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Aerts A, Vovchenko M, Elahi SA, Viñuelas RC, De Maeseneer T, Purino M, Hoogenboom R, Van Oosterwyck H, Jonkers I, Cardinaels R, Smet M. A Spontaneous In Situ Thiol-Ene Crosslinking Hydrogel with Thermo-Responsive Mechanical Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:1264. [PMID: 38732733 PMCID: PMC11085619 DOI: 10.3390/polym16091264] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The thermo-responsive behavior of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) makes it an ideal candidate to easily embed cells and allows the polymer mixture to be injected. However, P(NiPAAm) hydrogels possess minor mechanical properties. To increase the mechanical properties, a covalent bond is introduced into the P(NIPAAm) network through a biocompatible thiol-ene click-reaction by mixing two polymer solutions. Co-polymers with variable thiol or acrylate groups to thermo-responsive co-monomer ratios, ranging from 1% to 10%, were synthesized. Precise control of the crosslink density allowed customization of the hydrogel's mechanical properties to match different tissue stiffness levels. Increasing the temperature of the hydrogel above its transition temperature of 31 °C induced the formation of additional physical interactions. These additional interactions both further increased the stiffness of the material and impacted its relaxation behavior. The developed optimized hydrogels reach stiffnesses more than ten times higher compared to the state of the art using similar polymers. Furthermore, when adding cells to the precursor polymer solutions, homogeneous thermo-responsive hydrogels with good cell viability were created upon mixing. In future work, the influence of the mechanical micro-environment on the cell's behavior can be studied in vitro in a continuous manner by changing the incubation temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Aerts
- Laboratory of Organic Material Synthesis, Polymer Chemistry and Materials, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200f, P.O. Box 2404, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Maxim Vovchenko
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, P.O. Box 2419, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, P.O. Box 2416, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seyed Ali Elahi
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, P.O. Box 2419, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven Tervuursevest 101, P.O. Box 1501, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rocío Castro Viñuelas
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven Tervuursevest 101, P.O. Box 1501, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tess De Maeseneer
- Rheology and Technology, Soft Matter, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, P.O. Box 2424, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martin Purino
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, UGent, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Richard Hoogenboom
- Supramolecular Chemistry Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, UGent, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, P.O. Box 2419, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Jonkers
- Human Movement Biomechanics Research Group, Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven Tervuursevest 101, P.O. Box 1501, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ruth Cardinaels
- Rheology and Technology, Soft Matter, Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200J, P.O. Box 2424, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mario Smet
- Laboratory of Organic Material Synthesis, Polymer Chemistry and Materials, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200f, P.O. Box 2404, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;
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2
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Geroski T, Gkaintes O, Vulović A, Ukaj N, Barrasa-Fano J, Perez-Boerema F, Milićević B, Atanasijević A, Živković J, Živić A, Roumpi M, Exarchos T, Hellmich C, Scheiner S, Van Oosterwyck H, Jakovljević D, Ivanović M, Filipović N. SGABU computational platform for multiscale modeling: Bridging the gap between education and research. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 2024; 243:107935. [PMID: 38006682 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107935] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In accordance with the latest aspirations in the field of bioengineering, there is a need to create a web accessible, but powerful cloud computational platform that combines datasets and multiscale models related to bone modeling, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and tissue engineering. The SGABU platform may become a powerful information system for research and education that can integrate data, extract information, and facilitate knowledge exchange with the goal of creating and developing appropriate computing pipelines to provide accurate and comprehensive biological information from the molecular to organ level. METHODS The datasets integrated into the platform are obtained from experimental and/or clinical studies and are mainly in tabular or image file format, including metadata. The implementation of multiscale models, is an ambitious effort of the platform to capture phenomena at different length scales, described using partial and ordinary differential equations, which are solved numerically on complex geometries with the use of the finite element method. The majority of the SGABU platform's simulation pipelines are provided as Common Workflow Language (CWL) workflows. Each of them requires creating a CWL implementation on the backend and a user-friendly interface using standard web technologies. Platform is available at https://sgabu-test.unic.kg.ac.rs/login. RESULTS The main dashboard of the SGABU platform is divided into sections for each field of research, each one of which includes a subsection of datasets and multiscale models. The datasets can be presented in a simple form as tabular data, or using technologies such as Plotly.js for 2D plot interactivity, Kitware Paraview Glance for 3D view. Regarding the models, the usage of Docker containerization for packing the individual tools and CWL orchestration for describing inputs with validation forms and outputs with tabular views for output visualization, interactive diagrams, 3D views and animations. CONCLUSIONS In practice, the structure of SGABU platform means that any of the integrated workflows can work equally well on any other bioengineering platform. The key advantage of the SGABU platform over similar efforts is its versatility offered with the use of modern, modular, and extensible technology for various levels of architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tijana Geroski
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | | | - Aleksandra Vulović
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Niketa Ukaj
- Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Biomechanics section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Bogdan Milićević
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia
| | | | - Jelena Živković
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Andreja Živić
- Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | | | - Themis Exarchos
- University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece; Ionian University, Corfu, Greece
| | | | | | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Miloš Ivanović
- Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia; University of Kragujevac Computing Center, Kragujevac, Serbia; Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Nenad Filipović
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Bioengineering Research and Development Center (BioIRC), Kragujevac, Serbia
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Yuan H, Liu K, Cóndor M, Barrasa-Fano J, Louis B, Vandaele J, de Almeida P, Coucke Q, Chen W, Oosterwijk E, Xing C, Van Oosterwyck H, Kouwer PHJ, Rocha S. Synthetic fibrous hydrogels as a platform to decipher cell-matrix mechanical interactions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216934120. [PMID: 37011188 PMCID: PMC10104511 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216934120] [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] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells continuously sense external forces from their microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM). In turn, they generate contractile forces, which stiffen and remodel this matrix. Although this bidirectional mechanical exchange is crucial for many cell functions, it remains poorly understood. Key challenges are that the majority of available matrices for such studies, either natural or synthetic, are difficult to control or lack biological relevance. Here, we use a synthetic, yet highly biomimetic hydrogel based on polyisocyanide (PIC) polymers to investigate the effects of the fibrous architecture and the nonlinear mechanics on cell-matrix interactions. Live-cell rheology was combined with advanced microscopy-based approaches to understand the mechanisms behind cell-induced matrix stiffening and plastic remodeling. We demonstrate how cell-mediated fiber remodeling and the propagation of fiber displacements are modulated by adjusting the biological and mechanical properties of this material. Moreover, we validate the biological relevance of our results by demonstrating that cellular tractions in PIC gels develop analogously to those in the natural ECM. This study highlights the potential of PIC gels to disentangle complex bidirectional cell-matrix interactions and to improve the design of materials for mechanobiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Kaizheng Liu
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
- Research Center for Human Tissue and Organs Degeneration, Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Mar Cóndor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics section, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics section, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Boris Louis
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Division of Chemical Physics and NanoLund, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johannes Vandaele
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Paula de Almeida
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Quinten Coucke
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Wen Chen
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands
| | - Chengfen Xing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Hebei Province, Institute of Biophysics, School of Health Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics section, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Paul H J Kouwer
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands
| | - Susana Rocha
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Chemistry Department, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
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Čokić SM, Cóndor M, Vleugels J, Meerbeek BV, Oosterwyck HV, Inokoshi M, Zhang F. Mechanical properties-translucency-microstructure relationships in commercial monolayer and multilayer monolithic zirconia ceramics. Dent Mater 2022; 38:797-810. [PMID: 35450705 DOI: 10.1016/j.dental.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the phase composition, microstructure, optical properties and mechanical properties of eight commercially available multilayer and monolayer monolithic dental zirconias. METHODS Five commercial 3Y-TZP (GC ST, GC HT [GC, Tokyo Japan]; Katana ML, Katana HT [Kuraray Noritake] and Lava Plus [3M Oral Care]) and three Y-PSZ (Katana STML, Katana UTML [Kuraray Noritake]; GC UHT [GC, Tokyo Japan]) zirconia ceramic grades were cut in plate-shaped specimens, sintered according to the manufacturer's instructions and mirror polished. The zirconia chemical composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), phase composition was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the grain size was measured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The translucency Parameter (TP) and Contrast Ratio (CR) were measured with a spectrophotometer (n = 10/group). The indentation fracture toughness (n = 10), Vickers hardness (n = 10) and biaxial strength (n = 20) of the sintered ceramics were assessed. The stress distribution during biaxial testing was assessed by Finite element analysis (FEA). Statistical analysis involved one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's HSD test and Pearson correlation test (α = 0.05). RESULTS FEA showed that the stress distribution in plate shape specimens was the same as for disks, rationalizing the use of plates for biaxial strength testing. As expected, higher quantities of Y2O3 were related to a higher cubic ZrO2 phase content and lower tetragonality t-ZrO2, which improved translucency but diminished flexural strength and toughness. While there was no significant correlation between grain size and other material properties, addition of pigments to the zirconia grade statistically negatively affected hardness. CONCLUSION Even though an improvement in strength and translucency could be recorded for the last Y-TZP generation, future research still needs to strive for combined improvement of optical properties and mechanical reliability of zirconia ceramics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stevan M Čokić
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Oral Health Sciences, BIOMAT & UZ Leuven (University Hospitals Leuven), Dentistry, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Mar Cóndor
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section (BMe), Arenberg, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jef Vleugels
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Materials Engineering (MTM), Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Van Meerbeek
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Oral Health Sciences, BIOMAT & UZ Leuven (University Hospitals Leuven), Dentistry, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics Section (BMe), Arenberg, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Masanao Inokoshi
- Department of Gerodontology and Oral Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan
| | - Fei Zhang
- KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Oral Health Sciences, BIOMAT & UZ Leuven (University Hospitals Leuven), Dentistry, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Department of Materials Engineering (MTM), Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Tchobanian A, Ceyssens F, Cóndor Salgado M, Van Oosterwyck H, Fardim P. Patterned dextran ester films as a tailorable cell culture platform. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 252:117183. [PMID: 33183630 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The elucidation of cell-surface interactions and the development of model platforms to help uncover their underlying mechanisms remains vital to the design of effective biomaterials. To this end, dextran palmitates with varying degrees of substitution were synthesised with a multipurpose functionality: an ability to modulate surface energy through surface chemistry, and an ideal thermal behaviour for patterning. Herein, dextran palmitate films are produced by spin coating, and patterned by thermal nanoimprint lithography with nano-to-microscale topographies. These films of moderately hydrophobic polysaccharide esters with low nanoscale roughness performed as well as fibronectin coatings in the culture of bovine aortic endothelial cells. Upon patterning, they display distinct regions of roughness, restricting cell adhesion to the smoothest surfaces, while guiding multicellular arrangements in the patterned topographies. The development of biomaterial interfaces through topochemical fabrication such as this could prove useful in understanding protein and cell-surface interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armen Tchobanian
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Frederik Ceyssens
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT-MICAS, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Mar Cóndor Salgado
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium; Prometheus Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - bus 813, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Pedro Fardim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
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de Ruiter RD, Smilde BJ, Pals G, Bravenboer N, Knaus P, Schoenmaker T, Botman E, Sánchez-Duffhues G, Pacifici M, Pignolo RJ, Shore EM, van Egmond M, Van Oosterwyck H, Kaplan FS, Hsiao EC, Yu PB, Bocciardi R, De Cunto CL, Longo Ribeiro Delai P, de Vries TJ, Hilderbrandt S, Jaspers RT, Keen R, Koolwijk P, Morhart R, Netelenbos JC, Rustemeyer T, Scott C, Stockklausner C, ten Dijke P, Triffit J, Ventura F, Ravazzolo R, Micha D, Eekhoff EMW. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: What Have We Achieved and Where Are We Now? Follow-up to the 2015 Lorentz Workshop. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:732728. [PMID: 34858325 PMCID: PMC8631510 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.732728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an ultra-rare progressive genetic disease effecting one in a million individuals. During their life, patients with FOP progressively develop bone in the soft tissues resulting in increasing immobility and early death. A mutation in the ACVR1 gene was identified as the causative mutation of FOP in 2006. After this, the pathophysiology of FOP has been further elucidated through the efforts of research groups worldwide. In 2015, a workshop was held to gather these groups and discuss the new challenges in FOP research. Here we present an overview and update on these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben D. de Ruiter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Ruben D. de Ruiter, ; Elisabeth M. W. Eekhoff,
| | - Bernard J. Smilde
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pals
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Bone Histomorphology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Bravenboer
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Petra Knaus
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ton Schoenmaker
- Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Esmée Botman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Abramson Research Center, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Eileen M. Shore
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics, and the Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marjolein van Egmond
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Division of Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus division of skeletal tissue engineering, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick S. Kaplan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Medicine, Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders, The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Edward C. Hsiao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and the Institute for Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Paul B. Yu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Renata Bocciardi
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Carmen Laura De Cunto
- Rheumatology Section, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Teun J. de Vries
- Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susanne Hilderbrandt
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité Medical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard T. Jaspers
- Laboratory for Myology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Richard Keen
- Centre for Metabolic Bone Disease, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Koolwijk
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rolf Morhart
- Department of Pediatrics, Garmisch-Partenkichen Medical Center, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
| | - Jan C. Netelenbos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Thomas Rustemeyer
- Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AmsterdamUMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christiaan Scott
- Division of Paediatric Rheumatology, Departmet of Paediatrics and Child Heath, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Clemens Stockklausner
- Laboratory for Myology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - James Triffit
- Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Francesc Ventura
- Departamento de Cièncias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Ravazzolo
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Università degli Studi di Genova, Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
| | - Dimitra Micha
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Bone Histomorphology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth M. W. Eekhoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section Endocrinology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (Amsterdam UMC), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Ruben D. de Ruiter, ; Elisabeth M. W. Eekhoff,
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Tabibian A, Ghaffari S, Vargas DA, Van Oosterwyck H, Jones EAV. Simulating flow induced migration in vascular remodelling. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007874. [PMID: 32822340 PMCID: PMC7478591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shear stress induces directed endothelial cell (EC) migration in blood vessels leading to vessel diameter increase and induction of vascular maturation. Other factors, such as EC elongation and interaction between ECs and non-vascular areas are also important. Computational models have previously been used to study collective cell migration. These models can be used to predict EC migration and its effect on vascular remodelling during embryogenesis. We combined live time-lapse imaging of the remodelling vasculature of the quail embryo yolk sac with flow quantification using a combination of micro-Particle Image Velocimetry and computational fluid dynamics. We then used the flow and remodelling data to inform a model of EC migration during remodelling. To obtain the relation between shear stress and velocity in vitro for EC cells, we developed a flow chamber to assess how confluent sheets of ECs migrate in response to shear stress. Using these data as an input, we developed a multiphase, self-propelled particles (SPP) model where individual agents are driven to migrate based on the level of shear stress while maintaining appropriate spatial relationship to nearby agents. These agents elongate, interact with each other, and with avascular agents at each time-step of the model. We compared predicted vascular shape to real vascular shape after 4 hours from our time-lapse movies and performed sensitivity analysis on the various model parameters. Our model shows that shear stress has the largest effect on the remodelling process. Importantly, however, elongation played an especially important part in remodelling. This model provides a powerful tool to study the input of different biological processes on remodelling. Shear stress is known to play a leading role in endothelial cell (EC) migration and hence, vascular remodelling. Vascular remodelling is, however, more complicated than only EC migration. To achieve a better understanding of this process, we developed a computational model in which, shear stress mediated EC migration has the leading role and other factors, such as avascular regions and EC elongation, are also accounted for. We have tested this model for different vessel shapes during remodelling and could study the role that each of these factors play in remodelling. This model gives us the possibility of addition of other factors such as biochemical signals and angiogenesis which will help us in the study of vascular remodelling in both development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Tabibian
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Siavash Ghaffari
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Saint Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Diego A. Vargas
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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8
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Vaeyens MM, Jorge-Peñas A, Barrasa-Fano J, Shapeti A, Roeffaers M, Van Oosterwyck H. Actomyosin-dependent invasion of endothelial sprouts in collagen. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2020; 77:261-276. [PMID: 32588525 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During sprouting angiogenesis-the growth of blood vessels from the existing vasculature-endothelial cells (ECs) adopt an elongated invasive form and exert forces at cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction sites. These cell shape changes and cellular tractions require extensive reorganizations of the actomyosin network. However, the respective roles of actin and myosin for endothelial sprouting are not fully elucidated. In this study, we further investigate these roles by treating 2D-migrating and 3D-sprouting ECs with chemical compounds targeting either myosin or actin. These treatments affected the endothelial cytoskeleton drastically and reduced the invasive response in a compound-specific manner; pointing toward a tight control of the actin and myosin activity during sprouting. Clusters in the data further illustrate that endothelial sprout morphology is sensitive to the in vitro model mechanical microenvironment and directs future research toward mechanical substrate guidance as a strategy for promoting engineered tissue vascularization. In summary, our results add to a growing corpus of research highlighting a key role of the cytoskeleton for sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Mo Vaeyens
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Apeksha Shapeti
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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9
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Vargas DA, Heck T, Smeets B, Ramon H, Parameswaran H, Van Oosterwyck H. Intercellular Adhesion Stiffness Moderates Cell Decoupling as a Function of Substrate Stiffness. Biophys J 2020; 119:243-257. [PMID: 32621867 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The interplay between cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions is complex yet necessary for the formation and healthy functioning of tissues. The same mechanosensing mechanisms used by the cell to sense its extracellular matrix also play a role in intercellular interactions. We used the discrete element method to develop a computational model of a deformable cell that includes subcellular components responsible for mechanosensing. We modeled a three-dimensional cell pair on a patterned (two-dimensional) substrate, a simple laboratory setup to study intercellular interactions. We explicitly modeled focal adhesions and adherens junctions. These mechanosensing adhesions matured, becoming stabilized by force. We also modeled contractile stress fibers that bind the discrete adhesions. The mechanosensing fibers strengthened upon stalling. Traction exerted on the substrate was used to generate traction maps (along the cell-substrate interface). These simulated maps are compared to experimental maps obtained via traction force microscopy. The model recreates the dependence on substrate stiffness of the tractions' spatial distribution, contractile moment of the cell pair, intercellular force, and number of focal adhesions. It also recreates the phenomenon of cell decoupling, in which cells exert forces separately when substrate stiffness increases. More importantly, the model provides viable molecular explanations for decoupling: mechanosensing mechanisms are responsible for competition between different fiber-adhesion configurations present in the cell pair. The point at which an increasing substrate stiffness becomes as high as that of the cell-cell interface is the tipping point at which configurations that favor cell-substrate adhesion dominate over those favoring cell-cell adhesion. This competition is responsible for decoupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Vargas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, Leuven, Brabant, Belgium
| | - Tommy Heck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, Leuven, Brabant, Belgium
| | - Bart Smeets
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven, Brabant, Belgium
| | - Herman Ramon
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, Leuven, Brabant, Belgium
| | | | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, Leuven, Brabant, Belgium; Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Brabant, Belgium.
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10
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Vargas DA, Gonçalves IG, Heck T, Smeets B, Lafuente-Gracia L, Ramon H, Van Oosterwyck H. Modeling of Mechanosensing Mechanisms Reveals Distinct Cell Migration Modes to Emerge From Combinations of Substrate Stiffness and Adhesion Receptor-Ligand Affinity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:459. [PMID: 32582650 PMCID: PMC7283468 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal cell migration is an integral process in development and healing. The process is regulated by both mechanical and biochemical properties. Mechanical properties of the environment are sensed through mechanosensing, which consists of molecular responses mediated by mechanical signals. We developed a computational model of a deformable 3D cell on a flat substrate using discrete element modeling. The cell is polarized in a single direction and thus moves along the long axis of the substrate. By modeling discrete focal adhesions and stress fibers, we implement two mechanosensing mechanisms: focal adhesion stabilization by force and stress fiber strengthening upon contraction stalling. Two substrate-associated properties, substrate (ligand) stiffness and adhesion receptor–ligand affinity (in the form of focal adhesion disassembly rate), were varied for different model setups in which the mechanosensing mechanisms are set as active or inactive. Cell displacement, focal adhesion number, and cellular traction were quantified and tracked in time. We found that varying substrate stiffness (a mechanical property) and adhesion receptor–ligand affinity (a biochemical property) simultaneously dictate the mode in which cells migrate; cells either move in a smooth manner reminiscent of keratocytes or in a cyclical manner reminiscent of epithelial cells. Mechanosensing mechanisms are responsible for the range of conditions in which a cell adopts a particular migration mode. Stress fiber strengthening, specifically, is responsible for cyclical migration due to build-up of enough force to elicit rupture of focal adhesions and retraction of the cellular rear. Together, both mechanisms explain bimodal dependence of cell migration on substrate stiffness observed in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Vargas
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inês G Gonçalves
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tommy Heck
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Smeets
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Biosystems Department, Particulate Dynamics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Lafuente-Gracia
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Herman Ramon
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Biosystems Department, Particulate Dynamics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Vaeyens MM, Jorge-Peñas A, Barrasa-Fano J, Steuwe C, Heck T, Carmeliet P, Roeffaers M, Van Oosterwyck H. Matrix deformations around angiogenic sprouts correlate to sprout dynamics and suggest pulling activity. Angiogenesis 2020; 23:315-324. [PMID: 31997048 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-020-09708-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [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: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. It is essential for normal tissue growth and regeneration, and also plays a key role in many diseases [Carmeliet in Nat Med 9:653-660, 2003]. Cytoskeletal components have been shown to be important for angiogenic sprout initiation and maintenance [Kniazeva and Putnam in Am J Physiol 297:C179-C187, 2009] as well as endothelial cell shape control during invasion [Elliott et al. in Nat Cell Biol 17:137-147, 2015]. The exact nature of cytoskeleton-mediated forces for sprout initiation and progression, however, remains poorly understood. Questions on the importance of tip cell pulling versus stalk cell pushing are to a large extent unanswered, which among others has to do with the difficulty of quantifying and resolving those forces in time and space. We developed methods based on time-lapse confocal microscopy and image processing-further termed 4D displacement microscopy-to acquire detailed, spatially and temporally resolved extracellular matrix (ECM) deformations, indicative of cell-ECM mechanical interactions around invading sprouts. We demonstrate that matrix deformations dependent on actin-mediated force generation are spatio-temporally correlated with sprout morphological dynamics. Furthermore, sprout tips were found to exert radially pulling forces on the extracellular matrix, which were quantified by means of a computational model of collagen ECM mechanics. Protrusions from extending sprouts mostly increase their pulling forces, while retracting protrusions mainly reduce their pulling forces. Displacement microscopy analysis further unveiled a characteristic dipole-like deformation pattern along the sprout direction that was consistent among seemingly very different sprout shapes-with oppositely oriented displacements at sprout tip versus sprout base and a transition zone of negligible displacements in between. These results demonstrate that sprout-ECM interactions are dominated by pulling forces and underline the key role of tip cell pulling for sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Mo Vaeyens
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christian Steuwe
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tommy Heck
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, VIB Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,Prometheus, Div. Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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12
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Heck T, Vargas DA, Smeets B, Ramon H, Van Liedekerke P, Van Oosterwyck H. The role of actin protrusion dynamics in cell migration through a degradable viscoelastic extracellular matrix: Insights from a computational model. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007250. [PMID: 31929522 PMCID: PMC6980736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007250] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin protrusion dynamics plays an important role in the regulation of three-dimensional (3D) cell migration. Cells form protrusions that adhere to the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), mechanically probe the ECM and contract in order to displace the cell body. This results in cell migration that can be directed by the mechanical anisotropy of the ECM. However, the subcellular processes that regulate protrusion dynamics in 3D cell migration are difficult to investigate experimentally and therefore not well understood. Here, we present a computational model of cell migration through a degradable viscoelastic ECM. This model is a 2D representation of 3D cell migration. The cell is modeled as an active deformable object that captures the viscoelastic behavior of the actin cortex and the subcellular processes underlying 3D cell migration. The ECM is regarded as a viscoelastic material, with or without anisotropy due to fibrillar strain stiffening, and modeled by means of the meshless Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. ECM degradation is captured by local fluidization of the material and permits cell migration through the ECM. We demonstrate that changes in ECM stiffness and cell strength affect cell migration and are accompanied by changes in number, lifetime and length of protrusions. Interestingly, directly changing the total protrusion number or the average lifetime or length of protrusions does not affect cell migration. A stochastic variability in protrusion lifetime proves to be enough to explain differences in cell migration velocity. Force-dependent adhesion disassembly does not result in faster migration, but can make migration more efficient. We also demonstrate that when a number of simultaneous protrusions is enforced, the optimal number of simultaneous protrusions is one or two, depending on ECM anisotropy. Together, the model provides non-trivial new insights in the role of protrusions in 3D cell migration and can be a valuable contribution to increase the understanding of 3D cell migration mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommy Heck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Paul Van Liedekerke
- INRIA de Paris and Sorbonne Universités UPMC Univ paris 6, LJLL Team Mamba, Paris, France.,IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Steuwe C, Vaeyens MM, Jorge-Peñas A, Cokelaere C, Hofkens J, Roeffaers MBJ, Van Oosterwyck H. Fast quantitative time lapse displacement imaging of endothelial cell invasion. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227286. [PMID: 31910228 PMCID: PMC6946139 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to unravel rapid mechano-chemical feedback mechanisms in sprouting angiogenesis, we combine selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) and tailored image registration algorithms - further referred to as SPIM-based displacement microscopy - with an in vitro model of angiogenesis. SPIM successfully tackles the problem of imaging large volumes while upholding the spatial resolution required for the analysis of matrix displacements at a subcellular level. Applied to in vitro angiogenic sprouts, this unique methodological combination relates subcellular activity - minute to second time scale growing and retracting of protrusions - of a multicellular systems to the surrounding matrix deformations with an exceptional temporal resolution of 1 minute for a stack with multiple sprouts simultaneously or every 4 seconds for a single sprout, which is 20 times faster than with a conventional confocal setup. Our study reveals collective but non-synchronised, non-continuous activity of adjacent sprouting cells along with correlations between matrix deformations and protrusion dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Steuwe
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (MS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie-Mo Vaeyens
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Célie Cokelaere
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (MS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten B. J. Roeffaers
- Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (MS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Grivas KN, Vavva MG, Polyzos D, Carlier A, Geris L, Van Oosterwyck H, Fotiadis DI. Effect of ultrasound on bone fracture healing: A computational mechanobioregulatory model. J Acoust Soc Am 2019; 145:1048. [PMID: 30823826 DOI: 10.1121/1.5089221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Bone healing process is a complicated phenomenon regulated by biochemical and mechanical signals. Experimental studies have shown that ultrasound (US) accelerates bone ossification and has a multiple influence on cell differentiation and angiogenesis. In a recent work of the authors, a bioregulatory model for providing bone-healing predictions was addressed, taking into account for the first time the salutary effect of US on the involved angiogenesis. In the present work, a mechanobioregulatory model of bone solidification under the US presence incorporating also the mechanical environment on the regeneration process, which is known to affect cellular processes, is presented. An iterative procedure is adopted, where the finite element method is employed to compute the mechanical stimuli at the linear elastic phases of the poroelastic callus region and a coupled system of partial differential equations to simulate the enhancement by the US cell angiogenesis process and thus the oxygen concentration in the fractured area. Numerical simulations with and without the presence of US that illustrate the influence of progenitor cells' origin in the healing pattern and the healing rate and simultaneously demonstrate the salutary effect of US on bone repair are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos N Grivas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, GR 26500, Patras, Greece
| | - Maria G Vavva
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, GR 26500, Patras, Greece
| | - Demosthenes Polyzos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, GR 26500, Patras, Greece
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C-PB 2419, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C-PB 2419, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C-PB 2419, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dimitrios I Fotiadis
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, GR 45110, Ioannina, Greece
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15
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Izquierdo-Álvarez A, Vargas DA, Jorge-Peñas Á, Subramani R, Vaeyens MM, Van Oosterwyck H. Spatiotemporal Analyses of Cellular Tractions Describe Subcellular Effect of Substrate Stiffness and Coating. Ann Biomed Eng 2018; 47:624-637. [DOI: 10.1007/s10439-018-02164-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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16
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Bové H, Devoght J, Rasking L, Peters M, Slenders E, Roeffaers M, Jorge-Peñas A, Van Oosterwyck H, Ameloot M. Combustion-derived particles inhibit in vitro human lung fibroblast-mediated matrix remodeling. J Nanobiotechnology 2018; 16:82. [PMID: 30368242 PMCID: PMC6204012 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-018-0410-x] [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] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The continuously growing human exposure to combustion-derived particles (CDPs) drives in depth investigation of the involved complex toxicological mechanisms of those particles. The current study evaluated the hypothesis that CDPs could affect cell-induced remodeling of the extracellular matrix due to their underlying toxicological mechanisms. The effects of two ultrafine and one fine form of CDPs on human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) were investigated, both in 2D cell culture and in 3D collagen type I hydrogels. A multi-parametric analysis was employed. RESULTS In vitro dynamic 3D analysis of collagen matrices showed that matrix displacement fields induced by human lung fibroblasts are disturbed when exposed to carbonaceous particles, resulting in inhibition of matrix remodeling. In depth analysis using general toxicological assays revealed that a plausible explanation comprises a cascade of numerous detrimental effects evoked by the carbon particles, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage and energy storage depletion. Also, ultrafine particles revealed stronger toxicological and inhibitory effects compared to their larger counterparts. The inhibitory effects can be almost fully restored when treating the impaired cells with antioxidants like vitamin C. CONCLUSIONS The unraveled in vitro pathway, by which ultrafine particles alter the fibroblasts' vital role of matrix remodeling, extends our knowledge about the contribution of these biologically active particles in impaired lung tissue repair mechanisms, and development and exacerbation of chronic lung diseases. The new insights may even pave the way to precautionary actions. The results provide justification for toxicological assessments to include mechanism-linked assays besides the traditional in vitro toxicological screening assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Bové
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Louvain, Belgium.
| | - Jens Devoght
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Leentje Rasking
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Martijn Peters
- Institute for Materials Research, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Eli Slenders
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, Box 2419, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, Box 2419, Louvain, Belgium.,Prometheus, div. Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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17
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Suñé-Auñón A, Jorge-Peñas A, Aguilar-Cuenca R, Vicente-Manzanares M, Van Oosterwyck H, Muñoz-Barrutia A. Full L 1-regularized Traction Force Microscopy over whole cells. BMC Bioinformatics 2017; 18:365. [PMID: 28797233 PMCID: PMC5550960 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-017-1771-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) is a widespread technique to estimate the tractions that cells exert on the surrounding substrate. To recover the tractions, it is necessary to solve an inverse problem, which is ill-posed and needs regularization to make the solution stable. The typical regularization scheme is given by the minimization of a cost functional, which is divided in two terms: the error present in the data or data fidelity term; and the regularization or penalty term. The classical approach is to use zero-order Tikhonov or L2-regularization, which uses the L2-norm for both terms in the cost function. Recently, some studies have demonstrated an improved performance using L1-regularization (L1-norm in the penalty term) related to an increase in the spatial resolution and sensitivity of the recovered traction field. In this manuscript, we present a comparison between the previous two regularization schemes (relying in the L2-norm for the data fidelity term) and the full L1-regularization (using the L1-norm for both terms in the cost function) for synthetic and real data. Results Our results reveal that L1-regularizations give an improved spatial resolution (more important for full L1-regularization) and a reduction in the background noise with respect to the classical zero-order Tikhonov regularization. In addition, we present an approximation, which makes feasible the recovery of cellular tractions over whole cells on typical full-size microscope images when working in the spatial domain. Conclusions The proposed full L1-regularization improves the sensitivity to recover small stress footprints. Moreover, the proposed method has been validated to work on full-field microscopy images of real cells, what certainly demonstrates it is a promising tool for biological applications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12859-017-1771-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Suñé-Auñón
- Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, 28911, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rocío Aguilar-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, School of Medicine, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Vicente-Manzanares
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, School of Medicine, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia
- Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, 28911, Madrid, Spain.
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Jorge-Peñas A, Bové H, Sanen K, Vaeyens MM, Steuwe C, Roeffaers M, Ameloot M, Van Oosterwyck H. 3D full-field quantification of cell-induced large deformations in fibrillar biomaterials by combining non-rigid image registration with label-free second harmonic generation. Biomaterials 2017; 136:86-97. [PMID: 28521203 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
To advance our current understanding of cell-matrix mechanics and its importance for biomaterials development, advanced three-dimensional (3D) measurement techniques are necessary. Cell-induced deformations of the surrounding matrix are commonly derived from the displacement of embedded fiducial markers, as part of traction force microscopy (TFM) procedures. However, these fluorescent markers may alter the mechanical properties of the matrix or can be taken up by the embedded cells, and therefore influence cellular behavior and fate. In addition, the currently developed methods for calculating cell-induced deformations are generally limited to relatively small deformations, with displacement magnitudes and strains typically of the order of a few microns and less than 10% respectively. Yet, large, complex deformation fields can be expected from cells exerting tractions in fibrillar biomaterials, like collagen. To circumvent these hurdles, we present a technique for the 3D full-field quantification of large cell-generated deformations in collagen, without the need of fiducial markers. We applied non-rigid, Free Form Deformation (FFD)-based image registration to compute full-field displacements induced by MRC-5 human lung fibroblasts in a collagen type I hydrogel by solely relying on second harmonic generation (SHG) from the collagen fibrils. By executing comparative experiments, we show that comparable displacement fields can be derived from both fibrils and fluorescent beads. SHG-based fibril imaging can circumvent all described disadvantages of using fiducial markers. This approach allows measuring 3D full-field deformations under large displacement (of the order of 10 μm) and strain regimes (up to 40%). As such, it holds great promise for the study of large cell-induced deformations as an inherent component of cell-biomaterial interactions and cell-mediated biomaterial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C - Box 2419, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hannelore Bové
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kathleen Sanen
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Marie-Mo Vaeyens
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C - Box 2419, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christian Steuwe
- Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marcel Ameloot
- Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building C, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C - Box 2419, Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, div. Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Leonidakis KA, Bhattacharya P, Patterson J, Vos BE, Koenderink GH, Vermant J, Lambrechts D, Roeffaers M, Van Oosterwyck H. Fibrin structural and diffusional analysis suggests that fibers are permeable to solute transport. Acta Biomater 2017; 47:25-39. [PMID: 27717911 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2016.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fibrin hydrogels are promising carrier materials in tissue engineering. They are biocompatible and easy to prepare, they can bind growth factors and they can be prepared from a patient's own blood. While fibrin structure and mechanics have been extensively studied, not much is known about the relation between structure and diffusivity of solutes within the network. This is particularly relevant for solutes with a size similar to that of growth factors. A novel methodological approach has been used in this study to retrieve quantitative structural characteristics of fibrin hydrogels, by combining two complementary techniques, namely confocal fluorescence microscopy with a fiber extraction algorithm and turbidity measurements. Bulk rheological measurements were conducted to determine the impact of fibrin hydrogel structure on mechanical properties. From these measurements it can be concluded that variations in the fibrin hydrogel structure have a large impact on the rheological response of the hydrogels (up to two orders of magnitude difference in storage modulus) but only a moderate influence on the diffusivity of dextran solutes (up to 25% difference). By analyzing the diffusivity measurements by means of the Ogston diffusion model we further provide evidence that individual fibrin fibers can be semi-permeable to solute transport, depending on the average distance between individual protofibrils. This can be important for reducing mass transport limitations, for modulating fibrinolysis and for growth factor binding, which are all relevant for tissue engineering. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Fibrin is a natural biopolymer that has drawn much interest as a biomimetic carrier in tissue engineering applications. We hereby use a novel combined approach for the structural characterization of fibrin networks based on optical microscopy and light scattering methods that can also be applied to other fibrillar hydrogels, like collagen. Furthermore, our findings on the relation between solute transport and fibrin structural properties can lead to the optimized design of fibrin hydrogel constructs for controlled release applications. Finally, we provide new evidence for the fact that fibrin fibers may be permeable for solutes with a molecular weight comparable to that of growth factors. This finding may open new avenues for tailoring mass transport properties of fibrin carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimon Alexandros Leonidakis
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jennifer Patterson
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart E Vos
- Biological Soft Matter Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- Biological Soft Matter Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Vermant
- Department of Chemical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dennis Lambrechts
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Carlier A, Skvortsov GA, Hafezi F, Ferraris E, Patterson J, Koç B, Van Oosterwyck H. Computational model-informed design and bioprinting of cell-patterned constructs for bone tissue engineering. Biofabrication 2016; 8:025009. [DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/8/2/025009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Carlier A, Lammens J, Van Oosterwyck H, Geris L. Computational modeling of bone fracture non-unions: four clinically relevant case studies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 2:1. [PMID: 26709368 PMCID: PMC4684906 DOI: 10.1186/s40482-015-0004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The human skeleton has a remarkable regeneration capacity. Nevertheless, 5–10 % of the bone fractures fails to heal and develops into a non-union which is a challenging orthopedic complication requiring complex and expensive treatment. This review paper will discuss four different computational models, each capturing a particular clinical case of non-union: non-union induced by reaming of the marrow canal and periosteal stripping, non-union due to a large interfragmentary gap, non-union due to a genetic disorder [i.e. NF1 related congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia (CPT)] and non-union due to mechanical overload. Together, the four computational models are able to capture the etiology of a wide range of fracture non-union types and design novel treatment strategies thereof. Further research is required to corroborate the computational models in both animal and human settings and translate them from bench to bed side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Carlier
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300 C, PB 2419, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Herestraat 49, PB 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Lammens
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Herestraat 49, PB 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospitals of KU Leuven, KU Leuven, Weligerveld 1-blok 1, 3212 Pellenberg, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300 C, PB 2419, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Herestraat 49, PB 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300 C, PB 2419, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Herestraat 49, PB 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium ; Biomechanics Research Unit, Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Liege, Chemin des Chevreuils 1-BAT 52/3, 4000 Liege 1, Belgium
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Jorge-Peñas A, Izquierdo-Alvarez A, Aguilar-Cuenca R, Vicente-Manzanares M, Garcia-Aznar JM, Van Oosterwyck H, de-Juan-Pardo EM, Ortiz-de-Solorzano C, Muñoz-Barrutia A. Free Form Deformation-Based Image Registration Improves Accuracy of Traction Force Microscopy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144184. [PMID: 26641883 PMCID: PMC4671587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) is a widespread method used to recover cellular tractions from the deformation that they cause in their surrounding substrate. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is commonly used to quantify the substrate’s deformations, due to its simplicity and efficiency. However, PIV relies on a block-matching scheme that easily underestimates the deformations. This is especially relevant in the case of large, locally non-uniform deformations as those usually found in the vicinity of a cell’s adhesions to the substrate. To overcome these limitations, we formulate the calculation of the deformation of the substrate in TFM as a non-rigid image registration process that warps the image of the unstressed material to match the image of the stressed one. In particular, we propose to use a B-spline -based Free Form Deformation (FFD) algorithm that uses a connected deformable mesh to model a wide range of flexible deformations caused by cellular tractions. Our FFD approach is validated in 3D fields using synthetic (simulated) data as well as with experimental data obtained using isolated endothelial cells lying on a deformable, polyacrylamide substrate. Our results show that FFD outperforms PIV providing a deformation field that allows a better recovery of the magnitude and orientation of tractions. Together, these results demonstrate the added value of the FFD algorithm for improving the accuracy of traction recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rocio Aguilar-Cuenca
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, School of Medicine, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Vicente-Manzanares
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, School of Medicine, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Garcia-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena M. de-Juan-Pardo
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, 4059, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Carlos Ortiz-de-Solorzano
- Cancer Imaging Laboratory, Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA), 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia
- Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, 28911, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Vavva MG, Grivas KN, Carlier A, Polyzos D, Geris L, Van Oosterwyck H, Fotiadis DI. A mechano-regulatory model for bone healing predictions under the influence of ultrasound. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2015; 2015:921-924. [PMID: 26736413 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2015.7318513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The bone healing process involves a sequence of cellular action and interaction, regulated by biochemical and mechanical signals. Experimental studies have shown that ultrasound accelerates bone solidification and enhances the underlying healing mechanisms. An integrated computational model is presented for deriving predictions of bone healing under the presence of ultrasound.
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Lambrechts D, Roeffaers M, Goossens K, Hofkens J, Vande Velde G, Van de Putte T, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. Correction: A Causal Relation between Bioluminescence and Oxygen to Quantify the Cell Niche. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128852. [PMID: 26020777 PMCID: PMC4447280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Carlier A, Geris L, Lammens J, Van Oosterwyck H. Bringing computational models of bone regeneration to the clinic. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2015; 7:183-94. [DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Carlier
- Biomechanics Section; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Section; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit; University of Liege; Liege Belgium
| | - Johan Lammens
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Department of Orthopaedics; University Hospitals of KU Leuven; Pellenberg Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering; KU Leuven; Leuven Belgium
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Carlier A, Geris L, Gastel NV, Carmeliet G, Oosterwyck HV. Oxygen as a critical determinant of bone fracture healing—A multiscale model. J Theor Biol 2015; 365:247-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Carlier A, van Gastel N, Geris L, Carmeliet G, Van Oosterwyck H. Size does matter: an integrative in vivo-in silico approach for the treatment of critical size bone defects. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003888. [PMID: 25375821 PMCID: PMC4222588 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although bone has a unique restorative capacity, i.e., it has the potential to heal scarlessly, the conditions for spontaneous bone healing are not always present, leading to a delayed union or a non-union. In this work, we use an integrative in vivo - in silico approach to investigate the occurrence of non-unions, as well as to design possible treatment strategies thereof. The gap size of the domain geometry of a previously published mathematical model was enlarged in order to study the complex interplay of blood vessel formation, oxygen supply, growth factors and cell proliferation on the final healing outcome in large bone defects. The multiscale oxygen model was not only able to capture the essential aspects of in vivo non-unions, it also assisted in understanding the underlying mechanisms of action, i.e., the delayed vascularization of the central callus region resulted in harsh hypoxic conditions, cell death and finally disrupted bone healing. Inspired by the importance of a timely vascularization, as well as by the limited biological potential of the fracture hematoma, the influence of the host environment on the bone healing process in critical size defects was explored further. Moreover, dependent on the host environment, several treatment strategies were designed and tested for effectiveness. A qualitative correspondence between the predicted outcomes of certain treatment strategies and experimental observations was obtained, clearly illustrating the model's potential. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that due to the complex non-linear dynamics of blood vessel formation, oxygen supply, growth factor production and cell proliferation and the interactions thereof with the host environment, an integrative in silico-in vivo approach is a crucial tool to further unravel the occurrence and treatments of challenging critical sized bone defects. In 5–10% of fracture patients, the bone fractures do not heal in the normal healing period (delayed healing) or do not heal at all (non-union). In order to investigate the causes of impaired healing and design potential treatment strategies, we have used a combined experimental and computational approach. More specifically, large bone defects were analyzed in mouse models and simulated by a previously published computational model. After showing that the predictions of the computational model match the observations of the experimental model, we have used the computational model to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action. In particular, the results indicated that the new blood vessels do not reach the central fracture zone in time due to the large defect size, which leads to insufficient oxygen delivery, increased cell death and disrupted bone healing. The healing, however, could be rescued by adequate blood vessel ingrowth from the overlying soft tissues. Moreover, potential treatment strategies were designed based on the influence of these soft tissues. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of a combined experimental and computational approach to contribute to the understanding of pathological processes like the impaired bone regeneration in large bone defects and design future treatments thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Carlier
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Nick van Gastel
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Geert Carmeliet
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Lambrechts D, Roeffaers M, Kerckhofs G, Hofkens J, Van de Putte T, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. Reporter cell activity within hydrogel constructs quantified from oxygen-independent bioluminescence. Biomaterials 2014; 35:8065-77. [PMID: 24957291 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
By providing a three-dimensional (3D) support to cells, hydrogels offer a more relevant in vivo tissue-like environment as compared to two-dimensional cell cultures. Hydrogels can be applied as screening platforms to investigate in 3D the role of biochemical and biophysical cues on cell behaviour using bioluminescent reporter cells. Gradients in oxygen concentration that result from the interplay between molecular transport and cell metabolism can however cause substantial variability in the observed bioluminescent reporter cell activity. To assess the influence of these oxygen gradients on the emitted bioluminescence for various hydrogel geometries, a combined experimental and modelling approach was implemented. We show that the applied model is able to predict oxygen gradient independent bioluminescent intensities which correlate better to the experimentally determined viable cell numbers, as compared to the experimentally measured bioluminescent intensities. By analysis of the bioluminescence reaction dynamics we obtained a quantitative description of cellular oxygen metabolism within the hydrogel, which was validated by direct measurements of oxygen concentration within the hydrogel. Bioluminescence peak intensities can therefore be used as a quantitative measurement of reporter cell activity within a hydrogel, but an unambiguous interpretation of these intensities requires a compensation for the influence of cell-induced oxygen gradients on the luciferase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Lambrechts
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44 - Box 2450, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44 - Box 2450, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Van de Putte
- TiGenix NV, Haasrode Researchpark 1724, Romeinse Straat 12 box 2, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Schrooten
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44 - Box 2450, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - Box 813, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C - Box 2419, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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Lambrechts D, Roeffaers M, Goossens K, Hofkens J, Van de Putte T, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. A causal relation between bioluminescence and oxygen to quantify the cell niche. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97572. [PMID: 24840204 PMCID: PMC4026314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging assays have become a widely integrated technique to quantify effectiveness of cell-based therapies by monitoring fate and survival of transplanted cells. To date these assays are still largely qualitative and often erroneous due to the complexity and dynamics of local micro-environments (niches) in which the cells reside. Here, we report, using a combined experimental and computational approach, on oxygen that besides being a critical niche component responsible for cellular energy metabolism and cell-fate commitment, also serves a primary role in regulating bioluminescent light kinetics. We demonstrate the potential of an oxygen dependent Michaelis-Menten relation in quantifying intrinsic bioluminescence intensities by resolving cell-associated oxygen gradients from bioluminescent light that is emitted from three-dimensional (3D) cell-seeded hydrogels. Furthermore, the experimental and computational data indicate a strong causal relation of oxygen concentration with emitted bioluminescence intensities. Altogether our approach demonstrates the importance of oxygen to evolve towards quantitative bioluminescence and holds great potential for future microscale measurement of oxygen tension in an easily accessible manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Lambrechts
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karel Goossens
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jan Schrooten
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Zahedmanesh H, Stoddart M, Lezuo P, Forkmann C, Wimmmer MA, Alini M, Van Oosterwyck H. Deciphering mechanical regulation of chondrogenesis in fibrin-polyurethane composite scaffolds enriched with human mesenchymal stem cells: a dual computational and experimental approach. Tissue Eng Part A 2014; 20:1197-212. [PMID: 24199606 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2013.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrin-polyurethane composite scaffolds support chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from bone marrow and due to their robust mechanical properties allow mechanical loading in dynamic bioreactors, which has been shown to increase the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs through the transforming growth factor beta pathway. The aim of this study was to use the finite element method, mechanical testing, and dynamic in vitro cell culture experiments on hMSC-enriched fibrin-polyurethane composite scaffolds to quantitatively decipher the mechanoregulation of chondrogenesis within these constructs. The study identified compressive principal strains as the key regulator of chondrogenesis in the constructs. Although dynamic uniaxial compression did not induce chondrogenesis, multiaxial loading by combined application of dynamic compression and interfacial shear induced significant chondrogenesis at locations where all the three principal strains were compressive and had a minimum magnitude of 10%. In contrast, no direct correlation was identified between the level of pore fluid velocity and chondrogenesis. Due to the high permeability of the constructs, the pore fluid pressures could not be increased sufficiently by mechanical loading, and instead, chondrogenesis was induced by triaxial compressive deformations of the matrix with a minimum magnitude of 10%. Thus, it can be concluded that dynamic triaxial compressive deformations of the matrix is sufficient to induce chondrogenesis in a threshold-dependent manner, even where the pore fluid pressure is negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houman Zahedmanesh
- 1 Biomechanics Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Odenthal T, Smeets B, Van Liedekerke P, Tijskens E, Van Oosterwyck H, Ramon H. Analysis of initial cell spreading using mechanistic contact formulations for a deformable cell model. PLoS Comput Biol 2013; 9:e1003267. [PMID: 24146605 PMCID: PMC3798278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesion governs to a large extent the mechanical interaction between a cell and its microenvironment. As initial cell spreading is purely adhesion driven, understanding this phenomenon leads to profound insight in both cell adhesion and cell-substrate interaction. It has been found that across a wide variety of cell types, initial spreading behavior universally follows the same power laws. The simplest cell type providing this scaling of the radius of the spreading area with time are modified red blood cells (RBCs), whose elastic responses are well characterized. Using a mechanistic description of the contact interaction between a cell and its substrate in combination with a deformable RBC model, we are now able to investigate in detail the mechanisms behind this universal power law. The presented model suggests that the initial slope of the spreading curve with time results from a purely geometrical effect facilitated mainly by dissipation upon contact. Later on, the spreading rate decreases due to increasing tension and dissipation in the cell's cortex as the cell spreads more and more. To reproduce this observed initial spreading, no irreversible deformations are required. Since the model created in this effort is extensible to more complex cell types and can cope with arbitrarily shaped, smooth mechanical microenvironments of the cells, it can be useful for a wide range of investigations where forces at the cell boundary play a decisive role. How cells spread on a newly encountered surface is an important issue, since it hints at how cells interact physically with the specific material in general. It has been shown before that many cell types have very similar early spreading behavior. This observation has been linked to the mechanical nature of the phenomenon, during which a cell cannot yet react by changing its structure and behavior. Understanding in detail how this passive spreading occurs, and what clues a cell may later respond to is the goal of this work. At the same time, the model we develop here should be very valuable for more complex situations of interacting cells, since it is able to reproduce the purely mechanical response in detail. We find that spreading is limited mainly by energy dissipation upon contact and later dissipation in the cell's cortex and that no irreversible deformation occurs during the spreading of red blood cells on an adhesive surface.
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Smeets B, Odenthal T, Tijskens E, Ramon H, Van Oosterwyck H. Quantifying the mechanical micro-environment during three-dimensional cell expansion on microbeads by means of individual cell-based modelling. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2013; 16:1071-84. [DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2013.829461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Van Oosterwyck H, Rodríguez JF, Doblaré M, García Aznar JM. An affine micro-sphere-based constitutive model, accounting for junctional sliding, can capture F-actin network mechanics. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2013; 16:1002-12. [DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2011.648626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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35
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Karunratanakul K, Kerckhofs G, Lammens J, Vanlauwe J, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. Validation of a finite element model of a unilateral external fixator in a rabbit tibia defect model. Med Eng Phys 2013; 35:1037-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2012.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lambrechts D, Roeffaers M, Kerckhofs G, Roberts SJ, Hofkens J, Van de Putte T, Van Oosterwyck H, Schrooten J. Fluorescent oxygen sensitive microbead incorporation for measuring oxygen tension in cell aggregates. Biomaterials 2012; 34:922-9. [PMID: 23122803 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Molecular oxygen is a main regulator of various cell functions. Imaging methods designed as screening tools for fast, in situ, 3D and non-interfering measurement of oxygen tension in the cellular microenvironment would serve great purpose in identifying and monitoring this vital and pivotal signalling molecule. We describe the use of dual luminophore oxygen sensitive microbeads to measure absolute oxygen concentrations in cellular aggregates. Stable microbead integration, a prerequisite for their practical application, was ensured by a site-specific delivery method that is based on the interactions between streptavidin and biotin. The spatial stability introduced by this method allowed for long term measurements of oxygen tension without interfering with the cell aggregation process. By making multiple calibration experiments we further demonstrated the potential of these sensors to measure local oxygen tension in optically dense cellular environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Lambrechts
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, Box 2450, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Carlier A, Geris L, Bentley K, Carmeliet G, Carmeliet P, Van Oosterwyck H. MOSAIC: a multiscale model of osteogenesis and sprouting angiogenesis with lateral inhibition of endothelial cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2012; 8:e1002724. [PMID: 23071433 PMCID: PMC3469420 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 08/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The healing of a fracture depends largely on the development of a new blood vessel network (angiogenesis) in the callus. During angiogenesis tip cells lead the developing sprout in response to extracellular signals, amongst which vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical. In order to ensure a correct development of the vasculature, the balance between stalk and tip cell phenotypes must be tightly controlled, which is primarily achieved by the Dll4-Notch1 signaling pathway. This study presents a novel multiscale model of osteogenesis and sprouting angiogenesis, incorporating lateral inhibition of endothelial cells (further denoted MOSAIC model) through Dll4-Notch1 signaling, and applies it to fracture healing. The MOSAIC model correctly predicted the bone regeneration process and recapitulated many experimentally observed aspects of tip cell selection: the salt and pepper pattern seen for cell fates, an increased tip cell density due to the loss of Dll4 and an excessive number of tip cells in high VEGF environments. When VEGF concentration was even further increased, the MOSAIC model predicted the absence of a vascular network and fracture healing, thereby leading to a non-union, which is a direct consequence of the mutual inhibition of neighboring cells through Dll4-Notch1 signaling. This result was not retrieved for a more phenomenological model that only considers extracellular signals for tip cell migration, which illustrates the importance of implementing the actual signaling pathway rather than phenomenological rules. Finally, the MOSAIC model demonstrated the importance of a proper criterion for tip cell selection and the need for experimental data to further explore this. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the MOSAIC model creates enhanced capabilities for investigating the influence of molecular mechanisms on angiogenesis and its relation to bone formation in a more mechanistic way and across different time and spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Carlier
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Katie Bentley
- Vascular Biology Lab, Cancer Research UK, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geert Carmeliet
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular link, Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular link, Vesalius Research Center, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, O&N 1, Leuven, Belgium
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Zahedmanesh H, Van Oosterwyck H, Lally C. A multi-scale mechanobiological model of in-stent restenosis: deciphering the role of matrix metalloproteinase and extracellular matrix changes. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2012; 17:813-28. [DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2012.716830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kerkhofs J, Geris L, Bosmans B, Van Oosterwyck H. BRIDGING THE GAP: A THEORETICAL MODEL OF MECHANOTRANSDUCTION THROUGH ERK SIGNALLING. J Biomech 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(12)70420-7] [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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40
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Karunratanakul K, Schrooten J, Lammens J, Vanlauwe J, Van Oosterwyck H. A VALIDATED FE MODEL OF A UNILATERAL FIXATOR FOR BONE RECONSTRUCTION IN THE RABBIT TIBIA. J Biomech 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9290(12)70216-6] [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: 11/30/2022]
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41
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Demol J, Deun DV, Haex B, Oosterwyck HV, Sloten JV. Modelling the effect of repositioning on the evolution of skeletal muscle damage in deep tissue injury. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2012; 12:267-79. [PMID: 22576902 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-012-0397-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Deep tissue injury (DTI) is a localized area of tissue necrosis that originates in the subcutaneous layers under an intact skin and tends to develop when soft tissue is compressed for a prolonged period of time. In clinical practice, DTI is particularly common in bedridden patients and remains a serious issue in todays health care. Repositioning is generally considered to be an effective preventive measure of pressure ulcers. However, limited experimental research and no computational studies have been undertaken on this method. In this study, a methodology was developed to evaluate the influence of different repositioning intervals on the location, size and severity of DTI in bedridden patients. The spatiotemporal evolution of compressive stresses and skeletal muscle viability during the first 48 h of DTI onset was simulated for repositioning schemes in which a patient is turned every 2, 3, 4 or 6 h. The model was able to reproduce important experimental findings, including the morphology and location of DTI in human patients as well as the discrepancy between the internal tissue loads and the contact pressure at the interface with the environment. In addition, the model indicated that the severity and size of DTI were reduced by shortening the repositioning intervals. In conclusion, the computational framework presented in this study provides a promising modelling approach that can help to objectively select the appropriate repositioning scheme that is effective and efficient in the prevention of DTI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Demol
- Biomechanics Section, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300C, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium
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42
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Kerkhofs J, Roberts SJ, Luyten FP, Van Oosterwyck H, Geris L. Relating the chondrocyte gene network to growth plate morphology: from genes to phenotype. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34729. [PMID: 22558096 PMCID: PMC3340393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
During endochondral ossification, chondrocyte growth and differentiation is controlled by many local signalling pathways. Due to crosstalks and feedback mechanisms, these interwoven pathways display a network like structure. In this study, a large-scale literature based logical model of the growth plate network was developed. The network is able to capture the different states (resting, proliferating and hypertrophic) that chondrocytes go through as they progress within the growth plate. In a first corroboration step, the effect of mutations in various signalling pathways of the growth plate network was investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Kerkhofs
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Biomechanics section, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, The Leuven R&D division of skeletal tissue engineering, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Scott J. Roberts
- Prometheus, The Leuven R&D division of skeletal tissue engineering, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rheumatology Department, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank P. Luyten
- Prometheus, The Leuven R&D division of skeletal tissue engineering, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Rheumatology Department, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics section, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, The Leuven R&D division of skeletal tissue engineering, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Prometheus, The Leuven R&D division of skeletal tissue engineering, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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43
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Lambrechts D, Schrooten J, Van de Putte T, Van Oosterwyck H. Computational Modeling of Mass Transport and Its Relation to Cell Behavior in Tissue Engineering Constructs. Computational Modeling in Tissue Engineering 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/8415_2012_139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Truscello S, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. A Computational Tool for the Upscaling of Regular Scaffolds During In Vitro Perfusion Culture. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2011; 17:619-30. [DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2010.0647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Truscello
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Schrooten
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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45
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De Boodt S, Truscello S, Özcan SE, Leroy T, Van Oosterwyck H, Berckmans D, Schrooten J. Bi-Modular Flow Characterization in Tissue Engineering Scaffolds Using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Particle Imaging Velocimetry. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2010; 16:1553-64. [DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2010.0107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian De Boodt
- Division M3-BIORES: Measure, Model, and Manage Bioresponses, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silvia Truscello
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Sezin Eren Özcan
- Division M3-BIORES: Measure, Model, and Manage Bioresponses, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Toon Leroy
- Division M3-BIORES: Measure, Model, and Manage Bioresponses, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Daniel Berckmans
- Division M3-BIORES: Measure, Model, and Manage Bioresponses, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Jan Schrooten
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
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46
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Geris L, Vandamme K, Naert I, Sloten JV, Van Oosterwyck H, Duyck J. Mechanical Loading Affects Angiogenesis and Osteogenesis in an In Vivo Bone Chamber: A Modeling Study. Tissue Eng Part A 2010; 16:3353-61. [DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2010.0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Liesbet Geris
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Biomechanics Research Unit, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department U.Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Katleen Vandamme
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry/BIOMAT Research Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Maxillofacial Surgery, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ignace Naert
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry/BIOMAT Research Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Maxillofacial Surgery, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jos Vander Sloten
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joke Duyck
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry/BIOMAT Research Cluster, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology, and Maxillofacial Surgery, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Geris L, Reed AAC, Vander Sloten J, Simpson AHRW, Van Oosterwyck H. Occurrence and treatment of bone atrophic non-unions investigated by an integrative approach. PLoS Comput Biol 2010; 6:e1000915. [PMID: 20824125 PMCID: PMC2932678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2010] [Accepted: 08/03/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently developed atrophic non-union models are a good representation of the clinical situation in which many non-unions develop. Based on previous experimental studies with these atrophic non-union models, it was hypothesized that in order to obtain successful fracture healing, blood vessels, growth factors, and (proliferative) precursor cells all need to be present in the callus at the same time. This study uses a combined in vivo-in silico approach to investigate these different aspects (vasculature, growth factors, cell proliferation). The mathematical model, initially developed for the study of normal fracture healing, is able to capture essential aspects of the in vivo atrophic non-union model despite a number of deviations that are mainly due to simplifications in the in silico model. The mathematical model is subsequently used to test possible treatment strategies for atrophic non-unions (i.e. cell transplant at post-osteotomy, week 3). Preliminary in vivo experiments corroborate the numerical predictions. Finally, the mathematical model is applied to explain experimental observations and identify potentially crucial steps in the treatments and can thereby be used to optimize experimental and clinical studies in this area. This study demonstrates the potential of the combined in silico-in vivo approach and its clinical implications for the early treatment of patients with problematic fractures. In light of the ageing population, the occurrence of bone fractures is expected to rise substantially in the near future. In 5 to 10% of these cases, the healing process does not succeed in repairing the bone, leading to the formation of delayed unions or even non-unions. In this study we used a combination of an animal model mimicking a clinical non-union situation and a mathematical model developed for normal fracture healing to investigate both the causes of non-union formation and potential therapeutic strategies that can be applied to restart the healing process. After showing that the mathematical model is able to simulate key aspects of the non-union formation, we have used it to investigate several treatment strategies. One of these strategies, the treatment of a non-union involving a transplantation of cells from the bone marrow to the fracture site, was also tested in a pilot animal experiment. Both the simulations and the experiments showed the formation of a bony union between the fractured bone ends. In addition, we used the mathematical model to explain some unexpected experimental observations. This study demonstrates the added value of using a combination of mathematical modelling and experimental research as well the potential of using cell transplantation for the treatment of non-unions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbet Geris
- Division of Biomechanics and Engineering Design, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Karunratanakul K, Schrooten J, Van Oosterwyck H. Finite element modelling of a unilateral fixator for bone reconstruction: Importance of contact settings. Med Eng Phys 2010; 32:461-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2010.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2009] [Revised: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/30/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Stoppie N, Van Oosterwyck H, Jansen J, Wolke J, Wevers M, Naert I. The influence of Young's modulus of loaded implants on bone remodeling: an experimental and numerical study in the goat knee. J Biomed Mater Res A 2009; 90:792-803. [PMID: 18615463 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.32145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the Young's modulus of the implant material on the bone remodeling in a loaded condition. A combined animal experimental and computational study was set up. The animal experimental group comprised of 16 Saanen goats, each receiving one titanium implant (Young's modulus 110 GPa) and one high-density polyethylene (HDPE) implant (Young's modulus 1 GPa) in the left femoral condyle. Both types of implants received a titanium coating of 100 nm thickness. The implants protruded in the knee joint space and were directly weight bearing. The first group of eight goats was sacrificed after 6 weeks of loading and the second group of eight goats after 6 months of loading. The 16 femoral condyles with the 32 implants were prepared for microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning and histological sectioning. Three-dimensional trabecular bone parameters were calculated on the micro-CT images for the zones neck, middle, and apex of the implant. The percent of bone contact with the implant was measured on longitudinal histological sections. An axisymmetric finite element (FE) model was created to compare peri-implant bone strains and relative motion between a titanium and a HDPE implant for the experimental loading condition, and to assess the influence of different bone-implant interface (contact) conditions. From the statistical analysis of the 3D bone parameters, the difference between the titanium and HDPE implants was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the zones (neck, middle, and apex) for both groups of goats. The implants could be considered in their entirety. After 6 weeks of loading, the PE implant presented lower connectivity and smaller marrow spaces in the circular region of 0-500 microm. In the region 500-1500 microm more bone volume was present for the PE implant. After 6 months, the PE implants showed more bone volume and thicker trabeculae than the titanium implants for the entire length of the implant. This effect was already present in the smallest region of interest, 0-500 microm. After 6 months more fibrous encapsulation was found around titanium implants. FE results demonstrated a substantial influence of the interface conditions on peri-implant strains and relative motion. For interface conditions that were representative for the early postoperative situation (involving press-fit and friction), differences in peri-implant bone strain distributions between titanium and HDPE could be related to the experimentally observed differences in amounts of bone and fibrous encapsulation. In contrast, differences in relative motion did not seem to play a role. Both the experimental and computational results suggest that implant stiffness can affect the peri-implant tissue response, which may be related to differences in peri-implant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Stoppie
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry/BIOMAT Research Group, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
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De Visscher G, Lebacq A, Mesure L, Blockx H, Vranken I, Plusquin R, Meuris B, Herregods MC, Van Oosterwyck H, Flameng W. The remodeling of cardiovascular bioprostheses under influence of stem cell homing signal pathways. Biomaterials 2009; 31:20-8. [PMID: 19775751 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2009] [Accepted: 09/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Optimizing current heart valve replacement strategies by creating living prostheses is a necessity to alleviate complications with current bioprosthetic devices such as calcification and degeneration. Regenerative medicine, mostly in vitro tissue engineering, is the forerunner of this optimization search, yet here we show the functionality of an in vivo alternative making use of 2 homing axes for stem cells. In rats we studied the signaling pathways of stem cells on implanted bioprosthetic tissue (photooxidized bovine pericardium (POP)), by gene and protein expression analysis. We found that SDF-1alpha/CXCR4 and FN/VLA4 homing axes play a role. When we implanted vascular grafts impregnated with SDF-1alpha and/or FN as carotid artery interpositions, primitive cells were attracted from the circulation. Next, bioprosthetic heart valves, constructed from POP impregnated with SDF-1alpha and/or FN, were implanted in pulmonary position. As shown by CD90, CD34 and CD117 immunofluorescent staining they became completely recellularized after 5 months, had a normal function and biomechanical properties and specifically the combination of SDF-1alpha and FN had an optimal valve-cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geofrey De Visscher
- Laboratory for Experimental Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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