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Decoene I, Nasello G, Madeiro de Costa RF, Nilsson Hall G, Pastore A, Van Hoven I, Ribeiro Viseu S, Verfaillie C, Geris L, Luyten FP, Papantoniou I. Robotics-Driven Manufacturing of Cartilaginous Microtissues for Skeletal Tissue Engineering Applications. Stem Cells Transl Med 2024; 13:278-292. [PMID: 38217535 PMCID: PMC10940839 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad091] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Automated technologies are attractive for enhancing the robust manufacturing of tissue-engineered products for clinical translation. In this work, we present an automation strategy using a robotics platform for media changes, and imaging of cartilaginous microtissues cultured in static microwell platforms. We use an automated image analysis pipeline to extract microtissue displacements and morphological features as noninvasive quality attributes. As a result, empty microwells were identified with a 96% accuracy, and dice coefficient of 0.84 for segmentation. Design of experiment are used for the optimization of liquid handling parameters to minimize empty microwells during long-term differentiation protocols. We found no significant effect of aspiration or dispension speeds at and beyond manual speed. Instead, repeated media changes and time in culture were the driving force or microtissue displacements. As the ovine model is the preclinical model of choice for large skeletal defects, we used ovine periosteum-derived cells to form cartilage-intermediate microtissues. Increased expression of COL2A1 confirms chondrogenic differentiation and RUNX2 shows no osteogenic specification. Histological analysis shows an increased secretion of cartilaginous extracellular matrix and glycosaminoglycans in larger microtissues. Furthermore, microtissue-based implants are capable of forming mineralized tissues and bone after 4 weeks of ectopic implantation in nude mice. We demonstrate the development of an integrated bioprocess for culturing and manipulation of cartilaginous microtissues and anticipate the progressive substitution of manual operations with automated solutions for the manufacturing of microtissue-based living implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaak Decoene
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Gabriele Nasello
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, GIGA institute, University ofLiège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Gabriella Nilsson Hall
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Angela Pastore
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Inge Van Hoven
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Samuel Ribeiro Viseu
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Biology and Embryology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In Silico Medicine, GIGA institute, University ofLiège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Frank P Luyten
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
| | - Ioannis Papantoniou
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven
- Institute for Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundationfor Research and Technology–Hellas, Patras, Greece
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Borgiani E, Nasello G, Ory L, Herpelinck T, Groeneveldt L, Bucher CH, Schmidt-Bleek K, Geris L. COMMBINI: an experimentally-informed COmputational Model of Macrophage dynamics in the Bone INjury Immunoresponse. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1231329. [PMID: 38130715 PMCID: PMC10733790 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1231329] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone fracture healing is a well-orchestrated but complex process that involves numerous regulations at different scales. This complexity becomes particularly evident during the inflammatory stage, as immune cells invade the healing region and trigger a cascade of signals to promote a favorable regenerative environment. Thus, the emergence of criticalities during this stage might hinder the rest of the process. Therefore, the investigation of the many interactions that regulate the inflammation has a primary importance on the exploration of the overall healing progression. In this context, an in silico model named COMMBINI (COmputational Model of Macrophage dynamics in the Bone INjury Immunoresponse) has been developed to investigate the mechano-biological interactions during the early inflammatory stage at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels. An agent-based model is employed to simulate the behavior of immune cells, inflammatory cytokines and fracture debris as well as their reciprocal multiscale biological interactions during the development of the early inflammation (up to 5 days post-injury). The strength of the computational approach is the capacity of the in silico model to simulate the overall healing process by taking into account the numerous hidden events that contribute to its success. To calibrate the model, we present an in silico immunofluorescence method that enables a direct comparison at the cellular level between the model output and experimental immunofluorescent images. The combination of sensitivity analysis and a Genetic Algorithm allows dynamic cooperation between these techniques, enabling faster identification of the most accurate parameter values, reducing the disparity between computer simulation and histological data. The sensitivity analysis showed a higher sensibility of the computer model to the macrophage recruitment ratio during the early inflammation and to proliferation in the late stage. Furthermore, the Genetic Algorithm highlighted an underestimation of macrophage proliferation by in vitro experiments. Further experiments were conducted using another externally fixated murine model, providing an independent validation dataset. The validated COMMBINI platform serves as a novel tool to deepen the understanding of the intricacies of the early bone regeneration phases. COMMBINI aims to contribute to designing novel treatment strategies in both the biological and mechanical domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Borgiani
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA-In Silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gabriele Nasello
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Ory
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim Herpelinck
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lisanne Groeneveldt
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christian H. Bucher
- Julius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health, Charitè – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Schmidt-Bleek
- Julius Wolff Institute, Berlin Institute of Health, Charitè – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA-In Silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Asbai-Ghoudan R, Nasello G, Pérez MÁ, Verbruggen SW, Ruiz de Galarreta S, Rodriguez-Florez N. In silico assessment of the bone regeneration potential of complex porous scaffolds. Comput Biol Med 2023; 165:107381. [PMID: 37611419 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107381] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical environment plays a crucial role in regulating bone regeneration in bone defects. Assessing the mechanobiological behavior of patient-specific orthopedic scaffolds in-silico could help guide optimal scaffold designs, as well as intra- and post-operative strategies to enhance bone regeneration and improve implant longevity. Additively manufactured porous scaffolds, and specifically triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS), have shown promising structural properties to act as bone substitutes, yet their ability to induce mechanobiologially-driven bone regeneration has not been elucidated. The aim of this study is to i) explore the bone regeneration potential of TPMS scaffolds made of different stiffness biocompatible materials, to ii) analyze the influence of pre-seeding the scaffolds and increasing the post-operative resting period, and to iii) assess the influence of patient-specific parameters, such as age and mechanosensitivity, on outcomes. To perform this study, an in silico model of a goat tibia is used. The bone ingrowth within the scaffold pores was simulated with a mechano-driven model of bone regeneration. Results showed that the scaffold's architectural properties affect cellular diffusion and strain distribution, resulting in variations in the regenerated bone volume and distribution. The softer material improved the bone ingrowth. An initial resting period improved the bone ingrowth but not enough to reach the scaffold's core. However, this was achieved with the implantation of a pre-seeded scaffold. Physiological parameters like age and health of the patient also influence the bone regeneration outcome, though to a lesser extent than the scaffold design. This analysis demonstrates the importance of the scaffold's geometry and its material, and highlights the potential of using mechanobiological patient-specific models in the design process for bone substitutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reduan Asbai-Ghoudan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Universidad de Navarra, TECNUN Escuela de Ingenieros, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 13, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain.
| | - Gabriele Nasello
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N1, Herestraat 49, PB 813, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Stefaan W Verbruggen
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK; Department of Mechanical Engineering and INSIGNEO Institute for in Silico Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK
| | - Sergio Ruiz de Galarreta
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Universidad de Navarra, TECNUN Escuela de Ingenieros, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 13, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Naiara Rodriguez-Florez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Universidad de Navarra, TECNUN Escuela de Ingenieros, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, 13, 20018, San Sebastian, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
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Hettinger ZR, Hu S, Mamiya H, Sahu A, Iijima H, Wang K, Gilmer G, Miller A, Nasello G, Dâ Amore A, Vorp DA, Rando TA, Xing J, Ambrosio F. Dynamical modeling reveals RNA decay mediates the effect of matrix stiffness on aged muscle stem cell fate. bioRxiv 2023:2023.02.24.529950. [PMID: 36865124 PMCID: PMC9980169 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.24.529950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Loss of muscle stem cell (MuSC) self-renewal with aging reflects a combination of influences from the intracellular (e.g., post-transcriptional modifications) and extracellular (e.g., matrix stiffness) environment. Whereas conventional single cell analyses have revealed valuable insights into factors contributing to impaired self-renewal with age, most are limited by static measurements that fail to capture nonlinear dynamics. Using bioengineered matrices mimicking the stiffness of young and old muscle, we showed that while young MuSCs were unaffected by aged matrices, old MuSCs were phenotypically rejuvenated by young matrices. Dynamical modeling of RNA velocity vector fields in silico revealed that soft matrices promoted a self-renewing state in old MuSCs by attenuating RNA decay. Vector field perturbations demonstrated that the effects of matrix stiffness on MuSC self-renewal could be circumvented by fine-tuning the expression of the RNA decay machinery. These results demonstrate that post-transcriptional dynamics dictate the negative effect of aged matrices on MuSC self-renewal.
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Luketich SK, Cosentino F, Di Giuseppe M, Menallo G, Nasello G, Livreri P, Wagner WR, D'Amore A. Engineering in-plane mechanics of electrospun polyurethane scaffolds for cardiovascular tissue applications. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022; 128:105126. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2022.105126] [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: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Lafuente-Gracia L, Borgiani E, Nasello G, Geris L. Towards in silico Models of the Inflammatory Response in Bone Fracture Healing. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:703725. [PMID: 34660547 PMCID: PMC8514728 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.703725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In silico modeling is a powerful strategy to investigate the biological events occurring at tissue, cellular and subcellular level during bone fracture healing. However, most current models do not consider the impact of the inflammatory response on the later stages of bone repair. Indeed, as initiator of the healing process, this early phase can alter the regenerative outcome: if the inflammatory response is too strongly down- or upregulated, the fracture can result in a non-union. This review covers the fundamental information on fracture healing, in silico modeling and experimental validation. It starts with a description of the biology of fracture healing, paying particular attention to the inflammatory phase and its cellular and subcellular components. We then discuss the current state-of-the-art regarding in silico models of the immune response in different tissues as well as the bone regeneration process at the later stages of fracture healing. Combining the aforementioned biological and computational state-of-the-art, continuous, discrete and hybrid modeling technologies are discussed in light of their suitability to capture adequately the multiscale course of the inflammatory phase and its overall role in the healing outcome. Both in the establishment of models as in their validation step, experimental data is required. Hence, this review provides an overview of the different in vitro and in vivo set-ups that can be used to quantify cell- and tissue-scale properties and provide necessary input for model credibility assessment. In conclusion, this review aims to provide hands-on guidance for scientists interested in building in silico models as an additional tool to investigate the critical role of the inflammatory phase in bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lafuente-Gracia
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Edoardo Borgiani
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA in silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gabriele Nasello
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA in silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.,Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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García-Aznar JM, Nasello G, Hervas-Raluy S, Pérez MÁ, Gómez-Benito MJ. Multiscale modeling of bone tissue mechanobiology. Bone 2021; 151:116032. [PMID: 34118446 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical environment has a crucial role in our organism at the different levels, ranging from cells to tissues and our own organs. This regulatory role is especially relevant for bones, given their importance as load-transmitting elements that allow the movement of our body as well as the protection of vital organs from load impacts. Therefore bone, as living tissue, is continuously adapting its properties, shape and repairing itself, being the mechanical loads one of the main regulatory stimuli that modulate this adaptive behavior. Here we review some key results of bone mechanobiology from computational models, describing the effect that changes associated to the mechanical environment induce in bone response, implant design and scaffold-driven bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Gabriele Nasello
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silvia Hervas-Raluy
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María José Gómez-Benito
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Nasello G, Vautrin A, Pitocchi J, Wesseling M, Kuiper JH, Pérez MÁ, García-Aznar JM. Mechano-driven regeneration predicts response variations in large animal model based on scaffold implantation site and individual mechano-sensitivity. Bone 2021; 144:115769. [PMID: 33276152 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
It is well founded that the mechanical environment may regulate bone regeneration in orthopedic applications. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical contributions of the scaffold and the host to bone regeneration, in terms of subject specificity, implantation site and sensitivity to the mechanical environment. Using a computational approach to model mechano-driven regeneration, bone ingrowth in porous titanium scaffolds was simulated in the distal femur and proximal tibia of three goats and compared to experimental results. The results showed that bone ingrowth shifted from a homogeneous distribution pattern, when scaffolds were in contact with trabecular bone (max local ingrowth 12.47%), to a localized bone ingrowth when scaffolds were implanted in a diaphyseal location (max local ingrowth 20.64%). The bone formation dynamics revealed an apposition rate of 0.37±0.28%/day in the first three weeks after implantation, followed by limited increase in bone ingrowth until the end of the experiment (12 weeks). According to in vivo data, we identified one animal whose sensitivity to mechanical stimulation was higher than the other two. Moreover, we found that the stimulus initiating bone formation was consistently higher in the femur than in the tibia for all the individuals. Overall, the dependence of the osteogenic response on the host biomechanics means that, from a mechanical perspective, the regenerative potential depends on both the scaffold and the host environment. Therefore, this work provides insights on how the mechanical conditions of both the recipient and the scaffold contribute to meet patient and location-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Nasello
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antoine Vautrin
- Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Metz, University of Lorraine, Metz, France
| | - Jonathan Pitocchi
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jan Herman Kuiper
- Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK; The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Oswestry, UK
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (I3A), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
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Nasello G, Alamán-Díez P, Schiavi J, Pérez MÁ, McNamara L, García-Aznar JM. Primary Human Osteoblasts Cultured in a 3D Microenvironment Create a Unique Representative Model of Their Differentiation Into Osteocytes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:336. [PMID: 32391343 PMCID: PMC7193048 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Microengineered systems provide an in vitro strategy to explore the variability of individual patient response to tissue engineering products, since they prefer the use of primary cell sources representing the phenotype variability. Traditional in vitro systems already showed that primary human osteoblasts embedded in a 3D fibrous collagen matrix differentiate into osteocytes under specific conditions. Here, we hypothesized that translating this environment to the organ-on-a-chip scale creates a minimal functional unit to recapitulate osteoblast maturation toward osteocytes and matrix mineralization. Primary human osteoblasts were seeded in a type I collagen hydrogel, to establish the role of lower (2.5 × 105 cells/ml) and higher (1 × 106 cells/ml) cell density on their differentiation into osteocytes. A custom semi-automatic image analysis software was used to extract quantitative data on cellular morphology from brightfield images. The results are showing that cells cultured at a high density increase dendrite length over time, stop proliferating, exhibit dendritic morphology, upregulate alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and express the osteocyte marker dental matrix protein 1 (DMP1). On the contrary, cells cultured at lower density proliferate over time, do not upregulate ALP and express the osteoblast marker bone sialoprotein 2 (BSP2) at all timepoints. Our work reveals that microengineered systems create unique conditions to capture the major aspects of osteoblast differentiation into osteocytes with a limited number of cells. We propose that the microengineered approach is a functional strategy to create a patient-specific bone tissue model and investigate the individual osteogenic potential of the patient bone cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Nasello
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.,Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pilar Alamán-Díez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Jessica Schiavi
- Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group (MMDRG), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - María Ángeles Pérez
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laoise McNamara
- Mechanobiology and Medical Device Research Group (MMDRG), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - José Manuel García-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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D'Amore A, Nasello G, Luketich SK, Denisenko D, Jacobs DL, Hoff R, Gibson G, Bruno A, T Raimondi M, Wagner WR. Meso-scale topological cues influence extracellular matrix production in a large deformation, elastomeric scaffold model. Soft Matter 2018; 14:8483-8495. [PMID: 30357253 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01352g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Physical cues are decisive factors in extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and elaboration. Their transduction across scale lengths is an inherently symbiotic phenomenon that while influencing ECM fate is also mediated by the ECM structure itself. This study investigates the possibility of enhancing ECM elaboration by topological cues that, while not modifying the substrate macro scale mechanics, can affect the meso-scale strain range acting on cells incorporated within the scaffold. Vascular smooth muscle cell micro-integrated, electrospun scaffolds were fabricated with comparable macroscopic biaxial mechanical response, but different meso-scale topology. Seeded scaffolds were conditioned on a stretch bioreactor and exposed to large strain deformations. Samples were processed to evaluate ECM quantity and quality via: biochemical assay, qualitative and quantitative histological assessment and multi-photon analysis. Experimental evaluation was coupled to a numerical model that elucidated the relationship between the scaffold micro-architecture and the strain acting on the cells. Results showed an higher amount of ECM formation for the scaffold type characterized by lowest fiber intersection density. The numerical model simulations associated this result with the differences found for the change in cell nuclear aspect ratio and showed that given comparable macro scale mechanics, a difference in material topology created significant differences in cell-scaffold meso-scale deformations. These findings reaffirmed the role of cell shape in ECM formation and introduced a novel notion for the engineering of cardiac tissue where biomaterial structure can be designed to both mimick the organ level mechanics of a specific tissue of interest and elicit a desirable cellular response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio D'Amore
- Departments of Bioengineering and Surgery, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 450 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, 15216, USA.
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Nasello G, Tonarti A, Rondinelli S. T02-O-09 The wishing well: sex, give me Happiness. Sexologies 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1158-1360(08)72687-2] [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] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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12
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Rondinelli S, Nasello G. T06-O-07 Womanish perversion: an evolving phenomenon. Sexologies 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1158-1360(08)72780-4] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Nasello G. T06-O-05 Sexuality and affective relationships in the pyromaniac. Sexologies 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1158-1360(08)72778-6] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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