various stretch gradients which act as mechanical signaling from the extracellular environment to cells. These mechanical stimuli are sensed by cells, triggering essential signaling cascades regulating cell migration, differentiation, and tissue remodeling. In most previous studies, a simple, uniform stretch to 2D elastic substrates has been applied to analyze the response of living cells. However, induction of nonuniform strains in controlled gradients, particularly in biomimetic 3D hydrogels, has proven challenging. In this study, 3D fibrin hydrogels of manipulated geometry are stretched by a silicone carrier to impose programmable strain gradients along different chosen axes. The resulting strain gradients are analyzed and compared to finite element simulations. Experimentally, the programmed strain gradients result in similar gradient patterns in fiber alignment within the gels. Additionally, temporal changes in the orientation of fibroblast cells embedded in the stretched fibrin gels correlate to the strain and fiber alignment gradients. The experimental and simulation data demonstrate the ability to custom-design mechanical gradients in 3D biological hydrogels and to control cell alignment patterns. It provides a new technology for mechanobiology and tissue engineering studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avraham Kolel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Bar Ergaz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Shahar Goren
- School of Chemistry, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Oren Tchaicheeyan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Ayelet Lesman
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
- Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel
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27
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Castillo Ransanz L, Van Altena PFJ, Heine VM, Accardo A. Engineered cell culture microenvironments for mechanobiology studies of brain neural cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1096054. [PMID: 36588937 PMCID: PMC9794772 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1096054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The biomechanical properties of the brain microenvironment, which is composed of different neural cell types, the extracellular matrix, and blood vessels, are critical for normal brain development and neural functioning. Stiffness, viscoelasticity and spatial organization of brain tissue modulate proliferation, migration, differentiation, and cell function. However, the mechanical aspects of the neural microenvironment are largely ignored in current cell culture systems. Considering the high promises of human induced pluripotent stem cell- (iPSC-) based models for disease modelling and new treatment development, and in light of the physiological relevance of neuromechanobiological features, applications of in vitro engineered neuronal microenvironments should be explored thoroughly to develop more representative in vitro brain models. In this context, recently developed biomaterials in combination with micro- and nanofabrication techniques 1) allow investigating how mechanical properties affect neural cell development and functioning; 2) enable optimal cell microenvironment engineering strategies to advance neural cell models; and 3) provide a quantitative tool to assess changes in the neuromechanobiological properties of the brain microenvironment induced by pathology. In this review, we discuss the biological and engineering aspects involved in studying neuromechanobiology within scaffold-free and scaffold-based 2D and 3D iPSC-based brain models and approaches employing primary lineages (neural/glial), cell lines and other stem cells. Finally, we discuss future experimental directions of engineered microenvironments in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Castillo Ransanz
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pieter F. J. Van Altena
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Vivi M. Heine
- Department of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands,Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Vivi M. Heine, ; Angelo Accardo,
| | - Angelo Accardo
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Vivi M. Heine, ; Angelo Accardo,
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28
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The Forces behind Directed Cell Migration. BIOPHYSICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/biophysica2040046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Directed cell migration is an essential building block of life, present when an embryo develops, a dendritic cell migrates toward a lymphatic vessel, or a fibrotic organ fails to restore its normal parenchyma. Directed cell migration is often guided by spatial gradients in a physicochemical property of the cell microenvironment, such as a gradient in chemical factors dissolved in the medium or a gradient in the mechanical properties of the substrate. Single cells and tissues sense these gradients, establish a back-to-front polarity, and coordinate the migration machinery accordingly. Central to these steps we find physical forces. In some cases, these forces are integrated into the gradient sensing mechanism. Other times, they transmit information through cells and tissues to coordinate a collective response. At any time, they participate in the cellular migratory system. In this review, we explore the role of physical forces in gradient sensing, polarization, and coordinating movement from single cells to multicellular collectives. We use the framework proposed by the molecular clutch model and explore to what extent asymmetries in the different elements of the clutch can lead to directional migration.
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29
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Liao X, Jérôme V, Agarwal S, Freitag R, Greiner A. High Strength and High Toughness Electrospun Multifibrillar Yarns with Highly Aligned Hierarchy Intended as Anisotropic Extracellular Matrix. Macromol Biosci 2022; 22:e2200291. [PMID: 36126173 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200291] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Electrospun nanofibers can be effectively used as a surrogate for extracellular matrices (ECMs). However, in the context of cellular mechanobiology, their mechanical performances can be enhanced by using nanofibrous materials with a high level of structural organization. Herein, this work develops multifibrillar yarns with superior mechanical performance based on biocompatible polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as surrogate ECM. Nearly perfect aligned nanofibers along with the axis of the multifibrillar yarn are prepared. These highly aligned yarns exhibit high strength, high toughness, good stress relaxation behavior, and are robust enough for technical or medical applications. Further, this work analyzes the influence of the highly aligned-hierarchical topological structure of the material on cell proliferation and cell orientation using cells derived from epithelial and connective tissues. Compared to nonoriented electrospun multifibrillar yarns and flat films, the well-ordered topology in the electrospun PAN multifibrillar yarns triggers an improved proliferation of fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Fibroblasts acquire an elongated morphology analogous to their behavior in the natural ECM. Hence, this heterogeneous multifibrillar material can be used to restore or reproduce the ECM for tissue engineering applications, notably in the skeletal muscle and tendon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojian Liao
- University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry, Bavarian Polymer Institute, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Valérie Jérôme
- University of Bayreuth, Process Biotechnology, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Seema Agarwal
- University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry, Bavarian Polymer Institute, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ruth Freitag
- University of Bayreuth, Process Biotechnology, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Andreas Greiner
- University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry, Bavarian Polymer Institute, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
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30
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Piñeiro-Llanes J, Suzuki-Hatano S, Jain A, Pérez Medina VA, Cade WT, Pacak CA, Simmons CS. Matrix produced by diseased cardiac fibroblasts affects early myotube formation and function. Acta Biomater 2022; 152:100-112. [PMID: 36055608 PMCID: PMC10625442 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides both physical and chemical cues that dictate cell function and contribute to muscle maintenance. Muscle cells require efficient mitochondria to satisfy their high energy demand, however, the role the ECM plays in moderating mitochondrial function is not clear. We hypothesized that the ECM produced by stromal cells with mitochondrial dysfunction (Barth syndrome, BTHS) provides cues that contribute to metabolic dysfunction independent of muscle cell health. To test this, we harnessed the ECM production capabilities of human pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac fibroblasts (hPSC-CFs) from healthy and BTHS patients to fabricate cell-derived matrices (CDMs) with controlled topography, though we found that matrix composition from healthy versus diseased cells influenced myotube formation independent of alignment cues. To further investigate the effects of matrix composition, we then examined the influence of healthy- and BTHS-derived CDMs on myotube formation and metabolic function. We found that BTHS CDMs induced lower fusion index, lower ATP production, lower mitochondrial membrane potential, and higher ROS generation than the healthy CDMs. These findings imply that BTHS-derived ECM alone contributes to myocyte dysfunction in otherwise healthy cells. Finally, to investigate potential mechanisms, we defined the composition of CDMs produced by hPSC-CFs from healthy and BTHS patients using mass spectrometry and identified 15 ECM and related proteins that were differentially expressed in the BTHS-CDM compared to healthy CDM. Our results highlight that ECM composition affects skeletal muscle formation and metabolic efficiency in otherwise healthy cells, and our methods to generate patient-specific CDMs are a useful tool to investigate the influence of the ECM on disease progression and to investigate variability among diseased patients. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Muscle function requires both efficient metabolism to generate force and structured extracellular matrix (ECM) to transmit force, and we sought to examine the interactions between metabolism and ECM when metabolic disease is present. We fabricated patient-specific cell derived matrices (CDMs) with controlled topographic features to replicate the composition of healthy and mitochondrial-diseased (Barth syndrome) ECM. We found that disease-derived ECM negatively affects metabolic function of otherwise healthy myoblasts, and we identified several proteins in disease-derived ECM that may be mediating this dysfunction. We anticipate that our patient-specific CDM system could be fabricated with other topographies and cell types to study cell functions and diseases of interest beyond mitochondrial dysfunction and, eventually, be applied toward personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janny Piñeiro-Llanes
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Silveli Suzuki-Hatano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ananya Jain
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Valerie A Pérez Medina
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez 00682, Puerto Rico
| | - William Todd Cade
- Physical Therapy Division, Duke University, 311 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Christina A Pacak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Neurology Department, Medical School, University of Minnesota, WMBB 4-188 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis 55455, USA
| | - Chelsey S Simmons
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida.
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31
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Conti M, Bolzan I, Dal Zilio S, Parisse P, Andolfi L, Lazzarino M. Water-Air Interface to Mimic In Vitro Tumoral Cell Migration in Complex Micro-Environments. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:822. [PMID: 36290959 PMCID: PMC9599853 DOI: 10.3390/bios12100822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The long-known role of cell migration in physiological and pathological contexts still requires extensive research to be fully understood, mainly because of the intricate interaction between moving cells and their surroundings. While conventional assays fail to capture this complexity, recently developed 3D platforms better reproduce the cellular micro-environment, although often requiring expensive and time-consuming imaging approaches. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel approach based on 2D micro-patterned substrates, compatible with conventional microscopy analysis and engineered to create micro-gaps with a length of 150 µm and a lateral size increasing from 2 to 8 µm, where a curved water-air interface is created on which cells can adhere, grow, and migrate. The resulting hydrophilic/hydrophobic interfaces, variable surface curvatures, spatial confinements, and size values mimic the complex micro-environment typical of the extracellular matrix in which aggressive cancer cells proliferate and migrate. The new approach was tested with two breast cancer cell lines with different invasive properties. We observed that invasive cells (MDA-MB-231) can align along the pattern and modify both their morphology and their migration rate according to the size of the water meniscus, while non-invasive cells (MCF-7) are only slightly respondent to the surrounding micro-environment. Moreover, the selected pattern highlighted a significative matrix deposition process connected to cell migration. Although requiring further optimizations, this approach represents a promising tool to investigate cell migration in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Conti
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bolzan
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Simone Dal Zilio
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Pietro Parisse
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Andolfi
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Lazzarino
- IOM-CNR, Institute of Materials Foundry—National Research Council, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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32
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Mariano A, Bovio CL, Criscuolo V, Santoro F. Bioinspired micro- and nano-structured neural interfaces. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 33:492501. [PMID: 35947922 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac8881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The development of a functional nervous system requires neurons to interact with and promptly respond to a wealth of biochemical, mechanical and topographical cues found in the neural extracellular matrix (ECM). Among these, ECM topographical cues have been found to strongly influence neuronal function and behavior. Here, we discuss how the blueprint of the architectural organization of the brain ECM has been tremendously useful as a source of inspiration to design biomimetic substrates to enhance neural interfaces and dictate neuronal behavior at the cell-material interface. In particular, we focus on different strategies to recapitulate cell-ECM and cell-cell interactions. In order to mimic cell-ECM interactions, we introduce roughness as a first approach to provide informative topographical biomimetic cues to neurons. We then examine 3D scaffolds and hydrogels, as softer 3D platforms for neural interfaces. Moreover, we will discuss how anisotropic features such as grooves and fibers, recapitulating both ECM fibrils and axonal tracts, may provide recognizable paths and tracks that neuron can follow as they develop and establish functional connections. Finally, we show how isotropic topographical cues, recapitulating shapes, and geometries of filopodia- and mushroom-like dendritic spines, have been instrumental to better reproduce neuron-neuron interactions for applications in bioelectronics and neural repair strategies. The high complexity of the brain architecture makes the quest for the fabrication of create more biologically relevant biomimetic architectures in continuous and fast development. Here, we discuss how recent advancements in two-photon polymerization and remotely reconfigurable dynamic interfaces are paving the way towards to a new class of smart biointerfaces forin vitroapplications spanning from neural tissue engineering as well as neural repair strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mariano
- Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Latte Bovio
- Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Produzione Industriale, Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Criscuolo
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen, D-52074, Germany
| | - Francesca Santoro
- Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen, D-52074, Germany
- Institute for Biological Information Processing-Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Juelich, D-52428, Germany
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33
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Nakanishi J, Yamamoto S. Static and photoresponsive dynamic materials to dissect physical regulation of cellular functions. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:6116-6134. [PMID: 36111810 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00789d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in mechanobiology has highlighted the importance of physical cues, such as mechanics, geometry (size), topography, and porosity, in the determination of cellular activities and fates, in addition to biochemical factors derived from their surroundings. In this review, we will first provide an overview of how such fundamental insights are identified by synchronizing the hierarchical nature of biological systems and static materials with tunable physical cues. Thereafter, we will explain the photoresponsive dynamic biomaterials to dissect the spatiotemporal aspects of the dependence of biological functions on physical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Nakanishi
- Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. .,Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Japan.,Graduate School of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Japan
| | - Shota Yamamoto
- Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan. .,Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
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34
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He C, Chen X, Sun Y, Xie M, Yu K, He J, Lu J, Gao Q, Nie J, Wang Y, He Y. Rapid and mass manufacturing of soft hydrogel microstructures for cell patterns assisted by 3D printing. Biodes Manuf 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42242-022-00207-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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35
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Rizzo R, Bonato A, Chansoria P, Zenobi-Wong M. Macroporous Aligned Hydrogel Microstrands for 3D Cell Guidance. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:3871-3882. [PMID: 35977074 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Tissue engineering strongly relies on the use of hydrogels as highly hydrated 3D matrices to support the maturation of laden cells. However, because of the lack of microarchitecture and sufficient porosity, common hydrogel systems do not provide physical cell-instructive guidance cues and efficient transport of nutrients and oxygen to the inner part of the construct. A controlled, organized cellular alignment and resulting alignment of secreted ECM are hallmarks of muscle, tendons, and nerves and play an important role in determining their functional properties. Although several strategies to induce cellular alignment have been investigated in 2D systems, the generation of cell-instructive 3D hydrogels remains a challenge. Here, we report on the development of a simple and scalable method to efficiently generate highly macroporous constructs featuring aligned guidance cues. A precross-linked bulk hydrogel is pressed through a grid with variable opening sizes, thus deconstructing it into an array of aligned, high aspect ratio microgels (microstrands) with tunable diameter that are eventually stabilized by a second photoclick cross-linking step. This method has been investigated and optimized both in silico and in vitro, thereby leading to conditions with excellent viability and organized cellular alignment. Finally, as proof of concept, the method has been shown to direct aligned muscle tissue maturation. These findings demonstrate the 3D physical guidance potential of our system, which can be used for a variety of anisotropic tissues and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Rizzo
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Angela Bonato
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Parth Chansoria
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Marcy Zenobi-Wong
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
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36
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Akolawala Q, Rovituso M, Versteeg HH, Rondon AMR, Accardo A. Evaluation of Proton-Induced DNA Damage in 3D-Engineered Glioblastoma Microenvironments. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20778-20789. [PMID: 35442634 PMCID: PMC9100514 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating cancer of the brain with an extremely poor prognosis. For this reason, besides clinical and preclinical studies, novel in vitro models for the assessment of cancer response to drugs and radiation are being developed. In such context, three-dimensional (3D)-engineered cellular microenvironments, compared to unrealistic two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell culture, provide a model closer to the in vivo configuration. Concerning cancer treatment, while X-ray radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain the current standard, proton beam therapy is an appealing alternative as protons can be efficiently targeted to destroy cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue. However, despite the treatment's compelling biological and medical rationale, little is known about the effects of protons on GBM at the cellular level. In this work, we designed novel 3D-engineered scaffolds inspired by the geometry of brain blood vessels, which cover a vital role in the colonization mechanisms of GBM cells. The architectures were fabricated by two-photon polymerization (2PP), cultured with U-251 GBM cells and integrated for the first time in the context of proton radiation experiments to assess their response to treatment. We employed Gamma H2A.X as a fluorescent biomarker to identify the DNA damage induced in the cells by proton beams. The results show a higher DNA double-strand breakage in 2D cell monolayers as compared to cells cultured in 3D. The discrepancy in terms of proton radiation response could indicate a difference in the radioresistance of the GBM cells or in the rate of repair kinetics between 2D cell monolayers and 3D cell networks. Thus, these biomimetic-engineered 3D scaffolds pave the way for the realization of a benchmark tool that can be used to routinely assess the effects of proton therapy on 3D GBM cell networks and other types of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qais Akolawala
- Department
of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628
CD Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Rovituso
- Holland
Proton Therapy Center (HollandPTC), Huismansingel 4, 2629 JH Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Henri H. Versteeg
- Einthoven
Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Thrombosis
and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Araci M. R. Rondon
- Einthoven
Laboratory for Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Thrombosis
and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Angelo Accardo
- Department
of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628
CD Delft, The Netherlands
- . Tel: +31 (0)15 27 81610
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Hagemann C, Moreno Gonzalez C, Guetta L, Tyzack G, Chiappini C, Legati A, Patani R, Serio A. Axonal Length Determines Distinct Homeostatic Phenotypes in Human iPSC Derived Motor Neurons on a Bioengineered Platform. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101817. [PMID: 35118820 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101817] [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: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Stem cell-based experimental platforms for neuroscience can effectively model key mechanistic aspects of human development and disease. However, conventional culture systems often overlook the engineering constraints that cells face in vivo. This is particularly relevant for neurons covering long range connections such as spinal motor neurons (MNs). Their axons extend up to 1m in length and require a complex interplay of mechanisms to maintain cellular homeostasis. However, shorter axons in conventional cultures may not faithfully capture important aspects of their longer counterparts. Here this issue is directly addressed by establishing a bioengineered platform to assemble arrays of human axons ranging from micrometers to centimeters, which allows systematic investigation of the effects of length on human axonas for the first time. This approach reveales a link between length and metabolism in human MNs in vitro, where axons above a "threshold" size induce specific molecular adaptations in cytoskeleton composition, functional properties, local translation, and mitochondrial homeostasis. The findings specifically demonstrate the existence of a length-dependent mechanism that switches homeostatic processes within human MNs. The findings have critical implications for in vitro modeling of several neurodegenerative disorders and reinforce the importance of modeling cell shape and biophysical constraints with fidelity and precision in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen Hagemann
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Carmen Moreno Gonzalez
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ludovica Guetta
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Giulia Tyzack
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ciro Chiappini
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Andrea Legati
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Andrea Serio
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
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The Role of Tissue Geometry in Spinal Cord Regeneration. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58040542. [PMID: 35454380 PMCID: PMC9028021 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Unlike peripheral nerves, axonal regeneration is limited following injury to the spinal cord. While there may be reduced regenerative potential of injured neurons, the central nervous system (CNS) white matter environment appears to be more significant in limiting regrowth. Several factors may inhibit regeneration, and their neutralization can modestly enhance regrowth. However, most investigations have not considered the cytoarchitecture of spinal cord white matter. Several lines of investigation demonstrate that axonal regeneration is enhanced by maintaining, repairing, or reconstituting the parallel geometry of the spinal cord white matter. In this review, we focus on environmental factors that have been implicated as putative inhibitors of axonal regeneration and the evidence that their organization may be an important determinant in whether they inhibit or promote regeneration. Consideration of tissue geometry may be important for developing successful strategies to promote spinal cord regeneration.
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Cao S, Yuan Q. An update of nanotopographical surfaces in modulating stem cell fate: a narrative review. BIOMATERIALS TRANSLATIONAL 2022; 3:55-64. [PMID: 35837345 PMCID: PMC9255793 DOI: 10.12336/biomatertransl.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells have been one of the ideal sources for tissue regeneration owing to their capability of self-renewal and differentiation. In vivo, the extracellular microenvironment plays a vital role in modulating stem cell fate. When developing biomaterials for regenerative medicine, incorporating biochemical and biophysical cues to mimic extracellular matrix can enhance stem cell lineage differentiation. More specifically, modulating the stem cell fate can be achieved by controlling the nanotopographic features on synthetic surfaces. Optimization of nanotopographical features leads to desirable stem cell functions, which can maximize the effectiveness of regenerative treatment. In this review, nanotopographical surfaces, including static patterned surface, dynamic patterned surface, and roughness are summarized, and their fabrication, as well as the impact on stem cell behaviour, are discussed. Later, the recent progress of applying nanotopographical featured biomaterials for altering different types of stem cells is presented, which directs the design and fabrication of functional biomaterial. Last, the perspective in fundamental research and for clinical application in this field is discussed.
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40
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Jagiełło A, Hu Q, Castillo U, Botvinick E. Patterned photocrosslinking to establish stiffness anisotropies in fibrous 3D hydrogels. Acta Biomater 2022; 141:39-47. [PMID: 34971786 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cells are known to constantly interact with their local extracellular matrix (ECM) and respond to a variety of biochemical and mechanical cues received from the ECM. Nonetheless, comprehensive understanding of cell-ECM interactions has been elusive. Many studies rely on analysis of cell behavior on 2D substrates, which do not reflect a natural cell environment. Further, lack of dynamic control over local stiffness anisotropies and fiber alignment hinders progress in studies in naturally derived fibrous 3D cultures. Here, we present a cell-safe method of patterned photocrosslinking, which can aid in studying biological hypotheses related to mechanotransduction in 3D hydrogels. As previously described by our group, ruthenium-catalyzed photocrosslinking (RCP) of selected ECM regions promotes localized increase in stiffness mediated by focused blue laser light in a confocal microscope. In this study, we further demonstrate that RCP can induce localized strain stiffening and fiber alignment outside of the selected crosslinked region and induce stiffness anisotropy biased towards the direction of fiber alignment. MDA-MB-231 cells are shown to respond to RCP-induced changes in local ECM architecture and display directional bias towards the direction of fiber alignment, as compared to control cells. Further, the effect of patterned crosslinking on a stiffness landscape is measured using multi-axes optical tweezers active microrheology (AMR) with backscattered laser beam illumination. AMR validates RCP as a suitable tool for creating distinct stiffness anisotropies which promote directed migration of cells, further underscoring the usefulness of RCP in cell-ECM studies. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Studies on cell-ECM interactions in 3D cultures have often been hindered by the lack of available tools to dynamically alter local ECM stiffness and fiber alignment. Here, we present a non-invasive, cell-safe and easily applicable method of patterned photocrosslinking, which can aid in studying biological hypotheses in fibrous 3D hydrogels. Ruthenium-catalyzed crosslinking (RCP) of selected fibrin ECM regions promotes localized increase in stiffness and creates distinct stiffness anisotropies in the presence of the focused blue laser light. Outside of the crosslinked region, RCP causes fiber alignment and strain stiffening in the ECM, verified using multi-axes optical tweezers active microrheology (AMR). Following RCP, human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 exhibit directed cell migration, validating usefulness of this method in cell-ECM studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Jagiełło
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2730, United States
| | - Qingda Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2730, United States; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2280, United States
| | - Ulysses Castillo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2730, United States
| | - Elliot Botvinick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2730, United States; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2280, United States; Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92612, United States; Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, 333 City Boulevard, Suite 700, Orange, CA, 92868, United States; The Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation and Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2730, United States.
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41
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Regulating MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell adhesion on laser-patterned surfaces with micro- and nanotopography. Biointerphases 2022; 17:021002. [PMID: 35291767 DOI: 10.1116/6.0001564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer observed in women. Communication with the tumor microenvironment allows invading breast cancer cells, such as triple negative breast cancer cells, to adapt to specific substrates. The substrate topography modulates the cellular behavior among other factors. Several different materials and micro/nanofabrication techniques have been employed to develop substrates for cell culture. Silicon-based substrates present a lot of advantages as they are amenable to a wide range of processing techniques and they permit rigorous control over the surface structure. We investigate and compare the response of the triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) on laser-patterned silicon substrates with two different topographical scales, i.e., the micro- and the nanoscale, in the absence of any other biochemical modification. We develop silicon surfaces with distinct morphological characteristics by employing two laser systems with different pulse durations (nanosecond and femtosecond) and different processing environments (vacuum, SF6 gas, and water). Our findings demonstrate that surfaces with microtopography are repellent, while those with nanotopography are attractive for MDA-MB-231 cell adherence.
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42
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Drewry M, Dailey MT, Rothermund K, Backman C, Dahl KN, Syed-Picard FN. Promoting and Orienting Axon Extension Using Scaffold-Free Dental Pulp Stem Cell Sheets. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:814-825. [PMID: 34982537 PMCID: PMC9821555 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Current treatments of facial nerve injury result in poor functional outcomes due to slow and inefficient axon regeneration and aberrant reinnervation. To address these clinical challenges, bioactive scaffold-free cell sheets were engineered using neurotrophic dental pulp stem/progenitor cells (DPCs) and their aligned extracellular matrix (ECM). DPCs endogenously supply high levels of neurotrophic factors (NTFs), growth factors capable of stimulating axonal regeneration, and an aligned ECM provides guidance cues to direct axon extension. Human DPCs were grown on a substrate comprising parallel microgrooves, inducing the cells to align and deposit a linearly aligned, collagenous ECM. The resulting cell sheets were robust and could be easily removed from the underlying substrate. DPC sheets produced NTFs at levels previously shown capable of promoting axon regeneration, and, moreover, inducing DPC alignment increased the expression of select NTFs relative to unaligned controls. Furthermore, the aligned DPC sheets were able to stimulate functional neuritogenic effects in neuron-like cells in vitro. Neuronally differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells produced neurites that were significantly more oriented and less branched when cultured on aligned cell sheets relative to unaligned sheets. These data demonstrate that the linearly aligned DPC sheets can biomechanically support axon regeneration and improve axonal guidance which, when applied to a facial nerve injury, will result in more accurate reinnervation. The aligned DPC sheets generated here could be used in combination with commercially available nerve conduits to enhance their bioactivity or be formed into stand-alone scaffold-free nerve conduits capable of facilitating improved facial nerve recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle
D. Drewry
- Department
of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Matthew T. Dailey
- Department
of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Kristi Rothermund
- Department
of Oral Biology and Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, School of
Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Charles Backman
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Kris N. Dahl
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States,Department
of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States,McGowan
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States,Forensics, Thornton Tomasetti, New York, New York 10271, United States
| | - Fatima N. Syed-Picard
- Department
of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States,Department
of Oral Biology and Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, School of
Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States,McGowan
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, United States,. Phone: 412-648-8824
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43
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Harberts J, Bours K, Siegmund M, Hedrich C, Glatza M, Schöler HR, Haferkamp U, Pless O, Zierold R, Blick RH. Culturing human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells on nanowire arrays: mapping the impact of nanowire length and array pitch on proliferation, viability, and membrane deformation. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:20052-20066. [PMID: 34842880 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04352h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanowire arrays used as cell culture substrates build a potent tool for advanced biological applications such as cargo delivery and biosensing. The unique topography of nanowire arrays, however, renders them a challenging growth environment for cells and explains why only basic cell lines have been employed in existing studies. Here, we present the culturing of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells on rectangularly arranged nanowire arrays: In detail, we mapped the impact on proliferation, viability, and topography-induced membrane deformation across a multitude of array pitches (1, 3, 5, 10 μm) and nanowire lengths (1.5, 3, 5 μm). Against the intuitive expectation, a reduced proliferation was found on the arrays with the smallest array pitch of 1 μm and long NWs. Typically, cells settle in a fakir-like state on such densely-spaced nanowires and thus experience no substantial stress caused by nanowires indenting the cell membrane. However, imaging of F-actin showed a distinct reorganization of the cytoskeleton along the nanowire tips in the case of small array pitches interfering with regular proliferation. For larger pitches, the cell numbers depend on the NW lengths but proliferation generally continued although heavy deformations of the cell membrane were observed caused by the encapsulation of the nanowires. Moreover, we noticed a strong interaction of the nanowires with the nucleus in terms of squeezing and indenting. Remarkably, the cell viability is maintained at about 85% despite the massive deformation of the cells. Considering the enormous potential of human induced stem cells to study neurodegenerative diseases and the high cellular viability combined with a strong interaction with nanowire arrays, we believe that our results pave the way to apply nanowire arrays to human stem cells for future applications in stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jann Harberts
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Katja Bours
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Malte Siegmund
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Carina Hedrich
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Michael Glatza
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Hans R Schöler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Röntgenstraße 20, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Undine Haferkamp
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ole Pless
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Zierold
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Robert H Blick
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
- Material Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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Karakaya C, van Asten JGM, Ristori T, Sahlgren CM, Loerakker S. Mechano-regulated cell-cell signaling in the context of cardiovascular tissue engineering. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 21:5-54. [PMID: 34613528 PMCID: PMC8807458 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01521-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular tissue engineering (CVTE) aims to create living tissues, with the ability to grow and remodel, as replacements for diseased blood vessels and heart valves. Despite promising results, the (long-term) functionality of these engineered tissues still needs improvement to reach broad clinical application. The functionality of native tissues is ensured by their specific mechanical properties directly arising from tissue organization. We therefore hypothesize that establishing a native-like tissue organization is vital to overcome the limitations of current CVTE approaches. To achieve this aim, a better understanding of the growth and remodeling (G&R) mechanisms of cardiovascular tissues is necessary. Cells are the main mediators of tissue G&R, and their behavior is strongly influenced by both mechanical stimuli and cell-cell signaling. An increasing number of signaling pathways has also been identified as mechanosensitive. As such, they may have a key underlying role in regulating the G&R of tissues in response to mechanical stimuli. A more detailed understanding of mechano-regulated cell-cell signaling may thus be crucial to advance CVTE, as it could inspire new methods to control tissue G&R and improve the organization and functionality of engineered tissues, thereby accelerating clinical translation. In this review, we discuss the organization and biomechanics of native cardiovascular tissues; recent CVTE studies emphasizing the obtained engineered tissue organization; and the interplay between mechanical stimuli, cell behavior, and cell-cell signaling. In addition, we review past contributions of computational models in understanding and predicting mechano-regulated tissue G&R and cell-cell signaling to highlight their potential role in future CVTE strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cansu Karakaya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jordy G M van Asten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Tommaso Ristori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cecilia M Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.,Faculty of Science and Engineering, Biosciences, Åbo Akademi, Turku, Finland
| | - Sandra Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. .,Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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45
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Harberts J, Siegmund M, Schnelle M, Zhang T, Lei Y, Yu L, Zierold R, Blick RH. Robust neuronal differentiation of human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells cultured on densely-spaced spiky silicon nanowire arrays. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18819. [PMID: 34552130 PMCID: PMC8458299 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97820-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanostructured cell culture substrates featuring nanowire (NW) arrays have been applied to a variety of basic cell lines and rodent neurons to investigate cellular behavior or to stimulate cell responses. However, patient-derived human neurons-a prerequisite for studying e.g. neurodegenerative diseases efficiently-are rarely employed due to sensitive cell culture protocols and usually long culturing periods. Here, we present human patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons cultured on densely-spaced spiky silicon NW arrays (600 NWs/ 100 µm[Formula: see text] with NW lengths of 1 µm) which show mature electrophysiological characteristics after only 20 days of culturing. Exemplary neuronal growth and network formation on the NW arrays are demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. The cells and neurites rest in a fakir-like settling state on the NWs only in contact with the very NW tips shown by cross-sectional imaging of the cell/NW interface using focused ion beam milling and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, the NW arrays promote the cell culture by slightly increasing the share of differentiated neurons determined by the quantification of immunofluorescence microscopy images. The electrophysiological functionality of the neurons is confirmed with patch-clamp recordings showing the excellent capability to fire action potentials. We believe that the short culturing time to obtain functional human neurons generated from patient-derived neural progenitor cells and the robustness of this differentiation protocol to produce these neurons on densely-spaced spiky nanowire arrays open up new pathways for stem cell characterization and neurodegenerative disease studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jann Harberts
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Malte Siegmund
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matteo Schnelle
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ting Zhang
- School of Electronics Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Yakui Lei
- School of Electronics Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Linwei Yu
- School of Electronics Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Robert Zierold
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Robert H Blick
- Center for Hybrid Nanostructures, Universität Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
- Material Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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Cui L, Yao Y, Yim EKF. The effects of surface topography modification on hydrogel properties. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:031509. [PMID: 34368603 PMCID: PMC8318605 DOI: 10.1063/5.0046076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel has been an attractive biomaterial for tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and contact lens materials, due to its outstanding properties, including high water content, transparency, biocompatibility, tissue mechanical matching, and low toxicity. As hydrogel commonly possesses high surface hydrophilicity, chemical modifications have been applied to achieve the optimal surface properties to improve the performance of hydrogels for specific applications. Ideally, the effects of surface modifications would be stable, and the modification would not affect the inherent hydrogel properties. In recent years, a new type of surface modification has been discovered to be able to alter hydrogel properties by physically patterning the hydrogel surfaces with topographies. Such physical patterning methods can also affect hydrogel surface chemical properties, such as protein adsorption, microbial adhesion, and cell response. This review will first summarize the works on developing hydrogel surface patterning methods. The influence of surface topography on interfacial energy and the subsequent effects on protein adsorption, microbial, and cell interactions with patterned hydrogel, with specific examples in biomedical applications, will be discussed. Finally, current problems and future challenges on topographical modification of hydrogels will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linan Cui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yuan Yao
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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Martínez A, González-Lana S, Asín L, de la Fuente JM, Bastiaansen CWM, Broer DJ, Sánchez-Somolinos C. Nano-Second Laser Interference Photoembossed Microstructures for Enhanced Cell Alignment. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13172958. [PMID: 34502998 PMCID: PMC8434024 DOI: 10.3390/polym13172958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoembossing is a powerful photolithographic technique to prepare surface relief structures relying on polymerization-induced diffusion in a solventless development step. Conveniently, surface patterns are formed by two or more interfering laser beams without the need for a lithographic mask. The use of nanosecond pulsed light-based interference lithography strengthens the pattern resolution through the absence of vibrational line pattern distortions. Typically, a conventional photoembossing protocol consists of an exposure step at room temperature that is followed by a thermal development step at high temperature. In this work, we explore the possibility to perform the pulsed holographic exposure directly at the development temperature. The surface relief structures generated using this modified photoembossing protocol are compared with those generated using the conventional one. Importantly, the enhancement of surface relief height has been observed by exposing the samples directly at the development temperature, reaching approximately double relief heights when compared to samples obtained using the conventional protocol. Advantageously, the light dose needed to reach the optimum height and the amount of photoinitiator can be substantially reduced in this modified protocol, demonstrating it to be a more efficient process for surface relief generation in photopolymers. Kidney epithelial cell alignment studies on substrates with relief-height optimized structures generated using the two described protocols demonstrate improved cell alignment in samples generated with exposure directly at the development temperature, highlighting the relevance of the height enhancement reached by this method. Although cell alignment is well-known to be enhanced by increasing the relief height of the polymeric grating, our work demonstrates nano-second laser interference photoembossing as a powerful tool to easily prepare polymeric gratings with tunable topography in the range of interest for fundamental cell alignment studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Martínez
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C./Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.M.); (S.G.-L.)
| | - Sandra González-Lana
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C./Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.M.); (S.G.-L.)
- BEONCHIP S.L., CEMINEM, Campus Rio Ebro. C./Mariano Esquillor Gómez s/n, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laura Asín
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, C./Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.A.); (J.M.d.l.F.)
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain
| | - Jesús M. de la Fuente
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, C./Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.A.); (J.M.d.l.F.)
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain
| | - Cees W. M. Bastiaansen
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Eindhoven University, P.O. Box 513, 5600 Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (C.W.M.B.); (D.J.B.)
| | - Dirk J. Broer
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Eindhoven University, P.O. Box 513, 5600 Eindhoven, The Netherlands; (C.W.M.B.); (D.J.B.)
| | - Carlos Sánchez-Somolinos
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, C./Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (A.M.); (S.G.-L.)
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain
- Correspondence:
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Chitosan Micro-Grooved Membranes with Increased Asymmetry for the Improvement of the Schwann Cell Response in Nerve Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157901. [PMID: 34360664 PMCID: PMC8348329 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries are a common condition in which a nerve is damaged, affecting more than one million people every year. There are still no efficient therapeutic treatments for these injuries. Artificial scaffolds can offer new opportunities for nerve regeneration applications; in this framework, chitosan is emerging as a promising biomaterial. Here, we set up a simple and effective method for the production of micro-structured chitosan films by solvent casting, with high fidelity in the micro-pattern reproducibility. Three types of chitosan directional micro-grooved patterns, presenting different levels of symmetricity, were developed for application in nerve regenerative medicine: gratings (GR), isosceles triangles (ISO) and scalene triangles (SCA). The directional patterns were tested with a Schwann cell line. The most asymmetric topography (SCA), although it polarized the cell shaping less efficiently, promoted higher cell proliferation and a faster cell migration, both individually and collectively, with a higher directional persistence of motion. Overall, the use of micro-structured asymmetrical directional topographies may be exploited to enhance the nerve regeneration process mediated by chitosan scaffolds.
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Xu Y, Koya R, Ask K, Zhao R. Engineered microenvironment for the study of myofibroblast mechanobiology. Wound Repair Regen 2021; 29:588-596. [PMID: 34118169 PMCID: PMC8254796 DOI: 10.1111/wrr.12955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Myofibroblasts are mechanosensitive cells and a variety of their behaviours including differentiation, migration, force production and biosynthesis are regulated by the surrounding microenvironment. Engineered cell culture models have been developed to examine the effect of microenvironmental factors such as the substrate stiffness, the topography and strain of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the shear stress on myofibroblast biology. These engineered models provide well-mimicked, pathophysiologically relevant experimental conditions that are superior to those enabled by the conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture models. In this perspective, we will review the recent advances in the development of engineered cell culture models for myofibroblasts and outline the findings on the myofibroblast mechanobiology under various microenvironmental conditions. These studies have demonstrated the power and utility of the engineered models for the study of microenvironment-regulated cellular behaviours. The findings derived using these models contribute to a greater understanding of how myofibroblast behaviour is regulated in tissue repair and pathological scar formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Richard Koya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biological Sciences Division, University of Chicago School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kjetil Ask
- Department of Medicine, Div. Respirology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 4A6
- The Research Institute of St. Joe’s Hamilton, Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 4A6
| | - Ruogang Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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50
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Contractility, focal adhesion orientation, and stress fiber orientation drive cancer cell polarity and migration along wavy ECM substrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2021135118. [PMID: 34031242 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021135118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Contact guidance is a powerful topographical cue that induces persistent directional cell migration. Healthy tissue stroma is characterized by a meshwork of wavy extracellular matrix (ECM) fiber bundles, whereas metastasis-prone stroma exhibit less wavy, more linear fibers. The latter topography correlates with poor prognosis, whereas more wavy bundles correlate with benign tumors. We designed nanotopographic ECM-coated substrates that mimic collagen fibril waveforms seen in tumors and healthy tissues to determine how these nanotopographies may regulate cancer cell polarization and migration machineries. Cell polarization and directional migration were inhibited by fibril-like wave substrates above a threshold amplitude. Although polarity signals and actin nucleation factors were required for polarization and migration on low-amplitude wave substrates, they did not localize to cell leading edges. Instead, these factors localized to wave peaks, creating multiple "cryptic leading edges" within cells. On high-amplitude wave substrates, retrograde flow from large cryptic leading edges depolarized stress fibers and focal adhesions and inhibited cell migration. On low-amplitude wave substrates, actomyosin contractility overrode the small cryptic leading edges and drove stress fiber and focal adhesion orientation along the wave axis to mediate directional migration. Cancer cells of different intrinsic contractility depolarized at different wave amplitudes, and cell polarization response to wavy substrates could be tuned by manipulating contractility. We propose that ECM fibril waveforms with sufficiently high amplitude around tumors may serve as "cell polarization barriers," decreasing directional migration of tumor cells, which could be overcome by up-regulation of tumor cell contractility.
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