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Ding H, George S, Leng XI, Ihnat M, Ma JX, Jiang G, Margolis D, Dumond J, Zhang Y. Silk fibers assisted long-term 3D culture of human primary urinary stem cells via inhibition of senescence-associated genes: Potential use in the assessment of chronic mitochondrial toxicity. MATERIALS TODAY. ADVANCES 2022; 15:100261. [PMID: 36212078 PMCID: PMC9542430 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Despite being widely applied in drug development, existing in vitro 2D cell-based models are not suitable to assess chronic mitochondrial toxicity. A novel in vitro assay system mimicking in vivo microenvironment for this purpose is urgently needed. The goal of this study is to establish a 3D cell platform as a reliable, sensitive, cost-efficient, and high-throughput assay to predict drug-induced mitochondrial toxicity. We evaluated a long-term culture of human primary urine-derived stem cells (USC) seeded in 3D silk fiber matrix (3D USC-SFM) and further tested chronic mitochondrial toxicity induced by Zalcitabine (ddC, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) as a test drug, compared to USC grown in spheroids. The numbers of USC remain steady in 3D spheroids for 4 weeks and 3D SFM for 6 weeks. However, the majority (95%) of USC survived in 3D SFM, while cell numbers significantly declined in 3D spheroids at 6 weeks. Highly porous SFM provides large-scale numbers of cells by increasing the yield of USC 125-fold/well, which enables the carrying of sufficient cells for multiple experiments with less labor and lower cost, compared to 3D spheroids. The levels of mtDNA content and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase2 [SOD2] as an oxidative stress biomarker and cell senescence genes (RB and P16, p21) of USC were all stably retained in 3D USC-SFM, while those were significantly increased in spheroids. mtDNA content and mitochondrial mass in both 3D culture models significantly decreased six weeks after treatment of ddC (0.2, 2, and 10 μM), compared to 0.1% DMSO control. Levels of complexes I, II, and III significantly decreased in 3D SFM-USC treated with ddC, compared to only complex I level which declined in spheroids. A dose- and time-dependent chronic MtT displayed in the 3D USC-SFM model, but not in spheroids. Thus, a long-term 3D culture model of human primary USC provides a cost-effective and sensitive approach potential for the assessment of drug-induced chronic mitochondrial toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifen Ding
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Sunil George
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Iris Leng
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Michael Ihnat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jian-Xing Ma
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Guochun Jiang
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David Margolis
- University of North Carolina HIV Cure Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie Dumond
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Fatimi A, Okoro OV, Podstawczyk D, Siminska-Stanny J, Shavandi A. Natural Hydrogel-Based Bio-Inks for 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering: A Review. Gels 2022; 8:179. [PMID: 35323292 PMCID: PMC8948717 DOI: 10.3390/gels8030179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is well acknowledged to constitute an important technology in tissue engineering, largely due to the increasing global demand for organ replacement and tissue regeneration. In 3D bioprinting, which is a step ahead of 3D biomaterial printing, the ink employed is impregnated with cells, without compromising ink printability. This allows for immediate scaffold cellularization and generation of complex structures. The use of cell-laden inks or bio-inks provides the opportunity for enhanced cell differentiation for organ fabrication and regeneration. Recognizing the importance of such bio-inks, the current study comprehensively explores the state of the art of the utilization of bio-inks based on natural polymers (biopolymers), such as cellulose, agarose, alginate, decellularized matrix, in 3D bioprinting. Discussions regarding progress in bioprinting, techniques and approaches employed in the bioprinting of natural polymers, and limitations and prospects concerning future trends in human-scale tissue and organ fabrication are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Fatimi
- Department of Chemistry, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, P.O. Box 592 Mghila, Beni-Mellal 23000, Morocco
- ERSIC, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, P.O. Box 592 Mghila, Beni-Mellal 23000, Morocco
| | - Oseweuba Valentine Okoro
- 3BIO-BioMatter, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50-CP 165/61, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (O.V.O.); (J.S.-S.)
| | - Daria Podstawczyk
- Department of Process Engineering and Technology of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Norwida 4/6, 50-373 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julia Siminska-Stanny
- 3BIO-BioMatter, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50-CP 165/61, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (O.V.O.); (J.S.-S.)
- Department of Process Engineering and Technology of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Norwida 4/6, 50-373 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Amin Shavandi
- 3BIO-BioMatter, École Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50-CP 165/61, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (O.V.O.); (J.S.-S.)
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Xing Y, Varghese B, Ling Z, Kar AS, Reinoso Jacome E, Ren X. Extracellular Matrix by Design: Native Biomaterial Fabrication and Functionalization to Boost Tissue Regeneration. REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40883-021-00210-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Smits IP, Blaschuk OW, Willerth SM. Novel N-cadherin antagonist causes glioblastoma cell death in a 3D bioprinted co-culture model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 529:162-168. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Rajabzadeh A, Jahanpeyma F, Talebi A, Moradi F, Hamidieh AA, Eimani H. Fibrin Scaffold Incorporating Platelet Lysate Enhance Follicle Survival and Angiogenesis in Cryopreserved Preantral Follicle Transplantation. Galen Med J 2020; 9:e1558. [PMID: 34466553 PMCID: PMC8344035 DOI: 10.31661/gmj.v9i0.1558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Transplantation of cryopreserved follicles can be regarded as a promising strategy for preserving fertility in cancer patients under chemotherapy and radiotherapy by reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. The present study aimed to evaluate whether fibrin hydrogel supplemented with platelet lysate (PL) could be applied to enhance follicular survival, growth, and angiogenesis in cryopreserved preantral follicle grafts. Materials and Methods: Preantral follicles were extracted from 15 four-week-old NMRI mice, cryopreserved by cryotop method, and encapsulated in fibrin-platelet lysate for subsequent heterotopic (subcutaneous) auto-transplantation into the neck. Transplants were assessed in three groups including fresh follicles in fibrin-15%PL, cryopreserved follicles in fibrin-15%PL, and cryopreserved follicles in fibrin-0% PL. Two weeks after transplantation, histological, and immunohistochemistry (CD31) analysis were applied to evaluate follicle morphology, survival rate, and vascular formation, respectively. Results: Based on the results, fibrin-15% PL significantly increased neovascularization and survival rate (SR) both in cryopreserved (SR=66.96%) and fresh follicle (SR=90.8%) grafts, compared to PL-less fibrin cryopreserved transplants (SR=28.46%). The grafts supplemented with PL included a significantly higher percentage of preantral and antral follicles. Also, no significant difference was observed in the percentage of preantral follicles between cryopreserved and fresh grafts of fibrin-15% PL. However, a significantly lower (P=0.03) percentage of follicles (23.37%) increased to the antral stage in cryopreserved grafts of fibrin-15%PL, compared to fresh grafts (35.01%). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that fibrin-PL matrix could be a promising strategy to improve cryopreserved follicle transplantation and preserve fertility in cancer patients at the risk of ovarian failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Rajabzadeh
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Science, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Jahanpeyma
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Talebi
- School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Faezeh Moradi
- Department of Tissue Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ali Hamidieh
- Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Department, Children’s Medical center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hussein Eimani
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Correspondence to: Hussein Eimani, Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran Telephone Number: +989123063192 Email Address:
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Goetzke R, Keijdener H, Franzen J, Ostrowska A, Nüchtern S, Mela P, Wagner W. Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells towards Mesenchymal Stromal Cells is Hampered by Culture in 3D Hydrogels. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15578. [PMID: 31666572 PMCID: PMC6821810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51911-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) towards specific lineages remains a major challenge in regenerative medicine, while there is a growing perception that this process can be influenced by the three-dimensional environment. In this study, we investigated whether iPSCs can differentiate towards mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) when embedded into fibrin hydrogels to enable a one-step differentiation procedure within a scaffold. Differentiation of iPSCs on tissue culture plastic or on top of fibrin hydrogels resulted in a typical MSC-like phenotype. In contrast, iPSCs embedded into fibrin gel gave rise to much smaller cells with heterogeneous growth patterns, absence of fibronectin, faint expression of CD73 and CD105, and reduced differentiation potential towards osteogenic and adipogenic lineage. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that characteristic genes for MSCs and extracellular matrix were upregulated on flat substrates, whereas genes of neural development were upregulated in 3D culture. Furthermore, the 3D culture had major effects on DNA methylation profiles, particularly within genes for neuronal and cardiovascular development, while there was no evidence for epigenetic maturation towards MSCs. Taken together, iPSCs could be differentiated towards MSCs on tissue culture plastic or on a flat fibrin hydrogel. In contrast, the differentiation process was heterogeneous and not directed towards MSCs when iPSCs were embedded into the hydrogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Goetzke
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Hans Keijdener
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Julia Franzen
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alina Ostrowska
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Selina Nüchtern
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany
| | - Petra Mela
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (BioTex), AME-Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Helmholtz Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. .,Medical Materials and Implants, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Munich School of BioEngineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Wagner
- Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Stem Cell Biology and Cellular Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany. .,Institute for Biomedical Engineering - Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, Germany.
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Fibrin as a Multipurpose Physiological Platform for Bone Tissue Engineering and Targeted Delivery of Bioactive Compounds. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11110556. [PMID: 31661853 PMCID: PMC6920828 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11110556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although bone graft is still considered as the gold standard method, bone tissue engineering offers promising alternatives designed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and to guide bone regeneration process. In this attempt, due to their similarity to the ECM and their low toxicity/immunogenicity properties, growing attention is paid to natural polymers. In particular, considering the early critical role of fracture hematoma for bone healing, fibrin, which constitutes blood clot, is a candidate of choice. Indeed, in addition to its physiological roles in bone healing cascade, fibrin biochemical characteristics make it suitable to be used as a multipurpose platform for bioactive agents’ delivery. Thus, taking advantage of these key assets, researchers and clinicians have the opportunity to develop composite systems that might further improve bone tissue reconstruction, and more generally prevent/treat skeletal disorders.
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8
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Anil Kumar S, Alonzo M, Allen SC, Abelseth L, Thakur V, Akimoto J, Ito Y, Willerth SM, Suggs L, Chattopadhyay M, Joddar B. A Visible Light-Cross-Linkable, Fibrin-Gelatin-Based Bioprinted Construct with Human Cardiomyocytes and Fibroblasts. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:4551-4563. [PMID: 32258387 PMCID: PMC7117097 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, fibrin was added to a photo-polymerizable gelatin-based bioink mixture to fabricate cardiac cell-laden constructs seeded with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CM) or CM cell lines with cardiac fibroblasts (CF). The extensive use of platelet-rich fibrin, its capacity to offer patient specificity, and the similarity in composition to surgical glue prompted us to include fibrin in the existing bioink composition. The cell-laden bioprinted constructs were cross-linked to retain a herringbone pattern via a two-step procedure including the visible light cross-linking of furfuryl-gelatin followed by the chemical cross-linking of fibrinogen via thrombin and calcium chloride. The printed constructs revealed an extremely porous, networked structure that afforded long-term in vitro stability. Cardiomyocytes printed within the sheet structure showed excellent viability, proliferation, and expression of the troponin I cardiac marker. We extended the utility of this fibrin-gelatin bioink toward coculturing and coupling of CM and cardiac fibroblasts (CF), the interaction of which is extremely important for maintenance of normal physiology of the cardiac wall in vivo. This enhanced "cardiac construct" can be used for drug cytotoxicity screening or unraveling triggers for heart diseases in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Anil Kumar
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Metallurgy Building, United States
| | - Matthew Alonzo
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Metallurgy Building, United States
| | - Shane C. Allen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Laila Abelseth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Engineering Office Wing, Room 548, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Engineering Office Wing, Room 548, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Vikram Thakur
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Diabetes and Metabolism, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, Texas 79905, United States
| | - Jun Akimoto
- Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Custer for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ito
- Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Custer for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Emergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Stephanie M. Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Engineering Office Wing, Room 548, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Engineering Office Wing, Room 548, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Engineering Office Wing, Room 548, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Laura Suggs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Munmun Chattopadhyay
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Diabetes and Metabolism, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, Texas 79905, United States
| | - Binata Joddar
- Inspired Materials & Stem-Cell Based Tissue Engineering Laboratory (IMSTEL), Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, M201 Metallurgy Building, United States
- Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Custer for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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de la Vega L, Lee C, Sharma R, Amereh M, Willerth SM. 3D bioprinting models of neural tissues: The current state of the field and future directions. Brain Res Bull 2019; 150:240-249. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Advancements in Canadian Biomaterials Research in Neurotraumatic Diagnosis and Therapies. Processes (Basel) 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/pr7060336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of biomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of neurotraumatic ailments has been significantly advanced with our deepened knowledge of the pathophysiology of neurotrauma. Canadian research in the fields of biomaterial-based contrast agents, non-invasive axonal tracing, non-invasive scaffold imaging, scaffold patterning, 3D printed scaffolds, and drug delivery are conquering barriers to patient diagnosis and treatment for traumatic injuries to the nervous system. This review highlights some of the highly interdisciplinary Canadian research in biomaterials with a focus on neurotrauma applications.
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Robinson M, Valente KP, Willerth SM. A Novel Toolkit for Characterizing the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Engineered Neural Tissues. BIOSENSORS 2019; 9:E51. [PMID: 30939804 PMCID: PMC6627085 DOI: 10.3390/bios9020051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We have designed and validated a set of robust and non-toxic protocols for directly evaluating the properties of engineered neural tissue. These protocols characterize the mechanical properties of engineered neural tissues and measure their electrophysical activity. The protocols obtain elastic moduli of very soft fibrin hydrogel scaffolds and voltage readings from motor neuron cultures. Neurons require soft substrates to differentiate and mature, however measuring the elastic moduli of soft substrates remains difficult to accurately measure using standard protocols such as atomic force microscopy or shear rheology. Here we validate a direct method for acquiring elastic modulus of fibrin using a modified Hertz model for thin films. In this method, spherical indenters are positioned on top of the fibrin samples, generating an indentation depth that is then correlated with elastic modulus. Neurons function by transmitting electrical signals to one another and being able to assess the development of electrical signaling serves is an important verification step when engineering neural tissues. We then validated a protocol wherein the electrical activity of motor neural cultures is measured directly by a voltage sensitive dye and a microplate reader without causing damage to the cells. These protocols provide a non-destructive method for characterizing the mechanical and electrical properties of living spinal cord tissues using novel biosensing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Robinson
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Karolina Papera Valente
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Stephanie M Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2, Canada.
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2, Canada.
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12
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Keating M, Lim M, Hu Q, Botvinick E. Selective stiffening of fibrin hydrogels with micron resolution via photocrosslinking. Acta Biomater 2019; 87:88-96. [PMID: 30660778 PMCID: PMC6684034 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin hydrogels are used as a model system for studying cell-ECM biophysical interactions. Bulk mechanical stiffness of these hydrogels has been correlated to mechanotransduction and downstream signaling. However, stiffness values proximal to cells can vary by orders of magnitude at the length scale of microns. Patterning of matrix stiffness at this spatial scale can be useful in studying such interactions. Here we present and evaluate a technique to selectively stiffen defined regions within a fibrin hydrogel. Laser scanning illumination activates ruthenium-catalyzed crosslinking of fibrin tyrosine residues, resulting in tunable stiffness changes spanning distances as small as a few microns and a localized compaction of the material. As probed by active microrheology, stiffness increases by as much as 25X, similar to previously observed stiffness changes around single cells in 3D culture. In summary, our method allows for selective modification of fibrin stiffness at the micron scale with the potential to create complex patterns, which could be valuable for the investigation of mechanotransduction in a biologically meaningful way. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Fibrin hydrogels are used as a naturally derived model to study interactions between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM stiffness influences cell state. Cells in 3D culture considerably modify the stiffness of their pericellular space, which can be quite heterogeneous at the micron-scale. Here we present and evaluate a method to pattern stiffness within fibrin hydrogels using a laser scanning confocal microscope and selective photo crosslinking. We believe that this technique can aid future studies of cell-ECM interactions by enabling researchers to modify the pericellular distribution of stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Keating
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2730, United States
| | - Micah Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2730, United States
| | - Qingda Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2730, United States; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2280, United States
| | - Elliot Botvinick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2730, United States; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2280, United States; Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2730, United States.
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Willerth SM, Sakiyama-Elbert SE. Combining Stem Cells and Biomaterial Scaffolds for Constructing Tissues and Cell Delivery. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.3233/stj-180001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Combining stem cells with biomaterial scaffolds serves as a promising strategy for engineering tissues for both in vitro and in vivo applications. This updated review details commonly used biomaterial scaffolds for engineering tissues from stem cells. We first define the different types of stem cells and their relevant properties and commonly used scaffold formulations. Next, we discuss natural and synthetic scaffold materials typically used when engineering tissues, along with their associated advantages and drawbacks and gives examples of target applications. New approaches to engineering tissues, such as 3D bioprinting, are described as they provide exciting opportunities for future work along with current challenges that must be addressed. Thus, this review provides an overview of the available biomaterials for directing stem cell differentiation as a means of producing replacements for diseased or damaged tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M. Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, VIC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, VIC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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14
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Abelseth E, Abelseth L, De la Vega L, Beyer ST, Wadsworth SJ, Willerth SM. 3D Printing of Neural Tissues Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Fibrin-Based Bioink. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 5:234-243. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Simon T. Beyer
- Aspect Biosystems, 1781 W 75th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6P 6P2, Canada
| | - Samuel J. Wadsworth
- Aspect Biosystems, 1781 W 75th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6P 6P2, Canada
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Li Y, Jiang X, Li L, Chen ZN, Gao G, Yao R, Sun W. 3D printing human induced pluripotent stem cells with novel hydroxypropyl chitin bioink: scalable expansion and uniform aggregation. Biofabrication 2018; 10:044101. [PMID: 29952313 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aacfc3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are more likely to successfully avoid the immunological rejection and ethical problems that are often encountered by human embryonic stem cells in various stem cell studies and applications. To transfer hiPSCs from the laboratory to clinical applications, researchers must obtain sufficient cell numbers. In this study, 3D cell printing was used as a novel method for iPSC scalable expansion. Hydroxypropyl chitin (HPCH), utilized as a new type of bioink, and a set of optimized printing parameters were shown to achieve high cell survival (>90%) after the printing process and high proliferation efficiency (∼32.3 folds) during subsequent 10 d culture. After the culture, high levels of pluripotency maintenance were recognized by both qualitative and quantitative detections. Compared with static suspension culture, hiPSC aggregates formed in 3D-printed constructs showed a higher uniformity in size. Using a novel dual-fluorescent labeling method, hiPSC aggregates in the constructs were found more inclined to form by in situ proliferation rather than multicellular aggregation. This study revealed unique advantages of non-ionic crosslinking bioink material HPCH, including high gel strength and rapid temperature response in hiPSC printing, and achieved primed state hiPSC printing for the first time. Features achieved in this study, such as high cell yield, high pluripotency maintenance and uniform aggregation provide good foundations for further hiPSC studies on 3D micro-tissue differentiation and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China. 111 'Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems' Innovation International Talents Base, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Thomas M, Willerth SM. 3-D Bioprinting of Neural Tissue for Applications in Cell Therapy and Drug Screening. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2017; 5:69. [PMID: 29204424 PMCID: PMC5698280 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of individuals in North America and cost the health-care industry billions of dollars for treatment. Current treatment options for degenerative diseases focus on physical rehabilitation or drug therapies, which temporarily mask the effects of cell damage, but quickly lose their efficacy. Cell therapies for the central nervous system remain an untapped market due to the complexity involved in growing neural tissues, controlling their differentiation, and protecting them from the hostile environment they meet upon implantation. Designing tissue constructs for the discovery of better drug treatments are also limited due to the resolution needed for an accurate cellular representation of the brain, in addition to being expensive and difficult to translate to biocompatible materials. 3-D printing offers a streamlined solution for engineering brain tissue for drug discovery or, in the future, for implantation. New microfluidic and bioplotting devices offer increased resolution, little impact on cell viability and have been tested with several bioink materials including fibrin, collagen, hyaluronic acid, poly(caprolactone), and poly(ethylene glycol). This review details current efforts at bioprinting neural tissue and highlights promising avenues for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Thomas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Stephanie M. Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Li Y, Li L, Chen ZN, Gao G, Yao R, Sun W. Engineering-derived approaches for iPSC preparation, expansion, differentiation and applications. Biofabrication 2017; 9:032001. [DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa7e9a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Robinson M, Douglas S, Michelle Willerth S. Mechanically stable fibrin scaffolds promote viability and induce neurite outgrowth in neural aggregates derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6250. [PMID: 28740258 PMCID: PMC5524903 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06570-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent work demonstrated that 3D fibrin scaffolds function as an effective substrate for engineering tissues from pluripotent stem cells. However, the rapid degradation rate of fibrin remains a major limitation when differentiating human pluripotent stem cells for tissue engineering applications. The addition of crosslinking agents, such as genipin, during the polymerization process increases scaffold stability while decreasing the degradation rate of fibrin. Genipin crosslinking alters the physical characteristics of the fibrin scaffolds, which influences the behaviour of the differentiating cells seeded inside. It also possesses neuritogenic and neuroprotective properties, making it particularly attractive for engineering neural tissue from pluripotent stem cells. Here we show that genipin enhances neuronal differentiation of neural progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in 2D culture and genipin concentration influences the morphological and mechanical properties of 3D fibrin scaffolds. These mechanically stable genipin-crosslinked fibrin scaffolds support hiPSC-derived neural aggregates and induce neurite outgrowth while remaining intact for 2 weeks as opposed to 5 days for unmodified fibrin scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Robinson
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Sarah Douglas
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Stephanie Michelle Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
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Fibrin hydrogels induce mixed dorsal/ventral spinal neuron identities during differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Acta Biomater 2017; 51:237-245. [PMID: 28088670 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Revised: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesized that generating spinal motor neurons (sMNs) from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural aggregates (NAs) using a chemically-defined differentiation protocol would be more effective inside of 3D fibrin hydrogels compared to 2D poly-L-ornithine(PLO)/laminin-coated tissue culture plastic surfaces. We performed targeted RNA-Seq using next generation sequencing to determine the substrate-specific differences in gene expression that regulate cell phenotype. Cells cultured on both substrates expressed sMN genes CHAT and MNX1, though persistent WNT signaling contributed to a higher expression of genes associated with interneurons in NAs cultured in 3D fibrin scaffolds. Cells in fibrin also expressed lower levels of astrocyte progenitor genes and higher levels of the neuronal-specific gene TUBB3, suggesting a purer population of neurons compared to 2D cultures. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Fibrin scaffolds can support the neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. This study provides insight into how fibrin hydrogels affect neuronal induction by analyzing of the signaling pathways activated during the differentiation process. These insights can then be used to tailor the properties of these hydrogels to optimize the generation of sMNs for regenerative medicine applications.
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Agbay A, Edgar JM, Robinson M, Styan T, Wilson K, Schroll J, Ko J, Khadem Mohtaram N, Jun MBG, Willerth SM. Biomaterial Strategies for Delivering Stem Cells as a Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury. Cells Tissues Organs 2016; 202:42-51. [DOI: 10.1159/000446474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the use of stem cells as a way to treat traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the inhibitory environment present in the injured spinal cord makes it challenging to achieve the survival of these cells along with desired differentiation into the appropriate phenotypes necessary to regain function. Transplanting stem cells along with an instructive biomaterial scaffold can increase cell survival and improve differentiation efficiency. This study reviews the literature discussing different types of instructive biomaterial scaffolds developed for transplanting stem cells into the injured spinal cord. We have chosen to focus specifically on biomaterial scaffolds that direct the differentiation of neural stem cells and pluripotent stem cells since they offer the most promise for producing the cell phenotypes that could restore function after SCI. In terms of biomaterial scaffolds, this article reviews the literature associated with using hydrogels made from natural biomaterials and electrospun scaffolds for differentiating stem cells into neural phenotypes. It then presents new data showing how these different types of scaffolds can be combined for neural tissue engineering applications and provides directions for future studies.
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Riopel M, Li J, Trinder M, Fellows GF, Wang R. Fibrin supports human fetal islet-epithelial cell differentiation via p70(s6k) and promotes vascular formation during transplantation. J Transl Med 2015; 95:925-36. [PMID: 26006020 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2015.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human fetal pancreas expresses a variety of extracellular matrix (ECM) binding receptors known as integrins. A provisional ECM protein found in blood clots that can bind to integrin receptors and promote β cell function and survival is fibrin. However, its role in support of human fetal pancreatic cells is unknown. We investigated how fibrin promotes human fetal pancreatic cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Human fetal pancreata were collected from 15 to 21 weeks of gestation and collagenase digested. Cells were then plated on tissue-culture polystyrene, or with 2D or 3D fibrin gels up to 2 weeks, or subcutaneously transplanted in 3D fibrin gels. The human fetal pancreas contained rich ECM proteins and expressed integrin αVβ3. Fibrin-cultured human fetal pancreatic cells had significantly increased expression of PDX-1, glucagon, insulin, and VEGF-A, along with increased integrin αVβ3 and phosphorylated FAK and p70(s6k). Fibrin-cultured cells treated with rapamycin, the mTOR pathway inhibitor, had significantly decreased phospho-p70(s6k) and PDX-1 expression. Transplanting fibrin-mixed cells into nude mice improved vascularization compared with collagen controls. These results suggest that fibrin supports islet cell differentiation via p70(s6k) and promotes vascularization in human fetal islet-epithelial clusters in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Riopel
- 1] Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Pathology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinming Li
- 1] Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Trinder
- 1] Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - George F Fellows
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rennian Wang
- 1] Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada [3] Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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