1
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Bonifácio ED, Araújo CA, Guimarães MV, de Souza MP, Lima TP, de Avelar Freitas BA, González-Torres LA. Computational model of the cancer necrotic core formation in a tumor-on-a-chip device. J Theor Biol 2024; 592:111893. [PMID: 38944380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2024.111893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the formation of necrotic regions within avascular tumors are complex and poorly understood. In this paper, we investigate the formation of a necrotic core in a 3D tumor cell culture within a microfluidic device, considering oxygen, nutrients, and the microenvironment acidification by means of a computational-mathematical model. Our objective is to simulate cell processes, including proliferation and death inside a microfluidic device, according to the microenvironmental conditions. We employed approximation utilizing finite element models taking into account glucose, oxygen, and hydrogen ions diffusion, consumption and production, as well as cell proliferation, migration and death, addressing how tumor cells evolve under different conditions. The resulting mathematical model was examined under different scenarios, being capable of reproducing cell death and proliferation under different cell concentrations, and the formation of a necrotic core, in good agreement with experimental data reported in the literature. This approach not only advances our fundamental understanding of necrotic core formation but also provides a robust computational platform to study personalized therapeutic strategies, offering an important tool in cancer research and treatment design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elton Diêgo Bonifácio
- Institute of Science and Technology - UFVJM, Diamantina, Brazil; Brazilian Reference Center for Assistive Technological Innovations (CINTESP.Br) - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil.
| | - Cleudmar Amaral Araújo
- Brazilian Reference Center for Assistive Technological Innovations (CINTESP.Br) - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil
| | | | - Márcio Peres de Souza
- Brazilian Reference Center for Assistive Technological Innovations (CINTESP.Br) - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil
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2
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Wein S, Jung SA, Al Enezy-Ulbrich MA, Reicher L, Rütten S, Kühnel M, Jonigk D, Jahnen-Dechent W, Pich A, Neuss S. Impact of Fibrin Gel Architecture on Hepatocyte Growth Factor Release and Its Role in Modulating Cell Behavior for Tissue Regeneration. Gels 2024; 10:402. [PMID: 38920948 PMCID: PMC11203013 DOI: 10.3390/gels10060402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A novel scaffold design has been created to enhance tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by optimizing the controlled, prolonged release of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), a powerful chemoattractant for endogenous mesenchymal stem cells. We present a new stacked scaffold that is made up of three different fibrin gel layers, each of which has HGF integrated into the matrix. The design attempts to preserve HGF's regenerative properties for long periods of time, which is necessary for complex tissue regeneration. These multi-layered fibrin gels have been mechanically evaluated using rheometry, and their degradation behavior has been studied using D-Dimer ELISA. Understanding the kinetics of HGF release from this novel scaffold configuration is essential for understanding HGF's long-term sustained bioactivity. A range of cell-based tests were carried out to verify the functionality of HGF following extended incorporation. These tests included 2-photon microscopy using phalloidin staining to examine cellular morphology, SEM analysis for scaffold-cell interactions, and scratch and scatter assays to assess migration and motility. The analyses show that the novel stacking scaffold promotes vital cellular processes for tissue regeneration in addition to supporting HGF's bioactivity. This scaffold design was developed for in situ tissue engineering. Using the body as a bioreactor, the scaffold should recruit mesenchymal stem cells from their niche, thus combining the regenerative abilities of HGF and MSCs to promote tissue remodeling and wound repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Wein
- BioInterface Group, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.R.); (W.J.-D.); (S.N.)
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.K.); (D.J.)
| | - Shannon Anna Jung
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.A.J.); (M.A.A.E.-U.); (A.P.)
- DWI–Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Miriam Aischa Al Enezy-Ulbrich
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.A.J.); (M.A.A.E.-U.); (A.P.)
- DWI–Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Luca Reicher
- BioInterface Group, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.R.); (W.J.-D.); (S.N.)
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.K.); (D.J.)
| | - Stephan Rütten
- Electron Microscopic Facility, University Clinics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Mark Kühnel
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.K.); (D.J.)
| | - Danny Jonigk
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.K.); (D.J.)
| | - Wilhelm Jahnen-Dechent
- BioInterface Group, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.R.); (W.J.-D.); (S.N.)
| | - Andrij Pich
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (S.A.J.); (M.A.A.E.-U.); (A.P.)
- DWI–Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sabine Neuss
- BioInterface Group, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.R.); (W.J.-D.); (S.N.)
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.K.); (D.J.)
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3
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García-Gareta E, Calderón-Villalba A, Alamán-Díez P, Costa CG, Guerrero PE, Mur C, Flores AR, Jurjo NO, Sancho P, Pérez MÁ, García-Aznar JM. Physico-chemical characterization of the tumour microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151396. [PMID: 38359522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151396] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive lethal malignancy that accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancer diagnoses. Our research is focused on the physico-chemical properties of the tumour microenvironment (TME), including its tumoural extracellular matrix (tECM), as they may have an important impact on the success of cancer therapies. PDAC xenografts and their decellularized tECM offer a great material source for research in terms of biomimicry with the original human tumour. Our aim was to evaluate and quantify the physico-chemical properties of the PDAC TME. Both cellularized (native TME) and decellularized (tECM) patient-derived PDAC xenografts were analyzed. A factorial design of experiments identified an optimal combination of factors for effective xenograft decellularization. Our results provide a complete advance in our understanding of the PDAC TME and its corresponding stroma, showing that it presents an interconnected porous architecture with very low permeability and small pores due to the contractility of the cellular components. This fact provides a potential therapeutic strategy based on the therapeutic agent size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena García-Gareta
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; Division of Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Alejandro Calderón-Villalba
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Pilar Alamán-Díez
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Carlos Gracia Costa
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Pedro Enrique Guerrero
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Carlota Mur
- Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Ana Rueda Flores
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Nerea Olivera Jurjo
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical & Biological Engineering Research Group, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), School of Engineering & Architecture, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain; Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
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4
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Rahimnejad M, Makkar H, Dal-Fabbro R, Malda J, Sriram G, Bottino MC. Biofabrication Strategies for Oral Soft Tissue Regeneration. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2304537. [PMID: 38529835 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Gingival recession, a prevalent condition affecting the gum tissues, is characterized by the exposure of tooth root surfaces due to the displacement of the gingival margin. This review explores conventional treatments, highlighting their limitations and the quest for innovative alternatives. Importantly, it emphasizes the critical considerations in gingival tissue engineering leveraging on cells, biomaterials, and signaling factors. Successful tissue-engineered gingival constructs hinge on strategic choices such as cell sources, scaffold design, mechanical properties, and growth factor delivery. Unveiling advancements in recent biofabrication technologies like 3D bioprinting, electrospinning, and microfluidic organ-on-chip systems, this review elucidates their precise control over cell arrangement, biomaterials, and signaling cues. These technologies empower the recapitulation of microphysiological features, enabling the development of gingival constructs that closely emulate the anatomical, physiological, and functional characteristics of native gingival tissues. The review explores diverse engineering strategies aiming at the biofabrication of realistic tissue-engineered gingival grafts. Further, the parallels between the skin and gingival tissues are highlighted, exploring the potential transfer of biofabrication approaches from skin tissue regeneration to gingival tissue engineering. To conclude, the exploration of innovative biofabrication technologies for gingival tissues and inspiration drawn from skin tissue engineering look forward to a transformative era in regenerative dentistry with improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Rahimnejad
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Hardik Makkar
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
| | - Renan Dal-Fabbro
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jos Malda
- Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584, The Netherlands
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584, The Netherlands
| | - Gopu Sriram
- Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119085, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Additive Manufacturing (AM.NUS), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Marco C Bottino
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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5
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Serrano JC, Gillrie MR, Li R, Ishamuddin SH, Moeendarbary E, Kamm RD. Microfluidic-Based Reconstitution of Functional Lymphatic Microvasculature: Elucidating the Role of Lymphatics in Health and Disease. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302903. [PMID: 38059806 PMCID: PMC10837354 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302903] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of the blood microvasculature and its functional role in health and disease has grown significantly attributable to decades of research and numerous advances in cell biology and tissue engineering; however, the lymphatics (the secondary vascular system) has not garnered similar attention, in part due to a lack of relevant in vitro models that mimic its pathophysiological functions. Here, a microfluidic-based approach is adopted to achieve precise control over the biological transport of growth factors and interstitial flow that drive the in vivo growth of lymphatic capillaries (lymphangiogenesis). The engineered on-chip lymphatics with in vivo-like morphology exhibit tissue-scale functionality with drainage rates of interstitial proteins and molecules comparable to in vivo standards. Computational and scaling analyses of the underlying transport phenomena elucidate the critical role of the three-dimensional geometry and lymphatic endothelium in recapitulating physiological drainage. Finally, the engineered on-chip lymphatics enabled studies of lymphatic-immune interactions that revealed inflammation-driven responses by the lymphatics to recruit immune cells via chemotactic signals similar to in vivo, pathological events. This on-chip lymphatics platform permits the interrogation of various lymphatic biological functions, as well as screening of lymphatic-based therapies such as interstitial absorption of protein therapeutics and lymphatic immunomodulation for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean C. Serrano
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Mark R. Gillrie
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
- Department of Medicine University of CalgaryCalgaryABT2N 1N4Canada
| | - Ran Li
- Center for Systems Biology Massachusetts General Hospital Research InstituteBostonMA02114USA
| | - Sarah H. Ishamuddin
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Emad Moeendarbary
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringUniversity College LondonTorrington PlaceLondonWC1E 7JEUK
- 199 Biotechnologies LtdGloucester RoadLondonW2 6LDUK
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
- Department of Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
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6
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Cherubini M, Erickson S, Padmanaban P, Haberkant P, Stein F, Beltran-Sastre V, Haase K. Flow in fetoplacental-like microvessels in vitro enhances perfusion, barrier function, and matrix stability. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj8540. [PMID: 38134282 PMCID: PMC10745711 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj8540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Proper placental vascularization is vital for pregnancy outcomes, but assessing it with animal models and human explants has limitations. We introduce a 3D in vitro model of human placenta terminal villi including fetal mesenchyme and vascular endothelium. By coculturing HUVEC, placental fibroblasts, and pericytes in a macrofluidic chip with a flow reservoir, we generate fully perfusable fetal microvessels. Pressure-driven flow facilitates microvessel growth and remodeling, resulting in early formation of interconnected and lasting placental-like vascular networks. Computational fluid dynamics simulations predict shear forces, which increase microtissue stiffness, decrease diffusivity, and enhance barrier function as shear stress rises. Mass spectrometry analysis reveals enhanced protein expression with flow, including matrix stability regulators, proteins associated with actin dynamics, and cytoskeleton organization. Our model provides a powerful tool for deducing complex in vivo parameters, such as shear stress on developing vascularized placental tissue, and holds promise for unraveling gestational disorders related to the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cherubini
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Scott Erickson
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Per Haberkant
- Proteomics Core Facility, EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Stein
- Proteomics Core Facility, EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Kristina Haase
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Juste-Lanas Y, Hervas-Raluy S, García-Aznar JM, González-Loyola A. Fluid flow to mimic organ function in 3D in vitro models. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:031501. [PMID: 37547671 PMCID: PMC10404142 DOI: 10.1063/5.0146000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many different strategies can be found in the literature to model organ physiology, tissue functionality, and disease in vitro; however, most of these models lack the physiological fluid dynamics present in vivo. Here, we highlight the importance of fluid flow for tissue homeostasis, specifically in vessels, other lumen structures, and interstitium, to point out the need of perfusion in current 3D in vitro models. Importantly, the advantages and limitations of the different current experimental fluid-flow setups are discussed. Finally, we shed light on current challenges and future focus of fluid flow models applied to the newest bioengineering state-of-the-art platforms, such as organoids and organ-on-a-chip, as the most sophisticated and physiological preclinical platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Hervas-Raluy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Research Institute of Aragón (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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8
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Antonelli F. 3D Cell Models in Radiobiology: Improving the Predictive Value of In Vitro Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10620. [PMID: 37445795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310620] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is intrinsically complex, comprising both heterogeneous cellular composition and extracellular matrix. In vitro cancer research models have been widely used in the past to model and study cancer. Although two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models have traditionally been used for cancer research, they have many limitations, such as the disturbance of interactions between cellular and extracellular environments and changes in cell morphology, polarity, division mechanism, differentiation and cell motion. Moreover, 2D cell models are usually monotypic. This implies that 2D tumor models are ineffective at accurately recapitulating complex aspects of tumor cell growth, as well as their radiation responses. Over the past decade there has been significant uptake of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models by cancer researchers, highlighting a complementary model for studies of radiation effects on tumors, especially in conjunction with chemotherapy. The introduction of 3D cell culture approaches aims to model in vivo tissue interactions with radiation by positioning itself halfway between 2D cell and animal models, and thus opening up new possibilities in the study of radiation response mechanisms of healthy and tumor tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Antonelli
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Division of Health Protection Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy
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9
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Hervas-Raluy S, Wirthl B, Guerrero PE, Robalo Rei G, Nitzler J, Coronado E, Font de Mora Sainz J, Schrefler BA, Gomez-Benito MJ, Garcia-Aznar JM, Wall WA. Tumour growth: An approach to calibrate parameters of a multiphase porous media model based on in vitro observations of Neuroblastoma spheroid growth in a hydrogel microenvironment. Comput Biol Med 2023; 159:106895. [PMID: 37060771 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106895] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
To unravel processes that lead to the growth of solid tumours, it is necessary to link knowledge of cancer biology with the physical properties of the tumour and its interaction with the surrounding microenvironment. Our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is however still imprecise. We therefore developed computational physics-based models, which incorporate the interaction of the tumour with its surroundings based on the theory of porous media. However, the experimental validation of such models represents a challenge to its clinical use as a prognostic tool. This study combines a physics-based model with in vitro experiments based on microfluidic devices used to mimic a three-dimensional tumour microenvironment. By conducting a global sensitivity analysis, we identify the most influential input parameters and infer their posterior distribution based on Bayesian calibration. The resulting probability density is in agreement with the scattering of the experimental data and thus validates the proposed workflow. This study demonstrates the huge challenges associated with determining precise parameters with usually only limited data for such complex processes and models, but also demonstrates in general how to indirectly characterise the mechanical properties of neuroblastoma spheroids that cannot feasibly be measured experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Hervas-Raluy
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain.
| | - Barbara Wirthl
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Pedro E Guerrero
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Gil Robalo Rei
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Jonas Nitzler
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany; Professorship for Data-Driven Materials Modeling, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Esther Coronado
- Clinical and Translational Oncology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación La Fe,, Fernando Abril Martorell 106, Valencia, 46026, Spain
| | - Jaime Font de Mora Sainz
- Clinical and Translational Oncology Research Group, Instituto de Investigación La Fe,, Fernando Abril Martorell 106, Valencia, 46026, Spain
| | - Bernhard A Schrefler
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, Marzolo 9, Padua, 35131, Italy; Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
| | - Maria Jose Gomez-Benito
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Garcia-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A), Maria de Luna 3, Zaragoza, 50018, Spain
| | - Wolfgang A Wall
- Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Department of Engineering Physics & Computation, Boltzmannstraße 15, Garching b. Munich, 85748, Germany
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10
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Cameron AP, Gao S, Liu Y, Zhao CX. Impact of hydrogel biophysical properties on tumor spheroid growth and drug response. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2023; 149:213421. [PMID: 37060634 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in regulating cell-matrix interactions during tumor progression. These interactions are due in large part to the biophysical properties responding to cancer cell interactions. Within in vitro models, the ECM is mimicked by hydrogels, which possess adjustable biophysical properties that are integral to tumor development. This work presents a systematic and comparative study on the impact of the biophysical properties of two widely used natural hydrogels, Matrigel and collagen gel, on tumor growth and drug response. The biophysical properties of Matrigel and collagen including complex modulus, loss tangent, diffusive permeability, and pore size, were characterised. Then the spheroid growth rates in these two hydrogels were monitored for spheroids with two different sizes (140 μm and 500 μm in diameters). An increased migratory growth was observed in the lower concentration of both the gels. The effect of spheroid incorporation within the hydrogel had a minimal impact on the hydrogel's complex modulus. Finally, 3D tumor models using different concentrations of hydrogels were applied for drug treatment using paclitaxel. Spheroids cultured in hydrogels with different concentrations showed different drug response, demonstrating the significant effect of the choice of hydrogels and their concentrations on the drug response results despite using the same spheroids. This study provides useful insights into the effect of hydrogel biophysical properties on spheroid growth and drug response and highlights the importance of hydrogel selection and in vitro model design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Cameron
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Song Gao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Yun Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
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11
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Farasati Far B, Isfahani AA, Nasiriyan E, Pourmolaei A, Mahmoudvand G, Karimi Rouzbahani A, Namiq Amin M, Naimi-Jamal MR. An Updated Review on Advances in Hydrogel-Based Nanoparticles for Liver Cancer Treatment. LIVERS 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/livers3020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 90% of all liver malignancies are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), for which chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the ideal therapeutic choices. Hepatocellular carcinoma is descended from other liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholism, and metabolic syndrome. Normal cells and tissues may suffer damage from common forms of chemotherapy. In contrast to systemic chemotherapy, localized chemotherapy can reduce side effects by delivering a steady stream of chemotherapeutic drugs directly to the tumor site. This highlights the significance of controlled-release biodegradable hydrogels as drug delivery methods for chemotherapeutics. This review discusses using hydrogels as drug delivery systems for HCC and covers thermosensitive, pH-sensitive, photosensitive, dual-sensitive, and glutathione-responsive hydrogels. Compared to conventional systemic chemotherapy, hydrogel-based drug delivery methods are more effective in treating cancer.
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12
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Hwang J, Huang H, Sullivan MO, Kiick KL. Controlled Delivery of Vancomycin from Collagen-tethered Peptide Vehicles for the Treatment of Wound Infections. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:1696-1708. [PMID: 36707500 PMCID: PMC10197141 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite the great promise of antibiotic therapy in wound infections, antibiotic resistance stemming from frequent dosing diminishes drug efficacy and contributes to recurrent infection. To identify improvements in antibiotic therapies, new antibiotic delivery systems that maximize pharmacological activity and minimize side effects are needed. In this study, we developed elastin-like peptide and collagen-like peptide nanovesicles (ECnVs) tethered to collagen-containing matrices to control vancomycin delivery and provide extended antibacterial effects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We observed that ECnVs showed enhanced entrapment efficacy of vancomycin by 3-fold as compared to liposome formulations. Additionally, ECnVs enabled the controlled release of vancomycin at a constant rate with zero-order kinetics, whereas liposomes exhibited first-order release kinetics. Moreover, ECnVs could be retained on both collagen-fibrin (co-gel) matrices and collagen-only matrices, with differential retention on the two biomaterials resulting in different local concentrations of released vancomycin. Overall, the biphasic release profiles of vancomycin from ECnVs/co-gel and ECnVs/collagen more effectively inhibited the growth of MRSA for 18 and 24 h, respectively, even after repeated bacterial inoculation, as compared to matrices containing free vancomycin, which just delayed the growth of MRSA. Thus, this newly developed antibiotic delivery system exhibited distinct advantages for controlled vancomycin delivery and prolonged antibacterial activity relevant to the treatment of wound infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongmin Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
| | - Haofu Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Millicent O. Sullivan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Kristi L. Kiick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
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13
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Elliott J, Simon JC. Histotripsy Bubble Dynamics in Elastic, Anisotropic Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:853-865. [PMID: 36577567 PMCID: PMC9908827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.11.012] [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: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Elastic, anisotropic tissue such as tendon has proven resistant to mechanical fractionation by histotripsy, a subset of focused ultrasound that uses the creation, oscillation and collapse of cavitation bubbles to fractionate tissue. Our objective was to fabricate an optically transparent hydrogel that mimics tendon for evaluation of histotripsy bubble dynamics. Ex vivo bovine deep digital flexor tendons were obtained (n = 4), and varying formulations of polyacrylamide (PA), collagen and fibrin hydrogels (n = 3 each) were fabricated. Axial sound speeds were measured at 1 MHz for calculation of anisotropy. All samples were treated with a 1.5-MHz focused ultrasound transducer with 10-ms pulses repeated at 1 Hz (p+ = 127 MPa, p- = 35 MPa); treatments were monitored with passive cavitation imaging and high-speed photography. Dehydrated fibrin gels were found to be the most similar to tendon in cavitation emission energy (fibrin = 0.69 ± 0.24, tendon = 0.64 ± 0.19 [× 1010 V2]) and anisotropy (fibrin = 3.16 ± 1.12, tendon = 19.4). Bubble cloud area in dehydrated fibrin (0.79 ± 0.14 mm2) was significantly smaller than most other tested hydrogels. Finally, anisotropy was found to have moderately strong linear relationships with cavitation energy and bubble cloud size (r = -0.65 and -0.80, respectively). Dehydrated fibrin shows potential as a repeatable, transparent, tissue-mimicking hydrogel for evaluation of histotripsy bubble dynamics in elastic, anisotropic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake Elliott
- Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Julianna C Simon
- Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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Clavaín L, Fernández-Pisonero I, Movilla N, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Nieto B, Abad A, García-Navas R, Llorente-González C, Sánchez-Martín M, Vicente-Manzanares M, Santos E, Alarcón B, García-Aznar JM, Dosil M, Bustelo XR. Characterization of mutant versions of the R-RAS2/TC21 GTPase found in tumors. Oncogene 2023; 42:389-405. [PMID: 36476833 PMCID: PMC9883167 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02563-9] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The R-RAS2 GTP hydrolase (GTPase) (also known as TC21) has been traditionally considered quite similar to classical RAS proteins at the regulatory and signaling levels. Recently, a long-tail hotspot mutation targeting the R-RAS2/TC21 Gln72 residue (Q72L) was identified as a potent oncogenic driver. Additional point mutations were also found in other tumors at low frequencies. Despite this, little information is available regarding the transforming role of these mutant versions and their relevance for the tumorigenic properties of already-transformed cancer cells. Here, we report that many of the RRAS2 mutations found in human cancers are highly transforming when expressed in immortalized cell lines. Moreover, the expression of endogenous R-RAS2Q72L is important for maintaining optimal levels of PI3K and ERK activities as well as for the adhesion, invasiveness, proliferation, and mitochondrial respiration of ovarian and breast cancer cell lines. Endogenous R-RAS2Q72L also regulates gene expression programs linked to both cell adhesion and inflammatory/immune-related responses. Endogenous R-RAS2Q72L is also quite relevant for the in vivo tumorigenic activity of these cells. This dependency is observed even though these cancer cell lines bear concurrent gain-of-function mutations in genes encoding RAS signaling elements. Finally, we show that endogenous R-RAS2, unlike the case of classical RAS proteins, specifically localizes in focal adhesions. Collectively, these results indicate that gain-of-function mutations of R-RAS2/TC21 play roles in tumor initiation and maintenance that are not fully redundant with those regulated by classical RAS oncoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Clavaín
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernández-Pisonero
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nieves Movilla
- grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - L. Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Blanca Nieto
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Antonio Abad
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rósula García-Navas
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Clara Llorente-González
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Martín
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Transgenesis Facility and Nucleus Platform for Research Services, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Miguel Vicente-Manzanares
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Eugenio Santos
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Balbino Alarcón
- grid.5515.40000000119578126Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. García-Aznar
- grid.11205.370000 0001 2152 8769Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mercedes Dosil
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Xosé R. Bustelo
- grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain ,grid.11762.330000 0001 2180 1817Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC and University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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15
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Sarker P, Nalband DM, Freytes DO, Rojas OJ, Khan SA. High-Axial-Aspect Tannic Acid Microparticles Facilitate Gelation and Injectability of Collagen-Based Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:4696-4708. [PMID: 36198084 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Injectable collagen-based hydrogels offer great promise for tissue engineering and regeneration, but their use is limited by poor mechanical strength. Herein, we incorporate tannic acid (TA) to tailor the rheology of the corresponding hydrogels while simultaneously adding the therapeutic benefits inherent to this polyphenolic component. TA in the solution form and needle-shaped TA microparticles are combined with collagen and the respective systems studied for their time-dependent sol-gel transitions (from storage to body temperatures, 4-37 °C) as a function of TA concentration. Compared to systems incorporating TA microparticles, those with dissolved TA, applied at a similar concentration, generate a less significant enhancement of the elastic modulus. Premature gelation at a low temperature and associated colloidal arrest of the system are proposed as a main factor explaining this limited performance. A higher yield stress (elastic stress method) is determined for systems loaded with TA microparticles compared to the system with dissolved TA. These results are interpreted in terms of the underlying interactions of TA with collagen, as probed by spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. Importantly, hydrogels containing TA microparticles show high cell viability (human dermal fibroblasts) and comparative cellular activity relative to the collagen-only hydrogel. Overall, composite hydrogels incorporating TA microparticles demonstrate a new, simple, and better-performance alternative to cell culturing and difficult implantation scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prottasha Sarker
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Danielle M Nalband
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University/ University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Donald O Freytes
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University/ University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Orlando J Rojas
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Bioproducts Institute, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Saad A Khan
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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16
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Patiño Vargas MI, Martinez-Garcia FD, Offens F, Becerra NY, Restrepo LM, van der Mei HC, Harmsen MC, van Kooten TG, Sharma PK. Viscoelastic properties of plasma-agarose hydrogels dictate favorable fibroblast responses for skin tissue engineering applications. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 139:212967. [PMID: 35882126 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.212967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Dermal wound healing relies on the properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, hydrogels that replicate skin ECM have reached clinical application. After a dermal injury, a transient, biodegradable fibrin clot is instrumental in wound healing. Human plasma, and its main constituent, fibrin would make a suitable biomaterial for improving wound healing and processed as hydrogels albeit with limited mechanical strength. To overcome this, plasma-agarose (PA) composite hydrogels have been developed and used to prepare diverse bioengineered tissues. To date, little is known about the influence of variable agarose concentrations on the viscoelastic properties of PA hydrogels and their correlation to cell biology. This study reports the characterization of the viscoelastic properties of different concentrations of agarose in PA hydrogels: 0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, and 2 % (w/v), and their influence on the cell number and mitochondrial activity of human dermal fibroblasts. Results show that agarose addition increased the stiffness, relaxation time constants 1 (τ1) and 2 (τ2), and fiber diameter, whereas the porosity decreased. Changes in cell metabolism occurred at the early stages of culturing and correlated to the displacement of fast (τ1) and intermediate (τ2) Maxwell elements. Fibroblasts seeded in low PA concentrations spread faster during 14 d than cells cultured in higher agarose concentrations. Collectively, these results confirm that PA viscoelasticity and hydrogel architecture strongly influenced cell behavior. Therefore, viscoelasticity is a key parameter in the design of PA-based implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Isabel Patiño Vargas
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands; Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Francisco Drusso Martinez-Garcia
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Freya Offens
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Natalia Y Becerra
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Luz M Restrepo
- Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Henny C van der Mei
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin C Harmsen
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Theo G van Kooten
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Prashant K Sharma
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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17
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Cell mediated remodeling of stiffness matched collagen and fibrin scaffolds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11736. [PMID: 35817812 PMCID: PMC9273755 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14953-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are known to continuously remodel their local extracellular matrix (ECM) and in a reciprocal way, they can also respond to mechanical and biochemical properties of their fibrous environment. In this study, we measured how stiffness around dermal fibroblasts (DFs) and human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells differs with concentration of rat tail type 1 collagen (T1C) and type of ECM. Peri-cellular stiffness was probed in four directions using multi-axes optical tweezers active microrheology (AMR). First, we found that neither cell type significantly altered local stiffness landscape at different concentrations of T1C. Next, rat tail T1C, bovine skin T1C and fibrin cell-free hydrogels were polymerized at concentrations formulated to match median stiffness value. Each of these hydrogels exhibited distinct fiber architecture. Stiffness landscape and fibronectin secretion, but not nuclear/cytoplasmic YAP ratio differed with ECM type. Further, cell response to Y27632 or BB94 treatments, inhibiting cell contractility and activity of matrix metalloproteinases, respectively, was also dependent on ECM type. Given differential effect of tested ECMs on peri-cellular stiffness landscape, treatment effect and cell properties, this study underscores the need for peri-cellular and not bulk stiffness measurements in studies on cellular mechanotransduction.
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18
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Cameron AP, Zeng B, Liu Y, Wang H, Soheilmoghaddam F, Cooper-White J, Zhao CX. Biophysical properties of hydrogels for mimicking tumor extracellular matrix. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 136:212782. [PMID: 35929332 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.212782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of the tumor microenvironment. It plays a critical role in regulating cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. However, there is lack of systematic and comparative studies on different widely-used ECM mimicking hydrogels and their properties, making the selection of suitable hydrogels for mimicking different in vivo conditions quite random. This study systematically evaluates the biophysical attributes of three widely used natural hydrogels (Matrigel, collagen gel and agarose gel) including complex modulus, loss tangent, diffusive permeability and pore size. A new and facile method was developed combining Critical Point Drying, Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging and a MATLAB image processing program (CSM method) for the characterization of hydrogel microstructures. This CSM method allows accurate measurement of the hydrogel pore size down to nanometer resolution. Furthermore, a microfluidic device was implemented to measure the hydrogel permeability (Pd) as a function of particle size and gel concentration. Among the three gels, collagen gel has the lowest complex modulus, medium pore size, and the highest loss tangent. Agarose gel exhibits the highest complex modulus, the lowest loss tangent and the smallest pore size. Collagen gel and Matrigel produced complex moduli close to that estimated for cancer ECM. The Pd of these hydrogels decreases significantly with the increase of particle size. By assessing different hydrogels' biophysical characteristics, this study provides valuable insights for tailoring their properties for various three-dimensional cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Cameron
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bijun Zeng
- Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yun Liu
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Haofei Wang
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Farhad Soheilmoghaddam
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Justin Cooper-White
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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19
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Raffa P, Easler M, Urciuolo A. Three-dimensional in vitro models of neuromuscular tissue. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:759-766. [PMID: 34472462 PMCID: PMC8530117 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.322447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is a dynamic tissue in which homeostasis and function are guaranteed by a very defined three-dimensional organization of myofibers in respect to other non-muscular components, including the extracellular matrix and the nervous network. In particular, communication between myofibers and the nervous system is essential for the overall correct development and function of the skeletal muscle. A wide range of chronic, acute and genetic-based human pathologies that lead to the alteration of muscle function are associated with modified preservation of the fine interaction between motor neurons and myofibers at the neuromuscular junction. Recent advancements in the development of in vitro models for human skeletal muscle have shown that three-dimensionality and integration of multiple cell types are both key parameters required to unveil pathophysiological relevant phenotypes. Here, we describe recent achievement reached in skeletal muscle modeling which used biomaterials for the generation of three-dimensional constructs of myotubes integrated with motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Raffa
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Easler
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Urciuolo
- Institute of Pediatric Research IRP, Padova, Italy
- Molecular Medicine Department, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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20
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Liu K, Wiendels M, Yuan H, Ruan C, Kouwer PH. Cell-matrix reciprocity in 3D culture models with nonlinear elasticity. Bioact Mater 2022; 9:316-331. [PMID: 34820573 PMCID: PMC8586441 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) matrix models using hydrogels are powerful tools to understand and predict cell behavior. The interactions between the cell and its matrix, however is highly complex: the matrix has a profound effect on basic cell functions but simultaneously, cells are able to actively manipulate the matrix properties. This (mechano)reciprocity between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is central in regulating tissue functions and it is fundamentally important to broadly consider the biomechanical properties of the in vivo ECM when designing in vitro matrix models. This manuscript discusses two commonly used biopolymer networks, i.e. collagen and fibrin gels, and one synthetic polymer network, polyisocyanide gel (PIC), which all possess the characteristic nonlinear mechanics in the biological stress regime. We start from the structure of the materials, then address the uses, advantages, and limitations of each material, to provide a guideline for tissue engineers and biophysicists in utilizing current materials and also designing new materials for 3D cell culture purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaizheng Liu
- Research Center for Human Tissue and Organs Degeneration, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Maury Wiendels
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hongbo Yuan
- Institute of Biophysics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, PR China
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Changshun Ruan
- Research Center for Human Tissue and Organs Degeneration, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Paul H.J. Kouwer
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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21
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Guo Y, Calve S, Tepole AB. Multiscale mechanobiology: Coupling models of adhesion kinetics and nonlinear tissue mechanics. Biophys J 2022; 121:525-539. [PMID: 35074393 PMCID: PMC8874030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanical behavior of tissues at the macroscale is tightly coupled to cellular activity at the microscale. Dermal wound healing is a prominent example of a complex system in which multiscale mechanics regulate restoration of tissue form and function. In cutaneous wound healing, a fibrin matrix is populated by fibroblasts migrating in from a surrounding tissue made mostly out of collagen. Fibroblasts both respond to mechanical cues, such as fiber alignment and stiffness, as well as exert active stresses needed for wound closure. Here, we develop a multiscale model with a two-way coupling between a microscale cell adhesion model and a macroscale tissue mechanics model. Starting from the well-known model of adhesion kinetics proposed by Bell, we extend the formulation to account for nonlinear mechanics of fibrin and collagen and show how this nonlinear response naturally captures stretch-driven mechanosensing. We then embed the new nonlinear adhesion model into a custom finite element implementation of tissue mechanical equilibrium. Strains and stresses at the tissue level are coupled with the solution of the microscale adhesion model at each integration point of the finite element mesh. In addition, solution of the adhesion model is coupled with the active contractile stress of the cell population. The multiscale model successfully captures the mechanical response of biopolymer fibers and gels, contractile stresses generated by fibroblasts, and stress-strain contours observed during wound healing. We anticipate that this framework will not only increase our understanding of how mechanical cues guide cellular behavior in cutaneous wound healing, but will also be helpful in the study of mechanobiology, growth, and remodeling in other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette
| | - Sarah Calve
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette,Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, Boulder
| | - Adrian Buganza Tepole
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette.
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22
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Drug diffusion in biomimetic hydrogels: importance for drug transport and delivery in non-vascular tumor tissue. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 172:106150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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23
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Blázquez-Carmona P, Sanz-Herrera JA, Mora-Macías J, Morgaz J, Domínguez J, Reina-Romo E. Time-Dependent Collagen Fibered Structure in the Early Distraction Callus: Imaging Characterization and Mathematical Modeling. Ann Biomed Eng 2022; 50:1798-1809. [PMID: 35732853 PMCID: PMC9794544 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-022-02992-3] [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: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Collagen is a ubiquitous protein present in regenerating bone tissues that experiences multiple biological phenomena during distraction osteogenesis until the deposition of phosphate crystals. This work combines fluorescence techniques and mathematical modeling to shed light on the mechano-structural processes behind the maturation and accommodation-to-mineralization of the callus tissue. Ovine metatarsal bone calluses were analyzed through confocal images at different stages of the early distraction osteogenesis process, quantifying the fiber orientation distribution and mean intensity as fiber density measure. Likewise, a mathematical model based on the experimental data was defined to micromechanically characterize the apparent stiffening of the tissue within the distracted callus. A reorganization of the fibers around the distraction axis and increased fiber density were found as the bone fragments were gradually separated. Given the degree of significance between the mathematical model and previous in vivo data, reorganization, densification, and bundle maturation phenomena seem to explain the apparent mechanical maturation observed in the tissue theoretically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Blázquez-Carmona
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - José A. Sanz-Herrera
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Mora-Macías
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
| | - Juan Morgaz
- Hospital Clínico Veterinario, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Nacional IV-A, Km 396, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jaime Domínguez
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Esther Reina-Romo
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain
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24
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Potjewyd G, Kellett K, Hooper N. 3D hydrogel models of the neurovascular unit to investigate blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Neuronal Signal 2021; 5:NS20210027. [PMID: 34804595 PMCID: PMC8579151 DOI: 10.1042/ns20210027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU), consisting of neurons, glial cells, vascular cells (endothelial cells, pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)) together with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), is an important interface between the peripheral blood and the brain parenchyma. Disruption of the NVU impacts on blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulation and underlies the development and pathology of multiple neurological disorders, including stroke and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The ability to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into the different cell types of the NVU and incorporate them into physical models provides a reverse engineering approach to generate human NVU models to study BBB function. To recapitulate the in vivo situation such NVU models must also incorporate the ECM to provide a 3D environment with appropriate mechanical and biochemical cues for the cells of the NVU. In this review, we provide an overview of the cells of the NVU and the surrounding ECM, before discussing the characteristics (stiffness, functionality and porosity) required of hydrogels to mimic the ECM when incorporated into in vitro NVU models. We summarise the approaches available to measure BBB functionality and present the techniques in use to develop robust and translatable models of the NVU, including transwell models, hydrogel models, 3D-bioprinting, microfluidic models and organoids. The incorporation of iPSCs either without or with disease-specific genetic mutations into these NVU models provides a platform in which to study normal and disease mechanisms, test BBB permeability to drugs, screen for new therapeutic targets and drugs or to design cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Potjewyd
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Katherine A.B. Kellett
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Nigel M. Hooper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance and University of Manchester, Manchester, U.K
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25
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Mohan MD, Young EWK. TANDEM: biomicrofluidic systems with transverse and normal diffusional environments for multidirectional signaling. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4081-4094. [PMID: 34604885 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00279a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Biomicrofluidic systems that can recapitulate complex biological processes with precisely controlled 3D geometries are a significant advancement from traditional 2D cultures. To this point, these systems have largely been limited to either laterally adjacent channels in a single plane or vertically stacked single-channel arrangements. As a result, lateral (or transverse) and vertical (or normal) diffusion have been isolated to their respective designs only, thus limiting potential access to nutrients and 3D communication that typifies in vivo microenvironments. Here we report a novel device architecture called "TANDEM", an acronym for "T̲ransverse A̲nd N̲ormal D̲iffusional E̲nvironments for M̲ultidirectional Signaling", which enables multiplanar arrangements of aligned channels where normal and transverse diffusion occur in tandem to facilitate multidirectional communication. We developed a computational transport model in COMSOL and tested diffusion and culture viability in one specific TANDEM configuration, and found that TANDEM systems demonstrated enhanced diffusion in comparison to single-plane counterparts. This resulted in improved viability of hydrogel-embedded cells, which typically suffer from a lack of sufficient nutrient access during long-term culture. Finally, we showed that TANDEM designs can be expanded to more complex alternative configurations depending on the needs of the end-user. Based on these findings, TANDEM designs can utilize multidirectional enhanced diffusion to improve long-term viability and ultimately facilitate more robust and more biomimetic microfluidic systems with increasingly more complex geometric layouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Mohan
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
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26
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Daraei A, Pieters M, Baker SR, de Lange-Loots Z, Siniarski A, Litvinov RI, Veen CSB, de Maat MPM, Weisel JW, Ariëns RAS, Guthold M. Automated Fiber Diameter and Porosity Measurements of Plasma Clots in Scanning Electron Microscopy Images. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101536. [PMID: 34680169 PMCID: PMC8533744 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is a powerful, high-resolution imaging technique widely used to analyze the structure of fibrin networks. Currently, structural features, such as fiber diameter, length, density, and porosity, are mostly analyzed manually, which is tedious and may introduce user bias. A reliable, automated structural image analysis method would mitigate these drawbacks. We evaluated the performance of DiameterJ (an ImageJ plug-in) for analyzing fibrin fiber diameter by comparing automated DiameterJ outputs with manual diameter measurements in four SEM data sets with different imaging parameters. We also investigated correlations between biophysical fibrin clot properties and diameter, and between clot permeability and DiameterJ-determined clot porosity. Several of the 24 DiameterJ algorithms returned diameter values that highly correlated with and closely matched the values of the manual measurements. However, optimal performance was dependent on the pixel size of the images—best results were obtained for images with a pixel size of 8–10 nm (13–16 pixels/fiber). Larger or smaller pixels resulted in an over- or underestimation of diameter values, respectively. The correlation between clot permeability and DiameterJ-determined clot porosity was modest, likely because it is difficult to establish the correct image depth of field in this analysis. In conclusion, several DiameterJ algorithms (M6, M5, T3) perform well for diameter determination from SEM images, given the appropriate imaging conditions (13–16 pixels/fiber). Determining fibrin clot porosity via DiameterJ is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Daraei
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA; (A.D.); (S.R.B.)
| | - Marlien Pieters
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;
- Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (M.G.); Tel.: +27-18-299-2462 (M.P.); +1-(336)-758-4977 (M.G.)
| | - Stephen R. Baker
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA; (A.D.); (S.R.B.)
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS16 8FX, UK;
| | - Zelda de Lange-Loots
- Center of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa;
- Medical Research Council Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Aleksander Siniarski
- Department of Coronary Disease and Heart Failure, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-202 Krakow, Poland;
- John Paul II Hospital, 31-202 Krakow, Poland
| | - Rustem I. Litvinov
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.I.L.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Caroline S. B. Veen
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (C.S.B.V.); (M.P.M.d.M.)
| | - Moniek P. M. de Maat
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (C.S.B.V.); (M.P.M.d.M.)
| | - John W. Weisel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (R.I.L.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Robert A. S. Ariëns
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS16 8FX, UK;
| | - Martin Guthold
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA; (A.D.); (S.R.B.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (M.G.); Tel.: +27-18-299-2462 (M.P.); +1-(336)-758-4977 (M.G.)
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27
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Walji N, Kheiri S, Young EWK. Angiogenic Sprouting Dynamics Mediated by Endothelial-Fibroblast Interactions in Microfluidic Systems. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2101080. [PMID: 34655165 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, is a key process in normal development and pathophysiology. In vitro models are necessary for investigating mechanisms of angiogenesis and developing antiangiogenic therapies. Microfluidic cell culture models of angiogenesis are favored for their ability to recapitulate 3D tissue structures and control spatiotemporal aspects of the microenvironments. To capture the angiogenesis process, microfluidic models often include endothelial cells and a fibroblast component. However, the influence of fibroblast organization on resulting angiogenic behavior remains unclear. Here a comparative study of angiogenic sprouting on a microfluidic chip induced by fibroblasts in 2D monolayer, 3D dispersed, and 3D spheroid culture formats, is conducted. Vessel morphology and sprout distribution for each configuration are measured, and these observations are correlated with measurements of secreted factors and numerical simulations of diffusion gradients. The results demonstrate that angiogenic sprouting varies in response to fibroblast organization with correlating variations in secretory profile and secreted factor gradients across the microfluidic device. This study is anticipated to shed light on how sprouting dynamics are mediated by fibroblast configuration such that the microfluidic cell culture design process includes the selection of a fibroblast component where the effects are known and leveraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noosheen Walji
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 160 College St., Toronto, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 160 College St., Toronto, M5S 3E1, Canada
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28
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Pérez-Rodríguez S, Huang SA, Borau C, García-Aznar JM, Polacheck WJ. Microfluidic model of monocyte extravasation reveals the role of hemodynamics and subendothelial matrix mechanics in regulating endothelial integrity. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:054102. [PMID: 34548891 PMCID: PMC8443302 DOI: 10.1063/5.0061997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Extravasation of circulating cells is an essential process that governs tissue inflammation and the body's response to pathogenic infection. To initiate anti-inflammatory and phagocytic functions within tissues, immune cells must cross the vascular endothelial barrier from the vessel lumen to the subluminal extracellular matrix. In this work, we present a microfluidic approach that enables the recreation of a three-dimensional, perfused endothelial vessel formed by human endothelial cells embedded within a collagen-rich matrix. Monocytes are introduced into the vessel perfusate, and we investigate the role of luminal flow and collagen concentration on extravasation. In vessels conditioned with the flow, increased monocyte adhesion to the vascular wall was observed, though fewer monocytes extravasated to the collagen hydrogel. Our results suggest that the lower rates of extravasation are due to the increased vessel integrity and reduced permeability of the endothelial monolayer. We further demonstrate that vascular permeability is a function of collagen hydrogel mass concentration, with increased collagen concentrations leading to elevated vascular permeability and increased extravasation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that extravasation of monocytes is highly regulated by the structural integrity of the endothelial monolayer. The microfluidic approach developed here allows for the dissection of the relative contributions of these cues to further understand the key governing processes that regulate circulating cell extravasation and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephanie A. Huang
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
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29
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Gandhi JK, Heinrich L, Knoff DS, Kim M, Marmorstein AD. Alteration of fibrin hydrogel gelation and degradation kinetics through addition of azo dyes. J Biomed Mater Res A 2021; 109:2357-2368. [PMID: 33973708 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37218] [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: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin is a degradable biopolymer with an excellent clinical safety profile. Use of higher mechanical strength fibrin hydrogels is limited by the rapid rate of fibrin polymerization. We recently demonstrated the use of higher mechanical strength (fibrinogen concentrations >30 mg/ml) fibrin scaffolds for surgical implantation of cells. The rapid polymerization of fibrin at fibrinogen concentrations impaired our ability to scale production of these fibrin scaffolds. We serendipitously discovered that the azo dye Trypan blue (TB) slowed fibrin gelation kinetics allowing for more uniform mixing of fibrinogen and thrombin at high concentrations. A screen of closely related compounds identified similar activity for Evans blue (EB), an isomer of TB. Both TB and EB exhibited a concentration dependent increase in clot time, though EB had a larger effect. While gelation time was increased by TB or EB, overall polymerization time was unaffected. Scanning electron microscopy showed similar surface topography, but transmission electron microscopy showed a higher cross-linking density for gels formed with TB or EB versus controls. Based on these data we conclude that addition of TB or EB during thrombin mediated fibrin polymerization slows the initial gelation time permitting generation of larger more uniform fibrin hydrogels with high-mechanical strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarel K Gandhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lauren Heinrich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - David S Knoff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Minkyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.,Department of Materials Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.,BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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30
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Sivaraj D, Chen K, Chattopadhyay A, Henn D, Wu W, Noishiki C, Magbual NJ, Mittal S, Mermin-Bunnell AM, Bonham CA, Trotsyuk AA, Barrera JA, Padmanabhan J, Januszyk M, Gurtner GC. Hydrogel Scaffolds to Deliver Cell Therapies for Wound Healing. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:660145. [PMID: 34012956 PMCID: PMC8126987 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.660145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous wounds are a growing global health burden as a result of an aging population coupled with increasing incidence of diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Cell-based approaches have been used to treat wounds due to their secretory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects, and recent studies have highlighted that delivery of stem cells may provide the most benefits. Delivering these cells to wounds with direct injection has been associated with low viability, transient retention, and overall poor efficacy. The use of bioactive scaffolds provides a promising method to improve cell therapy delivery. Specifically, hydrogels provide a physiologic microenvironment for transplanted cells, including mechanical support and protection from native immune cells, and cell-hydrogel interactions may be tailored based on specific tissue properties. In this review, we describe the current and future directions of various cell therapies and usage of hydrogels to deliver these cells for wound healing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Geoffrey C. Gurtner
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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31
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Hsu HH, Ko PL, Wu HM, Lin HC, Wang CK, Tung YC. Study 3D Endothelial Cell Network Formation under Various Oxygen Microenvironment and Hydrogel Composition Combinations Using Upside-Down Microfluidic Devices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2006091. [PMID: 33480473 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202006091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Formation of 3D networks is a crucial process for endothelial cells during development of primary blood vessels under both normal and pathological conditions. In order to investigate effects of oxygen microenvironment and matrix composition on the 3D network formation, an upside-down microfluidic cell culture device capable of generating oxygen gradients is developed in this paper. In cell experiments, network formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) within fibrinogen-based hydrogels with different concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) is systematically studied. In addition, five different oxygen microenvironments (uniform normoxia, 5%, and 1% O2 ; oxygen gradients under normoxia and 5% O2 ) are also applied for the cell culture. The generated oxygen gradients are characterized based on fluorescence lifetime measurements. The experimental results show increased 3D cell network length when the cells are cultured under the oxygen gradients within the hydrogels with the HA addition suggesting their roles in promoting network formation. Furthermore, the formed networks tend to align along the direction of the oxygen gradients indicating the presence of gradient-driven cellular response. The results demonstrate that the developed upside-down microfluidic device can provide an advanced platform to investigate 3D cell culture under the controlled oxygen microenvironments for various biomedical studies in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Hua Hsu
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Liang Ko
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Mei Wu
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Chieh Lin
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Kai Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chung Tung
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
- College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City, 33302, Taiwan
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32
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Li M, Xi N, Wang YC, Liu LQ. Atomic force microscopy for revealing micro/nanoscale mechanics in tumor metastasis: from single cells to microenvironmental cues. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2021; 42:323-339. [PMID: 32807839 PMCID: PMC8027022 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0494-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanics are intrinsic properties which appears throughout the formation, development, and aging processes of biological systems. Mechanics have been shown to play important roles in regulating the development and metastasis of tumors, and understanding tumor mechanics has emerged as a promising way to reveal the underlying mechanisms guiding tumor behaviors. In particular, tumors are highly complex diseases associated with multifaceted factors, including alterations in cancerous cells, tissues, and organs as well as microenvironmental cues, indicating that investigating tumor mechanics on multiple levels is significantly helpful for comprehensively understanding the effects of mechanics on tumor progression. Recently, diverse techniques have been developed for probing the mechanics of tumors, among which atomic force microscopy (AFM) has appeared as an excellent platform enabling simultaneously characterizing the structures and mechanical properties of living biological systems ranging from individual molecules and cells to tissue samples with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, offering novel possibilities for understanding tumor physics and contributing much to the studies of cancer. In this review, we survey the recent progress that has been achieved with the use of AFM for revealing micro/nanoscale mechanics in tumor development and metastasis. Challenges and future progress are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110169, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Ning Xi
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yue-Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110169, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lian-Qing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110169, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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33
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Abstract
The study aims to investigate the role of viscoelastic interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) in avascular tumor growth. Computer simulations of glioma multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) growth are being carried out for various conditions. The calculations are based on a continuous model, which simulates oxygen transport into MTS; transitions between three cell phenotypes, cell transport, conditioned by hydrostatic forces in cell–ECM composite system, cell motility and cell adhesion. Visco-elastic cell aggregation and elastic ECM scaffold represent two compressible constituents of the composite. Cell–ECM interactions form a Transition Layer on the spheroid surface, where mechanical characteristics of tumor undergo rapid transition. This layer facilitates tumor progression to a great extent. The study demonstrates strong effects of ECM stiffness, mechanical deformations of the matrix and cell–cell adhesion on tumor progression. The simulations show in particular that at certain, rather high degrees of matrix stiffness a formation of distant multicellular clusters takes place, while at further increase of ECM stiffness subtumors do not form. The model also illustrates to what extent mere mechanical properties of cell–ECM system may contribute into variations of glioma invasion scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Kalinin
- R&D Sector, Techno-Modeling Arts Ireland, Unit 8, Cul na Raithe, A91K8KR, Louth, Ireland
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Perez-Valle A, Del Amo C, Andia I. Overview of Current Advances in Extrusion Bioprinting for Skin Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6679. [PMID: 32932676 PMCID: PMC7555324 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioprinting technologies, which have the ability to combine various human cell phenotypes, signaling proteins, extracellular matrix components, and other scaffold-like biomaterials, are currently being exploited for the fabrication of human skin in regenerative medicine. We performed a systematic review to appraise the latest advances in 3D bioprinting for skin applications, describing the main cell phenotypes, signaling proteins, and bioinks used in extrusion platforms. To understand the current limitations of this technology for skin bioprinting, we briefly address the relevant aspects of skin biology. This field is in the early stage of development, and reported research on extrusion bioprinting for skin applications has shown moderate progress. We have identified two major trends. First, the biomimetic approach uses cell-laden natural polymers, including fibrinogen, decellularized extracellular matrix, and collagen. Second, the material engineering line of research, which is focused on the optimization of printable biomaterials that expedite the manufacturing process, mainly involves chemically functionalized polymers and reinforcement strategies through molecular blending and postprinting interventions, i.e., ionic, covalent, or light entanglement, to enhance the mechanical properties of the construct and facilitate layer-by-layer deposition. Skin constructs manufactured using the biomimetic approach have reached a higher level of complexity in biological terms, including up to five different cell phenotypes and mirroring the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The confluence of the two perspectives, representing interdisciplinary inputs, is required for further advancement toward the future translation of extrusion bioprinting and to meet the urgent clinical demand for skin equivalents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Isabel Andia
- Regenerative Therapies, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Cruces University Hospital, Plaza Cruces 12, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain; (A.P.-V.); (C.D.A.)
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Evaluation of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Heterogeneity and Behaviour in 3D Type I Collagen Gels. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:3034727. [PMID: 32964026 PMCID: PMC7501571 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3034727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are increasingly being advocated for regenerative medicine-based therapies. However, significant heterogeneity in the genotypic/phenotypic properties of DPSC subpopulations exist, influencing their therapeutic potentials. As most studies have established DPSC heterogeneity using 2D culture approaches, we investigated whether heterogeneous DPSC proliferative and contraction/remodelling capabilities were further evident within 3D type I collagen gels in vitro. DPSC subpopulations were isolated from human third molars and identified as high/low proliferative and multipotent/unipotent, following in vitro culture expansion and population doubling (PD) analysis. High proliferative/multipotent DPSCs, such as A3 (30 PDs and 80 PDs), and low proliferative/unipotent DPSCs, such as A1 (17 PDs), were cultured in collagen gels for 12 days, either attached or detached from the surrounding culture plastic. Collagen architecture and high proliferative/multipotent DPSC morphologies were visualised by Scanning Electron Microscopy and FITC-phalloidin/Fluorescence Microscopy. DPSC proliferation (cell counts), contraction (% diameter reductions), and remodelling (MMP-2/MMP-9 gelatin zymography) of collagen gels were also evaluated. Unexpectedly, no proliferation differences existed between DPSCs, A3 (30 PDs) and A1 (17 PDs), although A3 (80 PDs) responses were significantly reduced. Despite rapid detached collagen gel contraction with A3 (30 PDs), similar contraction rates were determined with A1 (17 PDs), although A3 (80 PDs) contraction was significantly impaired. Gel contraction correlated to distinct gelatinase profiles. A3 (30 PDs) possessed superior MMP-9 and comparable MMP-2 activities to A1 (17 PDs), whereas A3 (80 PDs) had significantly reduced MMP-2/MMP-9. High proliferative/multipotent DPSCs, A3 (30 PDs), further exhibited fibroblast-like morphologies becoming polygonal within attached gels, whilst losing cytoskeletal organization and fibroblastic morphologies in detached gels. This study demonstrates that heterogeneity exists in the gel contraction and MMP expression/activity capabilities of DPSCs, potentially reflecting differences in their abilities to degrade biomaterial scaffolds and regulate cellular functions in 3D environments and their regenerative properties overall. Thus, such findings enhance our understanding of the molecular and phenotypic characteristics associated with high proliferative/multipotent DPSCs.
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Vasilyev AV, Kuznetsova VS, Bukharova TB, Grigoriev TE, Zagoskin Y, Korolenkova MV, Zorina OA, Chvalun SN, Goldshtein DV, Kulakov AA. Development prospects of curable osteoplastic materials in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04686. [PMID: 32817899 PMCID: PMC7424217 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The article presents classification of the thermosetting materials for bone augmentation. The physical, mechanical, biological, and clinical properties of such materials are reviewed. There are two main types of curable osteoplastic materials: bone cements and hydrogels. Compared to hydrogels, bone cements have high strength features, but their biological properties are not ideal and must be improved. Hydrogels are biocompatible and closely mimic the extracellular matrix. They can be used as cytocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering, as can protein- and nucleic acid-activated structures. Hydrogels may be impregnated with osteoinductors such as proteins and genetic vectors without conformational changes. However, the mechanical properties of hydrogels limit their use for load-bearing bone defects. Thus, improving the strength properties of hydrogels is one of the possible strategies to achieve the basis for an ideal osteoplastic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Vasilyev
- Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia.,Research Centre of Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | - V S Kuznetsova
- Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia.,Research Centre of Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | | | - M V Korolenkova
- Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia
| | - O A Zorina
- Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - A A Kulakov
- Central Research Institute of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, Moscow, Russia
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Nam U, Kim S, Park J, Jeon JS. Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Vascular Inflammation Model on Microfluidic Chip. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11080747. [PMID: 32751936 PMCID: PMC7465530 DOI: 10.3390/mi11080747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is the initiation of defense of our body against harmful stimuli. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), originating from outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, causes inflammation in the animal’s body and can develop several diseases. In order to study the inflammatory response to LPS of blood vessels in vitro, 2D models have been mainly used previously. In this study, a microfluidic device was used to investigate independent inflammatory response of endothelial cells by LPS and interaction of inflamed blood vessel with monocytic THP-1 cells. Firstly, the diffusion of LPS across the collagen gel into blood vessel was simulated using COMSOL. Then, inflammatory response to LPS in engineered blood vessel was confirmed by the expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and VE-cadherin of blood vessel, and THP-1 cell adhesion and migration assay. Upregulation of ICAM-1 and downregulation of VE-cadherin in an LPS-treated condition was observed compared to normal condition. In the THP-1 cell adhesion and migration assay, the number of adhered and trans-endothelial migrated THP-1 cells were not different between conditions. However, migration distance of THP-1 was longer in the LPS treatment condition. In conclusion, we recapitulated the inflammatory response of blood vessels and the interaction of THP-1 cells with blood vessels due to the diffusion of LPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ungsig Nam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141S, Korea; (U.N.); (S.K.); (J.P.)
| | - Seunggyu Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141S, Korea; (U.N.); (S.K.); (J.P.)
| | - Joonha Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141S, Korea; (U.N.); (S.K.); (J.P.)
| | - Jessie S. Jeon
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141S, Korea; (U.N.); (S.K.); (J.P.)
- KAIST Institute for Health Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-42-350-3226
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Aliabouzar M, Davidson CD, Wang WY, Kripfgans OD, Franceschi RT, Putnam AJ, Fowlkes JB, Baker BM, Fabiilli ML. Spatiotemporal control of micromechanics and microstructure in acoustically-responsive scaffolds using acoustic droplet vaporization. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:6501-6513. [PMID: 32597450 PMCID: PMC7377967 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00753f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Acoustically-responsive scaffolds (ARSs), which are composite fibrin hydrogels, have been used to deliver regenerative molecules. ARSs respond to ultrasound in an on-demand, spatiotemporally-controlled manner via a mechanism termed acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV). Here, we study the ADV-induced, time-dependent micromechanical and microstructural changes to the fibrin matrix in ARSs using confocal fluorescence microscopy as well as atomic force microscopy. ARSs, containing phase-shift double emulsion (PSDE, mean diameter: 6.3 μm), were exposed to focused ultrasound to generate ADV - the phase transitioning of the PSDE into gas bubbles. As a result of ADV-induced mechanical strain, localized restructuring of fibrin occurred at the bubble-fibrin interface, leading to formation of locally denser regions. ADV-generated bubbles significantly reduced fibrin pore size and quantity within the ARS. Two types of ADV-generated bubble responses were observed in ARSs: super-shelled spherical bubbles, with a growth rate of 31 μm per day in diameter, as well as fluid-filled macropores, possibly as a result of acoustically-driven microjetting. Due to the strain stiffening behavior of fibrin, ADV induced a 4-fold increase in stiffness in regions of the ARS proximal to the ADV-generated bubble versus distal regions. These results highlight that the mechanical and structural microenvironment within an ARS can be spatiotemporally modulated using ultrasound, which could be used to control cellular processes and further the understanding of ADV-triggered drug delivery for regenerative applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Aliabouzar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | | | - William Y Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Oliver D Kripfgans
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA and Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Renny T Franceschi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA and School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrew J Putnam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - J Brian Fowlkes
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA and Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mario L Fabiilli
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA and Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Nasello G, Alamán-Díez P, Schiavi J, Pérez MÁ, McNamara L, García-Aznar JM. Primary Human Osteoblasts Cultured in a 3D Microenvironment Create a Unique Representative Model of Their Differentiation Into Osteocytes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:336. [PMID: 32391343 PMCID: PMC7193048 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microengineered systems provide an in vitro strategy to explore the variability of individual patient response to tissue engineering products, since they prefer the use of primary cell sources representing the phenotype variability. Traditional in vitro systems already showed that primary human osteoblasts embedded in a 3D fibrous collagen matrix differentiate into osteocytes under specific conditions. Here, we hypothesized that translating this environment to the organ-on-a-chip scale creates a minimal functional unit to recapitulate osteoblast maturation toward osteocytes and matrix mineralization. Primary human osteoblasts were seeded in a type I collagen hydrogel, to establish the role of lower (2.5 × 105 cells/ml) and higher (1 × 106 cells/ml) cell density on their differentiation into osteocytes. A custom semi-automatic image analysis software was used to extract quantitative data on cellular morphology from brightfield images. The results are showing that cells cultured at a high density increase dendrite length over time, stop proliferating, exhibit dendritic morphology, upregulate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and express the osteocyte marker dental matrix protein 1 (DMP1). On the contrary, cells cultured at lower density proliferate over time, do not upregulate ALP and express the osteoblast marker bone sialoprotein 2 (BSP2) at all timepoints. Our work reveals that microengineered systems create unique conditions to capture the major aspects of osteoblast differentiation into osteocytes with a limited number of cells. We propose that the microengineered approach is a functional strategy to create a patient-specific bone tissue model and investigate the individual osteogenic potential of the patient bone cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Nasello
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pilar Alamán-Díez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jessica Schiavi
- Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group (MMDRG), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laoise McNamara
- Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group (MMDRG), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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de Melo BAG, Jodat YA, Mehrotra S, Calabrese MA, Kamperman T, Mandal BB, Santana MHA, Alsberg E, Leijten J, Shin SR. 3D Printed Cartilage-Like Tissue Constructs with Spatially Controlled Mechanical Properties. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2019; 29:1906330. [PMID: 34108852 PMCID: PMC8186324 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201906330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Developing biomimetic cartilaginous tissues that support locomotion while maintaining chondrogenic behavior is a major challenge in the tissue engineering field. Specifically, while locomotive forces demand tissues with strong mechanical properties, chondrogenesis requires a soft microenvironment. To address this challenge, 3D cartilage-like tissue is bioprinted using two biomaterials with different mechanical properties: a hard biomaterial to reflect the macromechanical properties of native cartilage, and a soft biomaterial to create a chondrogenic microenvironment. To this end, a hard biomaterial (MPa order compressive modulus) composed of an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and alginate hydrogel is developed as an extracellular matrix (ECM) with self-healing properties, but low diffusive capacity. Within this bath supplemented with thrombin, fibrinogen containing human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) spheroids is bioprinted forming fibrin, as the soft biomaterial (kPa order compressive modulus) to simulate cartilage's pericellular matrix and allow a fast diffusion of nutrients. The bioprinted hMSC spheroids improve viability and chondrogenic-like behavior without adversely affecting the macromechanical properties of the tissue. Therefore, the ability to print locally soft and cell stimulating microenvironments inside of a mechanically robust hydrogel is demonstrated, thereby uncoupling the micro- and macromechanical properties of the 3D printed tissues such as cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna A G de Melo
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yasamin A Jodat
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Shreya Mehrotra
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michelle A Calabrese
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tom Kamperman
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, University of Twente, Enschede, Overijssel 7522 NB, The Netherlands
| | - Biman B Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Maria H A Santana
- Department of Engineering of Materials and Bioprocesses School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP 13083-852, Brazil
| | - Eben Alsberg
- Departments of Bioengineering and Orthopaedics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jeroen Leijten
- Department of Developmental BioEngineering, University of Twente, Enschede, Overijssel 7522 NB, The Netherlands
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Bonifácio ED, González-Torres LA, Meireles AB, Guimarães MV, Araujo CA. Spatiotemporal pattern of glucose in a microfluidic device depend on the porosity and permeability of the medium: A finite element study. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 182:105039. [PMID: 31472476 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2019.105039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucose plays an important role as a source of nutrients and influence cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation and migration. In vitro models based on microfluidic devices represent an alternative to study several biological processes in a more reproducible and controllable method compared to in vivo models. Glucose concentration across a microfluidic chip and its behavior in experimental conditions is not completely understood. OBJECTIVE This paper investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of glucose across the hydrogel inside a microfluidic chip. The influence of different parameters, boundary and initial conditions of experiments on glucose concentration was studied. METHODS A finite element model using a two dimensional geometry was developed. With this model, patterns of glucose concentration were investigated for different combinations of flow rate of culture medium, permeability and porosity of the medium. Patterns were also studied for two hydrogels made of collagen type I and fibrin with different initial and boundary conditions for pressure and glucose concentration. RESULTS Porosity influenced significantly on the chemical gradients generated when interstitial fluid flow was null or neglectable. A difference in concentration lower than 15% was obtained at the input of microchamber and after 90 min, when porosity changed from 0.5 to 0.99. In addition, no significant effects of modifications in permeability were observed. Regarding the collagen and fibrin matrices, in the presence of a pressure gradient of 40 Pa, the permeability significantly influenced on the concentration gradients generated. CONCLUSIONS Porosity influences importantly on patterns when diffusion is the main transport mechanism. Permeability is the most influencing parameter when a fluid flow is present. Common insertion rates of culture medium does not significantly modify the patterns of glucose inside the chips. Thus, new experiments must consider the impact of such parameters on the distribution and the time span that nutrients occupy the medium. To better contribute with experimental trials, other studies involving cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, and different chip geometries should be developed. The results of the present work could assist to develop specific systems for experimentation, to design new experiments and to improve the analysis of the obtained results.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Bonifácio
- Mechanical Projects Laboratory - LPM, School of Mechanical Engineering - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil; Institute of Science and Technology - UFVJM, Diamantina, Brazil.
| | | | - A B Meireles
- Pharmacy Department, Laboratory of Immunology, UFVJM and PPGCF-UFVJM, Diamantina, Brazil
| | - M V Guimarães
- Mechanical Projects Laboratory - LPM, School of Mechanical Engineering - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil
| | - C A Araujo
- Mechanical Projects Laboratory - LPM, School of Mechanical Engineering - UFU, Uberlandia, Brazil
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Heo DN, Hospodiuk M, Ozbolat IT. Synergistic interplay between human MSCs and HUVECs in 3D spheroids laden in collagen/fibrin hydrogels for bone tissue engineering. Acta Biomater 2019; 95:348-356. [PMID: 30831326 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.02.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell encapsulation in hydrogels has been widely employed in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, organ-on-a-chip devices and gene delivery; however, fabrication of native-like bone tissue using such a strategy has been a challenge, particularly in vitro, due to the limited cell loading densities resulting in weaker cell-cell interactions and lesser extra-cellular matrix deposition. In particular, scalable bone tissue constructs require vascular network to provide enough oxygen and nutrient supplies to encapsulated cells. To enhance stem cell function and generate pre-vascularized network, we here employed collagen/fibrin hydrogel as an encapsulation matrix for the incorporation of human mesenchymal stem cell/human umbilical vein endothelial cell (MSC/HUVEC) spheroids, and investigated their cellular behavior (including cell viability, morphology, proliferation, and gene expression profile) and compared to that of cell suspension- or MSC spheroids-laden hydrogels. MSC/HUVEC spheroids encapsulated in collagen/fibrin hydrogel showed better cell spreading and proliferation, and up-regulated osteogenic differentiation, and demonstrated pre-vascular network formation. Overall, MSC/HUVEC spheroids-laden hydrogels provided a highly suitable 3D microenvironment for bone tissue formation, which can be utilized in various applications, such as but not limited to tissue engineering, disease modeling and drug screening. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Stem cell encapsulation in hydrogels has been widely used in various areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, organ-on-a-chip devices and gene delivery; however, fabrication of native-like bone tissue using such an approach has been a challenge, particularly in vitro, due to the limited cell loading densities resulting in weaker cell-cell interactions and lesser extra-cellular matrix deposition. Here in this work, we have encapsulated spheroids of human mesenchymal stems cells (MSCs) in collagen/fibrin hydrogel and evaluated their viability, proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and bone formation potential in vitro with respect to cell suspension-laden hydrogel samples. We have further incorporated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) into MSC spheroids and demonstrated that the presence of HUVECs in 3D spheroid culture in collagen/fibrin gel induced the formation of pre-vascular network, improved cell viability and proliferation, enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of spheroids, and increased their bone mineral deposition. In sum, MSC/HUVEC spheroids laden hydrogels provided a highly suitable 3D microenvironment for bone tissue formation, which can be utilized in various applications, such as but not limited to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, disease modeling and drug screening.
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Wang K, Trichet L, Rieu C, Peccate C, Pembouong G, Bouteiller L, Coradin T. Interactions of Organosilanes with Fibrinogen and Their Influence on Muscle Cell Proliferation in 3D Fibrin Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:3684-3695. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Léa Trichet
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Clément Rieu
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Peccate
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm UMRS974, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Gaëlle Pembouong
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laurent Bouteiller
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thibaud Coradin
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 75005 Paris, France
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Olivares V, Cóndor M, Del Amo C, Asín J, Borau C, García-Aznar JM. Image-based Characterization of 3D Collagen Networks and the Effect of Embedded Cells. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:971-981. [PMID: 31210124 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619014570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Collagen microstructure is closely related to the mechanical properties of tissues and affects cell migration through the extracellular matrix. To study these structures, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro collagen-based gels are often used, attempting to mimic the natural environment of cells. Some key parameters of the microstructure of these gels are fiber orientation, fiber length, or pore size, which define the mechanical properties of the network and therefore condition cell behavior. In the present study, an automated tool to reconstruct 3D collagen networks is used to extract the aforementioned parameters of gels of different collagen concentration and determine how their microstructure is affected by the presence of cells. Two different experiments are presented to test the functionality of the method: first, collagen gels are embedded within a microfluidic device and collagen fibers are imaged by using confocal fluorescence microscopy; second, collagen gels are directly polymerized in a cell culture dish and collagen fibers are imaged by confocal reflection microscopy. Finally, we investigate and compare the collagen microstructure far from and in the vicinities of MDA-MB 23 cells, finding that cell activity during migration was able to strongly modify the orientation of the collagen fibers and the porosity-related values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Olivares
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
| | - Mar Cóndor
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
| | - Cristina Del Amo
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
| | - Jesús Asín
- Department of Statistical Methods,University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
| | - Carlos Borau
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain
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Xue R, Chung B, Tamaddon M, Carr J, Liu C, Cartmell SH. Osteochondral tissue coculture: An in vitro and in silico approach. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:3112-3123. [PMID: 31334830 PMCID: PMC6790609 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Osteochondral tissue engineering aims to regenerate functional tissue‐mimicking physiological properties of injured cartilage and its subchondral bone. Given the distinct structural and biochemical difference between bone and cartilage, bilayered scaffolds, and bioreactors are commonly employed. We present an osteochondral culture system which cocultured ATDC5 and MC3T3‐E1 cells on an additive manufactured bilayered scaffold in a dual‐chamber perfusion bioreactor. Also, finite element models (FEM) based on the microcomputed tomography image of the manufactured scaffold as well as on the computer‐aided design (CAD) were constructed; the microenvironment inside the two FEM was studied and compared. In vitro results showed that the coculture system supported osteochondral tissue growth in terms of cell viability, proliferation, distribution, and attachment. In silico results showed that the CAD and the actual manufactured scaffold had significant differences in the flow velocity, differentiation media mixing in the bioreactor and fluid‐induced shear stress experienced by the cells. This system was shown to have the desired microenvironment for osteochondral tissue engineering and it can potentially be used as an inexpensive tool for testing newly developed pharmaceutical products for osteochondral defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruikang Xue
- School of Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Benedict Chung
- School of Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Maryam Tamaddon
- Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - James Carr
- Manchester Imaging Facility, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Chaozong Liu
- Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sarah Harriet Cartmell
- School of Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Lee SJJ, Nguyen DM, Grewal HS, Puligundla C, Saha AK, Nair PM, Cap AP, Ramasubramanian AK. Image-based analysis and simulation of the effect of platelet storage temperature on clot mechanics under uniaxial strain. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2019; 19:173-187. [PMID: 31312933 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-019-01203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Optimal strength and stability of blood clots are keys to hemostasis and in prevention of hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. Clots are biocomposite materials composed of fibrin network enmeshing platelets and other blood cells. We have previously shown that the storage temperature of platelets significantly impacts clot structure and stiffness. The objective of this work is to delineate the relationship between morphological characteristics and mechanical response of clot networks. We examined scanning electron microscope images of clots prepared from fresh apheresis platelets, and from apheresis platelets stored for 5 days at room temperature or at 4 °C, suspended in pooled plasma. Principal component analysis of nine different morphometric parameters revealed that a single principal component (PC1) can distinguish the effect of platelet storage on clot ultrastructure. Finite element analysis of clot response to uniaxial strain was used to map the spatially heterogeneous distribution of strain energy density for each clot. At modest deformations (25% strain), a single principal component (PC2) was able to predict these heterogeneities as quantified by variability in strain energy density distribution and in linear elastic stiffness, respectively. We have identified structural parameters that are primary regulators of stress distribution, and the observations provide insights into the importance of spatial heterogeneity on hemostasis and thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Joon J Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA
| | - Dustin M Nguyen
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA
| | - Harjot S Grewal
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA
| | - Chaitanya Puligundla
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA
| | - Amit K Saha
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Prajeeda M Nair
- Blood Research Program, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA
| | - Andrew P Cap
- Blood Research Program, US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234, USA
| | - Anand K Ramasubramanian
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA.
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Bacakova M, Pajorova J, Broz A, Hadraba D, Lopot F, Zavadakova A, Vistejnova L, Beno M, Kostic I, Jencova V, Bacakova L. A two-layer skin construct consisting of a collagen hydrogel reinforced by a fibrin-coated polylactide nanofibrous membrane. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:5033-5050. [PMID: 31371945 PMCID: PMC6636191 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s200782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Repairs to deep skin wounds continue to be a difficult issue in clinical practice. A promising approach is to fabricate full-thickness skin substitutes with functions closely similar to those of the natural tissue. For many years, a three-dimensional (3D) collagen hydrogel has been considered to provide a physiological 3D environment for co-cultivation of skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. This collagen hydrogel is frequently used for fabricating tissue-engineered skin analogues with fibroblasts embedded inside the hydrogel and keratinocytes cultivated on its surface. Despite its unique biological properties, the collagen hydrogel has insufficient stiffness, with a tendency to collapse under the traction forces generated by the embedded cells. Methods: The aim of our study was to develop a two-layer skin construct consisting of a collagen hydrogel reinforced by a nanofibrous poly-L-lactide (PLLA) membrane pre-seeded with fibroblasts. The attractiveness of the membrane for dermal fibroblasts was enhanced by coating it with a thin nanofibrous fibrin mesh. Results: The fibrin mesh promoted the adhesion, proliferation and migration of the fibroblasts upwards into the collagen hydrogel. Moreover, the fibroblasts spontaneously migrating into the collagen hydrogel showed a lower tendency to contract and shrink the hydrogel by their traction forces. The surface of the collagen was seeded with human dermal keratinocytes. The keratinocytes were able to form a basal layer of highly mitotically-active cells, and a suprabasal layer. Conclusion: The two-layer skin construct based on collagen hydrogel with spontaneously immigrated fibroblasts and reinforced by a fibrin-coated nanofibrous membrane seems to be promising for the construction of full-thickness skin substitute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marketa Bacakova
- Department of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Julia Pajorova
- Department of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonin Broz
- Department of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Hadraba
- Department of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Lopot
- Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Zavadakova
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Vistejnova
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Beno
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ivan Kostic
- Institute of Informatics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Vera Jencova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Bacakova
- Department of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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Chakraborty S, Ozkan A, Rylander MN, Woodward WA, Vlachos P. Mixture theory modeling for characterizing solute transport in breast tumor tissues. J Biol Eng 2019; 13:46. [PMID: 31160921 PMCID: PMC6542036 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-019-0178-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumor numerical models have been used to quantify solute transport with a single capillary embedded in an infinite tumor expanse, but measurements from different mammalian tumors suggest that a tissue containing a single capillary with an infinite intercapillary distance assumption is not physiological. The present study aims to investigate the limits of the intercapillary distance within which nanoparticle transport resembles solute extravasation in a breast tumor model as a function of the solute size, the intercapillary separation, and the flow direction in microvessels. Methods Solute transport is modeled in a breast tumor for different vascular configurations using mixture theory. A comparison of a single capillary configuration (SBC) with two parallel cylindrical blood vessels (2 BC) and a lymph vessel parallel to a blood vessel (BC_LC) embedded in the tissue cylinder is performed for five solute molecular weights between 0.1 kDa and 70 kDa. The effects of counter flow (CN) versus co-current flow (CO) on the solute accumulation were also investigated and the scaling of solute accumulation-decay time and concentration was explored. Results We found that the presence of a second capillary reduces the extravascular concentration compared to a single capillary and this reduction is enhanced by the presence of a lymph vessel. Varying the intercapillary distance with respect to vessel diameter shows a deviation of 10-30% concentration for 2 BC and 45-60% concentration for BC_LC configuration compared to the reference SBC configuration. Finally, we introduce a non-dimensional time scale that captures the concentration as a function of the transport and geometric parameters. We find that the peak solute concentration in the tissue space occurs at a non-dimensional time, T peak ∗ = 0.027 ± 0.018, irrespective of the solute size, tissue architecture, and microvessel flow direction. Conclusions This work suggests that the knowledge of such a unique non-dimensional time would allow estimation of the time window at which solute concentration in tissue peaks. Hence this can aid in the design of future therapeutic efficacy studies as an example for triggering drug release or laser excitation in the case of photothermal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreyashi Chakraborty
- 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
| | - Alican Ozkan
- 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Marissa Nichole Rylander
- 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA.,3Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA.,4The Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Wendy A Woodward
- 5Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Pavlos Vlachos
- 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA
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Tuning the Hydrophobicity of a Hydrogel Using Self-Assembled Domains of Polymer Cross-Linkers. MATERIALS 2019; 12:ma12101635. [PMID: 31109125 PMCID: PMC6567794 DOI: 10.3390/ma12101635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogels incorporated with hydrophobic motifs have received considerable attention to recapitulate the cellular microenvironments, specifically for the bio-mineralization of a 3D matrix. Introduction of hydrophobic molecules into a hydrogel often results in irregular arrangement of the motifs, and further phase separation of hydrophobic domains, but limited efforts have been made to resolve this challenge in developing the hydrophobically-modified hydrogel. Therefore, this study presents an advanced integrative strategy to incorporate hydrophobic domains regularly in a hydrogel using self-assembled domains formed with polymer cross-linkers, building blocks of a hydrogel. Self-assemblies formed by polymer cross-linkers were examined as micro-domains to incorporate hydrophobic motifs in a hydrogel. The self-assembled structures in a pre-gelled solution were confirmed with the fluorescence analysis and the hydrophobicity of a hydrogel could be tuned by incorporating the hydrophobic chains in a controlled manner. Overall, the results of this study would greatly serve to tuning performance of a wide array of hydrophobically-modified hydrogels in drug delivery, cell therapies and tissue engineering.
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Avendano A, Cortes-Medina M, Song JW. Application of 3-D Microfluidic Models for Studying Mass Transport Properties of the Tumor Interstitial Matrix. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:6. [PMID: 30761297 PMCID: PMC6364047 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The physical remodeling associated with cancer progression results in barriers to mass transport in the tumor interstitial space. This hindrance ultimately affects the distribution of macromolecules that govern cell fate and potency of cancer therapies. Therefore, knowing how specific extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular components regulate transport in the tumor interstitium could lead to matrix normalizing strategies that improve patient outcome. Studies over the past decades have provided quantitative insights into interstitial transport in tumors by characterizing two governing parameters: (1) molecular diffusivity and (2) hydraulic conductivity. However, many of the conventional techniques used to measure these parameters are limited due to their inability to experimentally manipulate the physical and cellular environments of tumors. Here, we examine the application and future opportunities of microfluidic systems for identifying the physiochemical mediators of mass transport in the tumor ECM. Further advancement and adoption of microfluidic systems to quantify tumor transport parameters has potential to bridge basic science with translational research for advancing personalized medicine in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Avendano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Marcos Cortes-Medina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jonathan W Song
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,The Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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