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Purvis EM, Garcia-Epelboim AD, Krizman EN, O’Donnell JC, Cullen DK. A three-dimensional tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream as an in vitro platform for subventricular zone-derived cell migration. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1410717. [PMID: 38933539 PMCID: PMC11199690 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1410717] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the brains of most adult mammals, neural precursor cells (NPCs) from the subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate through the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to replace olfactory bulb interneurons. Following brain injury, published studies have shown that NPCs can divert from the SVZ-RMS-OB route and migrate toward injured brain regions, but the quantity of arriving cells, the lack of survival and terminal differentiation of neuroblasts into neurons, and their limited capacity to re-connect into circuitry are insufficient to promote functional recovery in the absence of therapeutic intervention. Our lab has fabricated a biomimetic tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream (TE-RMS) that replicates some notable structural and functional components of the endogenous rat RMS. Based on the design attributes for the TE-RMS platform, it may serve as a regenerative medicine strategy to facilitate sustained neuronal replacement into an injured brain region or an in vitro tool to investigate cell-cell communication and neuroblast migration. Previous work has demonstrated that the TE-RMS replicates the basic structure, unique nuclear shape, cytoskeletal arrangement, and surface protein expression of the endogenous rat RMS. Here, we developed an enhanced TE-RMS fabrication method in hydrogel microchannels that allowed more robust and high-throughput TE-RMS assembly. We report unique astrocyte behavior, including astrocyte bundling into the TE-RMS, the presence of multiple TE-RMS bundles, and observations of discontinuities in TE-RMS bundles, when microtissues are fabricated in agarose microchannels containing different critical curved or straight geometric features. We also demonstrate that we can harvest NPCs from the SVZ of adult rat brains and that EGFP+ cells migrate in chain formation from SVZ neurospheres through the TE-RMS in vitro. Overall, the TE-RMS can be utilized as an in vitro platform to investigate the pivotal cell-cell signaling mechanisms underlying the synergy of molecular cues involved in immature neuronal migration and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Purvis
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Andrés D. Garcia-Epelboim
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth N. Krizman
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John C. O’Donnell
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Chouhan D, Gordián Vélez WJ, Struzyna LA, Adewole DO, Cullen ER, Burrell JC, O’Donnell JC, Cullen DK. Generation of contractile forces by three-dimensional bundled axonal tracts in micro-tissue engineered neural networks. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1346696. [PMID: 38590432 PMCID: PMC10999686 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1346696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Axonal extension and retraction are ongoing processes that occur throughout all developmental stages of an organism. The ability of axons to produce mechanical forces internally and respond to externally generated forces is crucial for nervous system development, maintenance, and plasticity. Such axonal mechanobiological phenomena have typically been evaluated in vitro at a single-cell level, but these mechanisms have not been studied when axons are present in a bundled three-dimensional (3D) form like in native tissue. In an attempt to emulate native cortico-cortical interactions under in vitro conditions, we present our approach to utilize previously described micro-tissue engineered neural networks (micro-TENNs). Here, micro-TENNs were comprised of discrete populations of rat cortical neurons that were spanned by 3D bundled axonal tracts and physically integrated with each other. We found that these bundled axonal tracts inherently exhibited an ability to generate contractile forces as the microtissue matured. We therefore utilized this micro-TENN testbed to characterize the intrinsic contractile forces generated by the integrated axonal tracts in the absence of any external force. We found that contractile forces generated by bundled axons were dependent on microtubule stability. Moreover, these intra-axonal contractile forces could simultaneously generate tensile forces to induce so-called axonal "stretch-growth" in different axonal tracts within the same microtissue. The culmination of axonal contraction generally occurred with the fusion of both the neuronal somatic regions along the axonal tracts, therefore perhaps showing the innate tendency of cortical neurons to minimize their wiring distance, a phenomenon also perceived during brain morphogenesis. In future applications, this testbed may be used to investigate mechanisms of neuroanatomical development and those underlying certain neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimple Chouhan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Wisberty J. Gordián Vélez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Laura A. Struzyna
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dayo O. Adewole
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erin R. Cullen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Justin C. Burrell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John C. O’Donnell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Burrell JC, Das S, Laimo FA, Katiyar KS, Browne KD, Shultz RB, Tien VJ, Vu PT, Petrov D, Ali ZS, Rosen JM, Cullen DK. Engineered neuronal microtissue provides exogenous axons for delayed nerve fusion and rapid neuromuscular recovery in rats. Bioact Mater 2022; 18:339-353. [PMID: 35415305 PMCID: PMC8965778 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve injury requiring surgical repair often results in poor functional recovery due to the inability of host axons to re-grow long distances and reform meaningful connections with the target muscle. While surgeons can re-route local axon fascicles to the target muscle, there are no technologies to provide an exogenous source of axons without sacrificing healthy nerves. Accordingly, we have developed tissue engineered neuromuscular interfaces (TE-NMIs) as the first injectable microtissue containing motor and sensory neurons in an anatomically-inspired architecture. TE-NMIs provide axon tracts that are intended to integrate with denervated distal structures and preserve regenerative capacity during prolonged periods without host innervation. Following implant, we found that TE-NMI axons promoted Schwann cell maintenance, integrated with distal muscle, and preserved an evoked muscle response out to 20-weeks post nerve transection in absence of innervation from host axons. By repopulating the distal sheath with exogenous axons, TE-NMIs also enabled putative delayed fusion with proximal host axons, a phenomenon previously not achievable in delayed repair scenarios due to distal axon degeneration. Here, we found immediate electrophysiological recovery after fusion with proximal host axons and improved axon maturation and muscle reinnervation at 24-weeks post-transection (4-weeks following delayed nerve fusion). These findings show that TE-NMIs provide the potential to improve functional recovery following delayed nerve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C. Burrell
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Suradip Das
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Franco A. Laimo
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kritika S. Katiyar
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Axonova Medical, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kevin D. Browne
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Robert B. Shultz
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Axonova Medical, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vishal J. Tien
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Phuong T. Vu
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Dmitriy Petrov
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zarina S. Ali
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Joseph M. Rosen
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Division of Plastic Surgery, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Axonova Medical, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Unique Astrocyte Cytoskeletal and Nuclear Morphology in a Three-Dimensional Tissue-Engineered Rostral Migratory Stream. NEUROGLIA (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 3:41-60. [PMID: 36776937 PMCID: PMC9910099 DOI: 10.3390/neuroglia3010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are generated in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and travel through the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to replace olfactory bulb interneurons in the brains of most adult mammals. Following brain injury, SVZ-derived NPCs can divert from the RMS and migrate toward injured brain regions but arrive in numbers too low to promote functional recovery without experimental intervention. Our lab has biofabricated a "living scaffold" that replicates the structural and functional features of the endogenous RMS. This tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream (TE-RMS) is a new regenerative medicine strategy designed to facilitate stable and sustained NPC delivery into neuron-deficient brain regions following brain injury or neurodegenerative disease and an in vitro tool to investigate the mechanisms of neuronal migration and cell-cell communication. We have previously shown that the TE-RMS replicates the basic structure and protein expression of the endogenous RMS and can direct immature neuronal migration in vitro and in vivo. Here, we further describe profound morphological changes that occur following precise physical manipulation and subsequent self-assembly of astrocytes into the TE-RMS, including significant cytoskeletal rearrangement and nuclear elongation. The unique cytoskeletal and nuclear architecture of TE-RMS astrocytes mimics astrocytes in the endogenous rat RMS. Advanced imaging techniques reveal the unique morphology of TE-RMS cells that has yet to be described of astrocytes in vitro. The TE-RMS offers a novel platform to elucidate astrocyte cytoskeletal and nuclear dynamics and their relationship to cell behavior and function.
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An implantable human stem cell-derived tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream for directed neuronal replacement. Commun Biol 2021; 4:879. [PMID: 34267315 PMCID: PMC8282659 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The rostral migratory stream (RMS) facilitates neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone to the olfactory bulb throughout adulthood. Brain lesions attract neuroblast migration out of the RMS, but resultant regeneration is insufficient. Increasing neuroblast migration into lesions has improved recovery in rodent studies. We previously developed techniques for fabricating an astrocyte-based Tissue-Engineered RMS (TE-RMS) intended to redirect endogenous neuroblasts into distal brain lesions for sustained neuronal replacement. Here, we demonstrate that astrocyte-like-cells can be derived from adult human gingiva mesenchymal stem cells and used for TE-RMS fabrication. We report that key proteins enriched in the RMS are enriched in TE-RMSs. Furthermore, the human TE-RMS facilitates directed migration of immature neurons in vitro. Finally, human TE-RMSs implanted in athymic rat brains redirect migration of neuroblasts out of the endogenous RMS. By emulating the brain’s most efficient means for directing neuroblast migration, the TE-RMS offers a promising new approach to neuroregenerative medicine. O’Donnell et al. describe their Tissue-Engineered Rostral Migratory Stream (TE-RMS) comprised of human astrocyte-like cells that can be derived from adult gingival stem cells within one week, which reorganizes into bundles of bidirectional, longitudinally-aligned astrocytes to emulate the endogenous RMS. Establishing immature neuronal migration in vitro and in vivo, their study demonstrates surgical feasibility and proof-of-concept evidence for this nascent technology.
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Ikeda T, Nakamura K, Sato T, Kida T, Oku H. Involvement of Anoikis in Dissociated Optic Nerve Fiber Layer Appearance. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041724. [PMID: 33572210 PMCID: PMC7914697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dissociated optic nerve fiber layer (DONFL) appearance is characterized by dimpling of the fundus when observed after vitrectomy with the internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular diseases. However, the cause of DONFL remains largely unknown. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings have indicated that the nerve fiber layer (NFL) and ganglion cells are likely to have been damaged in patients with DONFL appearance. Since DONFL appearance occurs at a certain postoperative period, it is unlikely to be retinal damage directly caused by ILM peeling because apoptosis occurs at a certain period after tissue damage and/or injury. However, it may be due to ILM peeling-induced apoptosis in the retinal tissue. Anoikis is a type of apoptosis that occurs in anchorage-dependent cells upon detachment of those cells from the surrounding extracellular matrix (i.e., the loss of cell anchorage). The anoikis-related proteins βA3/A1 crystallin and E-cadherin are reportedly expressed in retinal ganglion cells. Thus, we theorize that one possible cause of DONFL appearance is ILM peeling-induced anoikis in retinal ganglion cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsunehiko Ikeda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City 569-8686, Osaka, Japan; (T.S.); (T.K.); (H.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-72-684-6434
| | | | - Takaki Sato
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City 569-8686, Osaka, Japan; (T.S.); (T.K.); (H.O.)
| | - Teruyo Kida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City 569-8686, Osaka, Japan; (T.S.); (T.K.); (H.O.)
| | - Hidehiro Oku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki-City 569-8686, Osaka, Japan; (T.S.); (T.K.); (H.O.)
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Panzer KV, Burrell JC, Helm KVT, Purvis EM, Zhang Q, Le AD, O’Donnell JC, Cullen DK. Tissue Engineered Bands of Büngner for Accelerated Motor and Sensory Axonal Outgrowth. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:580654. [PMID: 33330416 PMCID: PMC7714719 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.580654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Following peripheral nerve injury comprising a segmental defect, the extent of axon regeneration decreases precipitously with increasing gap length. Schwann cells play a key role in driving axon re-growth by forming aligned tubular guidance structures called bands of Büngner, which readily occurs in distal nerve segments as well as within autografts - currently the most reliable clinically-available bridging strategy. However, host Schwann cells generally fail to infiltrate large-gap acellular scaffolds, resulting in markedly inferior outcomes and motivating the development of next-generation bridging strategies capable of fully exploiting the inherent pro-regenerative capability of Schwann cells. We sought to create preformed, implantable Schwann cell-laden microtissue that emulates the anisotropic structure and function of naturally-occurring bands of Büngner. Accordingly, we developed a biofabrication scheme leveraging biomaterial-induced self-assembly of dissociated rat primary Schwann cells into dense, fiber-like three-dimensional bundles of Schwann cells and extracellular matrix within hydrogel micro-columns. This engineered microtissue was found to be biomimetic of morphological and phenotypic features of endogenous bands of Büngner, and also demonstrated 8 and 2× faster rates of axonal extension in vitro from primary rat spinal motor neurons and dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons, respectively, compared to 3D matrix-only controls or planar Schwann cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of accelerated motor axon outgrowth using aligned Schwann cell constructs. For translational considerations, this microtissue was also fabricated using human gingiva-derived Schwann cells as an easily accessible autologous cell source. These results demonstrate the first tissue engineered bands of Büngner (TE-BoBs) comprised of dense three-dimensional bundles of longitudinally aligned Schwann cells that are readily scalable as implantable grafts to accelerate axon regeneration across long segmental nerve defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate V. Panzer
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Justin C. Burrell
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kaila V. T. Helm
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erin M. Purvis
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Qunzhou Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Penn Medicine Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Anh D. Le
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Penn Medicine Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John C. O’Donnell
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Li YCE, Jodat YA, Samanipour R, Zorzi G, Zhu K, Hirano M, Chang K, Arnaout A, Hassan S, Matharu N, Khademhosseini A, Hoorfar M, Shin SR. Toward a neurospheroid niche model: optimizing embedded 3D bioprinting for fabrication of neurospheroid brain-like co-culture constructs. Biofabrication 2020; 13:10.1088/1758-5090/abc1be. [PMID: 33059333 PMCID: PMC8387028 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abc1be] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A crucial step in creating reliablein vitroplatforms for neural development and disorder studies is the reproduction of the multicellular three-dimensional (3D) brain microenvironment and the capturing of cell-cell interactions within the model. The power of self-organization of diverse cell types into brain spheroids could be harnessed to study mechanisms underlying brain development trajectory and diseases. A challenge of current 3D organoid and spheroid models grown in petri-dishes is the lack of control over cellular localization and diversity. To overcome this limitation, neural spheroids can be patterned into customizable 3D structures using microfabrication. We developed a 3D brain-like co-culture construct using embedded 3D bioprinting as a flexible solution for composing heterogenous neural populations with neurospheroids and glia. Specifically, neurospheroid-laden free-standing 3D structures were fabricated in an engineered astrocyte-laden support bath resembling a neural stem cell niche environment. A photo-crosslinkable bioink and a thermal-healing supporting bath were engineered to mimic the mechanical modulus of soft tissue while supporting the formation of self-organizing neurospheroids within elaborate 3D networks. Moreover, bioprinted neurospheroid-laden structures exhibited the capability to differentiate into neuronal cells. These brain-like co-cultures could provide a reproducible platform for modeling neurological diseases, neural regeneration, and drug development and repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Ethan Li
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - Yasamin A Jodat
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey 07030, United States of America
| | - Roya Samanipour
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna V1V 1V7, BC, Canada
| | - Giulio Zorzi
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Kai Zhu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Minoru Hirano
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- Future Vehicle Research Department, Toyota Research Institute North America, Toyota Motor North America Inc. 1555 Woodridge Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States of America
| | - Karen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - Adnan Arnaout
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Shabir Hassan
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Navneet Matharu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States of America
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States of America
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States of America
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States of America
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America
| | - Mina Hoorfar
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna V1V 1V7, BC, Canada
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02139, United States of America
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Das S, Gordián-Vélez WJ, Ledebur HC, Mourkioti F, Rompolas P, Chen HI, Serruya MD, Cullen DK. Innervation: the missing link for biofabricated tissues and organs. NPJ Regen Med 2020; 5:11. [PMID: 32550009 PMCID: PMC7275031 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-020-0096-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Innervation plays a pivotal role as a driver of tissue and organ development as well as a means for their functional control and modulation. Therefore, innervation should be carefully considered throughout the process of biofabrication of engineered tissues and organs. Unfortunately, innervation has generally been overlooked in most non-neural tissue engineering applications, in part due to the intrinsic complexity of building organs containing heterogeneous native cell types and structures. To achieve proper innervation of engineered tissues and organs, specific host axon populations typically need to be precisely driven to appropriate location(s) within the construct, often over long distances. As such, neural tissue engineering and/or axon guidance strategies should be a necessary adjunct to most organogenesis endeavors across multiple tissue and organ systems. To address this challenge, our team is actively building axon-based "living scaffolds" that may physically wire in during organ development in bioreactors and/or serve as a substrate to effectively drive targeted long-distance growth and integration of host axons after implantation. This article reviews the neuroanatomy and the role of innervation in the functional regulation of cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle tissue and highlights potential strategies to promote innervation of biofabricated engineered muscles, as well as the use of "living scaffolds" in this endeavor for both in vitro and in vivo applications. We assert that innervation should be included as a necessary component for tissue and organ biofabrication, and that strategies to orchestrate host axonal integration are advantageous to ensure proper function, tolerance, assimilation, and bio-regulation with the recipient post-implant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suradip Das
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Wisberty J. Gordián-Vélez
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | | | - Foteini Mourkioti
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Panteleimon Rompolas
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - H. Isaac Chen
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Mijail D. Serruya
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA
- Axonova Medical, LLC., Philadelphia, PA USA
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10
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Purvis EM, O'Donnell JC, Chen HI, Cullen DK. Tissue Engineering and Biomaterial Strategies to Elicit Endogenous Neuronal Replacement in the Brain. Front Neurol 2020; 11:344. [PMID: 32411087 PMCID: PMC7199479 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis in the postnatal mammalian brain is known to occur in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. These neurogenic niches serve as endogenous sources of neural precursor cells that could potentially replace neurons that have been lost or damaged throughout the brain. As an example, manipulation of the subventricular zone to augment neurogenesis has become a popular strategy for attempting to replace neurons that have been lost due to acute brain injury or neurodegenerative disease. In this review article, we describe current experimental strategies to enhance the regenerative potential of endogenous neural precursor cell sources by enhancing cell proliferation in neurogenic regions and/or redirecting migration, including pharmacological, biomaterial, and tissue engineering strategies. In particular, we discuss a novel replacement strategy based on exogenously biofabricated "living scaffolds" that could enhance and redirect endogenous neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone to specified regions throughout the brain. This approach utilizes the first implantable, biomimetic tissue-engineered rostral migratory stream, thereby leveraging the brain's natural mechanism for sustained neuronal replacement by replicating the structure and function of the native rostral migratory stream. Across all these strategies, we discuss several challenges that need to be overcome to successfully harness endogenous neural precursor cells to promote nervous system repair and functional restoration. With further development, the diverse and innovative tissue engineering and biomaterial strategies explored in this review have the potential to facilitate functional neuronal replacement to mitigate neurological and psychiatric symptoms caused by injury, developmental disorders, or neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Purvis
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John C. O'Donnell
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - H. Isaac Chen
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - D. Kacy Cullen
- Center for Brain Injury & Repair, Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration & Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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