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Roth JG, Huang MS, Navarro RS, Akram JT, LeSavage BL, Heilshorn SC. Tunable hydrogel viscoelasticity modulates human neural maturation. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadh8313. [PMID: 37862423 PMCID: PMC10588948 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh8313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have emerged as a promising in vitro model system for studying neurodevelopment. However, current models remain limited in their ability to incorporate tunable biomechanical signaling cues imparted by the extracellular matrix (ECM). The native brain ECM is viscoelastic and stress-relaxing, exhibiting a time-dependent response to an applied force. To recapitulate the remodelability of the neural ECM, we developed a family of protein-engineered hydrogels that exhibit tunable stress relaxation rates. hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) encapsulated within these gels underwent relaxation rate-dependent maturation. Specifically, NPCs within hydrogels with faster stress relaxation rates extended longer, more complex neuritic projections, exhibited decreased metabolic activity, and expressed higher levels of genes associated with neural maturation. By inhibiting actin polymerization, we observed decreased neuritic projections and a concomitant decrease in neural maturation gene expression. Together, these results suggest that microenvironmental viscoelasticity is sufficient to bias human NPC maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien G. Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Complex in Vitro Systems, Safety Assessment, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michelle S. Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Renato S. Navarro
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jason T. Akram
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bauer L. LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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2
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Shayan M, Huang MS, Navarro R, Chiang G, Hu C, Oropeza BP, Johansson PK, Suhar RA, Foster AA, LeSavage BL, Zamani M, Enejder A, Roth JG, Heilshorn SC, Huang NF. Elastin-like protein hydrogels with controllable stress relaxation rate and stiffness modulate endothelial cell function. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:896-909. [PMID: 36861665 PMCID: PMC10159914 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate vascular endothelial cell (EC) morphology and function. Since naturally derived ECMs are viscoelastic, cells respond to viscoelastic matrices that exhibit stress relaxation, in which a cell-applied force results in matrix remodeling. To decouple the effects of stress relaxation rate from substrate stiffness on EC behavior, we engineered elastin-like protein (ELP) hydrogels in which dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) was used to crosslink hydrazine-modified ELP (ELP-HYD) and aldehyde/benzaldehyde-modified polyethylene glycol (PEG-ALD/PEG-BZA). The reversible DCC crosslinks in ELP-PEG hydrogels create a matrix with independently tunable stiffness and stress relaxation rate. By formulating fast-relaxing or slow-relaxing hydrogels with a range of stiffness (500-3300 Pa), we examined the effect of these mechanical properties on EC spreading, proliferation, vascular sprouting, and vascularization. The results show that both stress relaxation rate and stiffness modulate endothelial spreading on two-dimensional substrates, on which ECs exhibited greater cell spreading on fast-relaxing hydrogels up through 3 days, compared with slow-relaxing hydrogels at the same stiffness. In three-dimensional hydrogels encapsulating ECs and fibroblasts in coculture, the fast-relaxing, low-stiffness hydrogels produced the widest vascular sprouts, a measure of vessel maturity. This finding was validated in a murine subcutaneous implantation model, in which the fast-relaxing, low-stiffness hydrogel produced significantly more vascularization compared with the slow-relaxing, low-stiffness hydrogel. Together, these results suggest that both stress relaxation rate and stiffness modulate endothelial behavior, and that the fast-relaxing, low-stiffness hydrogels supported the highest capillary density in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdis Shayan
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Michelle S Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Renato Navarro
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Gladys Chiang
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Caroline Hu
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Beu P Oropeza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Patrik K Johansson
- Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Riley A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Abbygail A Foster
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Maedeh Zamani
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Annika Enejder
- Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Ngan F Huang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Repair and Restoration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
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3
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Lee CH, Hunt D, Roth JG, Chiu CC, Suhar RA, LeSavage BL, Seymour AJ, Lindsay C, Krajina B, Chen YT, Chang KH, Hsieh IC, Chu PH, Wen MS, Heilshorn SC. Tuning pro-survival effects of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived exosomes using elastin-like polypeptides. Biomaterials 2022; 291:121864. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
Organotypic models of patient-specific tumours are revolutionizing our understanding of cancer heterogeneity and its implications for personalized medicine. These advancements are, in part, attributed to the ability of organoid models to stably preserve genetic, proteomic, morphological and pharmacotypic features of the parent tumour in vitro, while also offering unprecedented genomic and environmental manipulation. Despite recent innovations in organoid protocols, current techniques for cancer organoid culture are inherently uncontrolled and irreproducible, owing to several non-standardized facets including cancer tissue sources and subsequent processing, medium formulations, and animal-derived three-dimensional matrices. Given the potential for cancer organoids to accurately recapitulate the intra- and intertumoral biological heterogeneity associated with patient-specific cancers, eliminating the undesirable technical variability accompanying cancer organoid culture is necessary to establish reproducible platforms that accelerate translatable insights into patient care. Here we describe the current challenges and recent multidisciplinary advancements and opportunities for standardizing next-generation cancer organoid systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Riley A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Broguiere
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Qian J, LeSavage BL, Hubka KM, Ma C, Natarajan S, Eggold JT, Xiao Y, Fuh KC, Krishnan V, Enejder A, Heilshorn SC, Dorigo O, Rankin EB. Cancer-associated mesothelial cells promote ovarian cancer chemoresistance through paracrine osteopontin signaling. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e146186. [PMID: 34396988 DOI: 10.1172/jci146186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological malignancy-related deaths, due to its widespread intraperitoneal metastases and acquired chemoresistance. Mesothelial cells are an important cellular component of the ovarian cancer microenvironment that promote metastasis. However, their role in chemoresistance is unclear. Here, we investigated whether cancer-associated mesothelial cells promote ovarian cancer chemoresistance and stemness in vitro and in vivo. We found that osteopontin is a key secreted factor that drives mesothelial-mediated ovarian cancer chemoresistance and stemness. Osteopontin is a secreted glycoprotein that is clinically associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, ovarian cancer cells induced osteopontin expression and secretion by mesothelial cells through TGF-β signaling. Osteopontin facilitated ovarian cancer cell chemoresistance via the activation of the CD44 receptor, PI3K/AKT signaling, and ABC drug efflux transporter activity. Importantly, therapeutic inhibition of osteopontin markedly improved the efficacy of cisplatin in both human and mouse ovarian tumor xenografts. Collectively, our results highlight mesothelial cells as a key driver of ovarian cancer chemoresistance and suggest that therapeutic targeting of osteopontin may be an effective strategy for enhancing platinum sensitivity in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Qian
- Department of Radiation Oncology
| | | | - Kelsea M Hubka
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Chenkai Ma
- Molecular Diagnostics Solutions, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Katherine C Fuh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Venkatesh Krishnan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Annika Enejder
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Oliver Dorigo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Radiation Oncology.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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6
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Hunt DR, Klett KC, Mascharak S, Wang H, Gong D, Lou J, Li X, Cai PC, Suhar RA, Co JY, LeSavage BL, Foster AA, Guan Y, Amieva MR, Peltz G, Xia Y, Kuo CJ, Heilshorn SC. Engineered Matrices Enable the Culture of Human Patient-Derived Intestinal Organoids. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2021; 8:2004705. [PMID: 34026461 PMCID: PMC8132048 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Human intestinal organoids from primary human tissues have the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine and preclinical gastrointestinal disease models. A tunable, fully defined, designer matrix, termed hyaluronan elastin-like protein (HELP) is reported, which enables the formation, differentiation, and passaging of adult primary tissue-derived, epithelial-only intestinal organoids. HELP enables the encapsulation of dissociated patient-derived cells, which then undergo proliferation and formation of enteroids, spherical structures with polarized internal lumens. After 12 rounds of passaging, enteroid growth in HELP materials is found to be statistically similar to that in animal-derived matrices. HELP materials also support the differentiation of human enteroids into mature intestinal cell subtypes. HELP matrices allow stiffness, stress relaxation rate, and integrin-ligand concentration to be independently and quantitatively specified, enabling fundamental studies of organoid-matrix interactions and potential patient-specific optimization. Organoid formation in HELP materials is most robust in gels with stiffer moduli (G' ≈ 1 kPa), slower stress relaxation rate (t1/2 ≈ 18 h), and higher integrin ligand concentration (0.5 × 10-3-1 × 10-3 m RGD peptide). This material provides a promising in vitro model for further understanding intestinal development and disease in humans and a reproducible, biodegradable, minimal matrix with no animal-derived products or synthetic polyethylene glycol for potential clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Hunt
- Department of Chemical EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Katarina C. Klett
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative MedicineStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Shamik Mascharak
- Department of BioengineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Huiyuan Wang
- Department of Materials Science & EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Diana Gong
- Department of BioengineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Junzhe Lou
- Department of ChemistryStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Xingnan Li
- Department of Medicine and HematologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Pamela C. Cai
- Department of Chemical EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Riley A. Suhar
- Department of Materials Science & EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Julia Y. Co
- Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) and of Microbiology and ImmunologyStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | | | - Abbygail A. Foster
- Department of Materials Science & EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Yuan Guan
- Department of AnesthesiologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Manuel R. Amieva
- Department of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases) and of Microbiology and ImmunologyStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Gary Peltz
- Department of AnesthesiologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Yan Xia
- Department of ChemistryStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Calvin J. Kuo
- Department of Medicine and HematologyStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
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7
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Krajina BA, LeSavage BL, Roth JG, Zhu AW, Cai PC, Spakowitz AJ, Heilshorn SC. Microrheology reveals simultaneous cell-mediated matrix stiffening and fluidization that underlie breast cancer invasion. Sci Adv 2021; 7:7/8/eabe1969. [PMID: 33597244 PMCID: PMC7888921 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Living tissues embody a unique class of hybrid materials in which active and thermal forces are inextricably linked. Mechanical characterization of tissues demands descriptors that respect this hybrid nature. In this work, we develop a microrheology-based force spectrum analysis (FSA) technique to dissect the active and passive fluctuations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. In two different stromal models and a 3D breast cancer spheroid model, our FSA reveals emergent hybrid dynamics that involve both high-frequency stress stiffening and low-frequency fluidization of the ECM. We show that this is a general consequence of nonlinear coupling between active forces and the frequency-dependent viscoelasticity of stress-stiffening networks. In 3D breast cancer spheroids, this dual active stiffening and fluidization is tightly connected with invasion. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby breast cancer cells reconcile the seemingly contradictory requirements for both tension and malleability in the ECM during invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad A Krajina
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Audrey W Zhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pamela C Cai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew J Spakowitz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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9
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Madl CM, LeSavage BL, Khariton M, Heilshorn SC. Neural Progenitor Cells Alter Chromatin Organization and Neurotrophin Expression in Response to 3D Matrix Degradability. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e2000754. [PMID: 32743903 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202000754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are promising therapeutic candidates for nervous system regeneration. Significant efforts focus on developing hydrogel-based approaches to facilitate the clinical translation of NPCs, from scalable platforms for stem cell production to injectable carriers for cell transplantation. However, fundamental questions surrounding NPC-hydrogel interactions remain unanswered. While matrix degradability is known to regulate the stemness and differentiation capacity of NPCs, how degradability impacts NPC epigenetic regulation and secretory phenotype remains unknown. To address this question, NPCs encapsulated in recombinant protein hydrogels with tunable degradability are assayed for changes in chromatin organization and neurotrophin expression. In high degradability gels, NPCs maintain expression of stem cell factors, proliferate, and have large nuclei with elevated levels of the stemness-associated activating histone mark H3K4me3. In contrast, NPCs in low degradability gels exhibit more compact, rounded nuclei with peripherally localized heterochromatin, are non-proliferative yet non-senescent, and maintain expression of neurotrophic factors with potential therapeutic relevance. This work suggests that tuning matrix degradability may be useful to direct NPCs toward either a more-proliferative, stem-like phenotype for cell replacement therapies, or a more quiescent-like, pro-secretory phenotype for soluble factor-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Madl
- Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology Department of Microbiology & Immunology Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Bauer L. LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | | | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering Stanford University 476 Lomita Mall, McCullough Room 246 Stanford CA 94305 USA
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10
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Duarte Campos DF, Lindsay CD, Roth JG, LeSavage BL, Seymour AJ, Krajina BA, Ribeiro R, Costa PF, Blaeser A, Heilshorn SC. Bioprinting Cell- and Spheroid-Laden Protein-Engineered Hydrogels as Tissue-on-Chip Platforms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:374. [PMID: 32411691 PMCID: PMC7198818 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human tissues, both in health and disease, are exquisitely organized into complex three-dimensional architectures that inform tissue function. In biomedical research, specifically in drug discovery and personalized medicine, novel human-based three-dimensional (3D) models are needed to provide information with higher predictive value compared to state-of-the-art two-dimensional (2D) preclinical models. However, current in vitro models remain inadequate to recapitulate the complex and heterogenous architectures that underlie biology. Therefore, it would be beneficial to develop novel models that could capture both the 3D heterogeneity of tissue (e.g., through 3D bioprinting) and integrate vascularization that is necessary for tissue viability (e.g., through culture in tissue-on-chips). In this proof-of-concept study, we use elastin-like protein (ELP) engineered hydrogels as bioinks for constructing such tissue models, which can be directly dispensed onto endothelialized on-chip platforms. We show that this bioprinting process is compatible with both single cell suspensions of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and spheroid aggregates of breast cancer cells. After bioprinting, both cell types remain viable in incubation for up to 14 days. These results demonstrate a first step toward combining ELP engineered hydrogels with 3D bioprinting technologies and on-chip platforms comprising vascular-like channels for establishing functional tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela F Duarte Campos
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Christopher D Lindsay
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Julien G Roth
- Stanford Medical School, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Alexis J Seymour
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Brad A Krajina
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Andreas Blaeser
- Institute for BioMedical Printing Technology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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11
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Lindsay CD, Roth JG, LeSavage BL, Heilshorn SC. Bioprinting of stem cell expansion lattices. Acta Biomater 2019; 95:225-235. [PMID: 31096043 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells have great potential in regenerative medicine, with neural progenitor cells (NPCs) being developed as a therapy for many central nervous system diseases and injuries. However, one limitation to the clinical translation of stem cells is the resource-intensive, two-dimensional culture protocols required for biomanufacturing a clinically-relevant number of cells. This challenge can be overcome in an easy-to-produce and cost-effective 3D platform by bioprinting NPCs in a layered lattice structure. Here we demonstrate that alginate biopolymers are an ideal bioink for expansion lattices and do not require chemical modifications for effective NPC expansion. Alginate bioinks that are lightly crosslinked prior to printing can shield printed NPCs from potential mechanical damage caused by printing. NPCs within alginate expansion lattices remain in a stem-like state while undergoing a 2.5-fold expansion. Importantly, we demonstrate the ability to efficiently remove NPCs from printed lattices for future down-stream use as a cell-based therapy. These results demonstrate that 3D bioprinting of alginate expansion lattices is a viable and economical platform for NPC expansion that could be translated to clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Lindsay
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 496 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Julien G Roth
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, 265 Campus Drive, 3rd Floor, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Shriram Center, Room 119, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 496 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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12
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Madl CM, LeSavage BL, Dewi RE, Lampe KJ, Heilshorn SC. Matrix Remodeling Enhances the Differentiation Capacity of Neural Progenitor Cells in 3D Hydrogels. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2019; 6:1801716. [PMID: 30828535 PMCID: PMC6382308 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201801716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are a promising cell source to repair damaged nervous tissue. However, expansion of therapeutically relevant numbers of NPCs and their efficient differentiation into desired mature cell types remains a challenge. Material-based strategies, including culture within 3D hydrogels, have the potential to overcome these current limitations. An ideal material would enable both NPC expansion and subsequent differentiation within a single platform. It has recently been demonstrated that cell-mediated remodeling of 3D hydrogels is necessary to maintain the stem cell phenotype of NPCs during expansion, but the role of matrix remodeling on NPC differentiation and maturation remains unknown. By culturing NPCs within engineered protein hydrogels susceptible to degradation by NPC-secreted proteases, it is identified that a critical amount of remodeling is necessary to enable NPC differentiation, even in highly degradable gels. Chemical induction of differentiation after sufficient remodeling time results in differentiation into astrocytes and neurotransmitter-responsive neurons. Matrix remodeling modulates expression of the transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein, which drives expression of NPC stemness factors and maintains NPC differentiation capacity, in a cadherin-dependent manner. Thus, cell-remodelable hydrogels are an attractive platform to enable expansion of NPCs followed by differentiation of the cells into mature phenotypes for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ruby E. Dewi
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
| | - Kyle J. Lampe
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVA22904USA
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringStanford UniversityStanfordCA94305USA
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13
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LeSavage BL, Suhar NA, Madl CM, Heilshorn SC. Production of Elastin-like Protein Hydrogels for Encapsulation and Immunostaining of Cells in 3D. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29863669 DOI: 10.3791/57739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture techniques have been essential for our understanding of fundamental cell biology. However, traditional 2D tissue culture systems lack a three-dimensional (3D) matrix, resulting in a significant disconnect between results collected in vitro and in vivo. To address this limitation, researchers have engineered 3D hydrogel tissue culture platforms that can mimic the biochemical and biophysical properties of the in vivo cell microenvironment. This research has motivated the need to develop material platforms that support 3D cell encapsulation and downstream biochemical assays. Recombinant protein engineering offers a unique toolset for 3D hydrogel material design and development by allowing for the specific control of protein sequence and therefore, by extension, the potential mechanical and biochemical properties of the resultant matrix. Here, we present a protocol for the expression of recombinantly-derived elastin-like protein (ELP), which can be used to form hydrogels with independently tunable mechanical properties and cell-adhesive ligand concentration. We further present a methodology for cell encapsulation within ELP hydrogels and subsequent immunofluorescent staining of embedded cells for downstream analysis and quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas A Suhar
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University
| | | | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University;
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14
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Madl CM, LeSavage BL, Dewi RE, Dinh CB, Stowers RS, Khariton M, Lampe KJ, Nguyen D, Chaudhuri O, Enejder A, Heilshorn SC. Maintenance of neural progenitor cell stemness in 3D hydrogels requires matrix remodelling. Nat Mater 2017; 16:1233-1242. [PMID: 29115291 PMCID: PMC5708569 DOI: 10.1038/nmat5020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) culture within three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels is an attractive strategy for expanding a therapeutically relevant number of stem cells. However, relatively little is known about how 3D material properties such as stiffness and degradability affect the maintenance of NPC stemness in the absence of differentiation factors. Over a physiologically relevant range of stiffness from ∼0.5 to 50 kPa, stemness maintenance did not correlate with initial hydrogel stiffness. In contrast, hydrogel degradation was both correlated with, and necessary for, maintenance of NPC stemness. This requirement for degradation was independent of cytoskeletal tension generation and presentation of engineered adhesive ligands, instead relying on matrix remodelling to facilitate cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact and promote β-catenin signalling. In two additional hydrogel systems, permitting NPC-mediated matrix remodelling proved to be a generalizable strategy for stemness maintenance in 3D. Our findings have identified matrix remodelling, in the absence of cytoskeletal tension generation, as a previously unknown strategy to maintain stemness in 3D.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bauer L. LeSavage
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ruby E. Dewi
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Cong B. Dinh
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ryan S. Stowers
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | - Kyle J. Lampe
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904
| | - Duong Nguyen
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Annika Enejder
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-412 96, Sweden
| | - Sarah C. Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Corresponding Author: Sarah C. Heilshorn, 476 Lomita Mall, McCullough Room 246, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4045, USA,
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15
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Backman DE, LeSavage BL, Shah SB, Wong JY. A Robust Method to Generate Mechanically Anisotropic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Sheets for Vascular Tissue Engineering. Macromol Biosci 2017; 17:10.1002/mabi.201600434. [PMID: 28207187 PMCID: PMC5568633 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201600434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In arterial tissue engineering, mimicking native structure and mechanical properties is essential because compliance mismatch can lead to graft failure and further disease. With bottom-up tissue engineering approaches, designing tissue components with proper microscale mechanical properties is crucial to achieve the necessary macroscale properties in the final implant. This study develops a thermoresponsive cell culture platform for growing aligned vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) sheets by photografting N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) onto micropatterned poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS). The grafting process is experimentally and computationally optimized to produce PNIPAAm-PDMS substrates optimal for VSMC attachment. To allow long-term VSMC sheet culture and increase the rate of VSMC sheet formation, PNIPAAm-PDMS surfaces were further modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane yielding a robust, thermoresponsive cell culture platform for culturing VSMC sheets. VSMC cell sheets cultured on patterned thermoresponsive substrates exhibit cellular and collagen alignment in the direction of the micropattern. Mechanical characterization of patterned, single-layer VSMC sheets reveals increased stiffness in the aligned direction compared to the perpendicular direction whereas nonpatterned cell sheets exhibit no directional dependence. Structural and mechanical anisotropy of aligned, single-layer VSMC sheets makes this platform an attractive microstructural building block for engineering a vascular graft to match the in vivo mechanical properties of native arterial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Backman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Shivem B Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Joyce Y Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, 15 Saint Mary's Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Backman DE, LeSavage BL, Wong JY. Versatile and inexpensive Hall-Effect force sensor for mechanical characterization of soft biological materials. J Biomech 2016; 51:118-122. [PMID: 27923480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.11.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mismatch of hierarchical structure and mechanical properties between tissue-engineered implants and native tissue may result in signal cues that negatively impact repair and remodeling. With bottom-up tissue engineering approaches, designing tissue components with proper microscale mechanical properties is crucial to achieve necessary macroscale properties in the final implant. However, characterizing microscale mechanical properties is challenging, and current methods do not provide the versatility and sensitivity required to measure these fragile, soft biological materials. Here, we developed a novel, highly sensitive Hall-Effect based force sensor that is capable of measuring mechanical properties of biological materials over wide force ranges (μN to N), allowing its use at all steps in layer-by-layer fabrication of engineered tissues. The force sensor design can be easily customized to measure specific force ranges, while remaining easy to fabricate using inexpensive, commercial materials. Although we used the force sensor to characterize mechanics of single-layer cell sheets and silk fibers, the design can be easily adapted for different applications spanning larger force ranges (>N). This platform is thus a novel, versatile, and practical tool for mechanically characterizing biological and biomimetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Backman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bauer L LeSavage
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Joyce Y Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Division of Materials Science & Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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