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González-Itier S, Miranda M, Corrales-Orovio R, Vera C, Veloso-Giménez V, Cárdenas-Calderón C, Egaña JT. Plants as a cost-effective source for customizable photosynthetic wound dressings: A proof of concept study. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 38555480 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28705] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Oxygen is essential for tissue regeneration, playing a crucial role in several processes, including cell metabolism and immune response. Therefore, the delivery of oxygen to wounds is an active field of research, and recent studies have highlighted the potential use of photosynthetic biomaterials as alternative oxygenation approach. However, while plants have traditionally been used to enhance tissue regeneration, their potential to produce and deliver local oxygen to wounds has not yet been explored. Hence, in this work we studied the oxygen-releasing capacity of Marchantia polymorpha explants, showing their capacity to release oxygen under different illumination settings and temperatures. Moreover, co-culture experiments revealed that the presence of these explants had no adverse effects on the viability and morphology of fibroblasts in vitro, nor on the viability of zebrafish larvae in vivo. Furthermore, oxygraphy assays demonstrate that these explants could fulfill the oxygen metabolic requirements of zebrafish larvae and freshly isolated skin biopsies ex vivo. Finally, the biocompatibility of explants was confirmed through a human skin irritation test conducted in healthy volunteers following the ISO-10993-10-2010. This proof-of-concept study provides valuable scientific insights, proposing the potential use of freshly isolated plants as biocompatible low-cost oxygen delivery systems for wound healing and tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio González-Itier
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Miranda
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Agronomy, Universidad de las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rocío Corrales-Orovio
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Constanza Vera
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Veloso-Giménez
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Cárdenas-Calderón
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Tomás Egaña
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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2
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Ehrenfeld C, Veloso-Giménez V, Corrales-Orovio R, Rebolledo R, Boric MP, Egaña JT. Microalgae share key features with human erythrocytes and can safely circulate through the vascular system in mice. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s00253-023-12588-z. [PMID: 37227473 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12588-z] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As animal cells cannot produce oxygen, erythrocytes are responsible for gas interchange, being able to capture and deliver oxygen upon tissue request. Interestingly, several other cells in nature produce oxygen by photosynthesis, raising the question of whether they could circulate within the vascular networks, acting as an alternative source for oxygen delivery. To address this long-term goal, here some physical and mechanical features of the photosynthetic microalga Chlamydomona reinhardtii were studied and compared with erythrocytes, revealing that both exhibit similar size and rheological properties. Moreover, key biocompatibility aspects of the microalgae were evaluated in vitro and in vivo, showing that C. reinhardtii can be co-cultured with endothelial cells, without affecting each other's morphology and viability. Moreover, short-term systemic perfusion of the microalgae showed a thoroughly intravascular distribution in mice. Finally, the systemic injection of high numbers of microalgae did not trigger deleterious responses in living mice. Altogether, this work provides key scientific insights to support the notion that photosynthetic oxygenation could be achieved by circulating microalgae, representing another important step towards human photosynthesis. KEY POINTS: • C. reinhardtii and endothelial cells are biocompatible in vitro. • C. reinhardtii distribute throughout the entire vasculature after mice perfusion. • C. reinhardtii do not trigger deleterious responses after injection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Ehrenfeld
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7821093, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Portugal 49, 8331150, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Veloso-Giménez
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7821093, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rocío Corrales-Orovio
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7821093, Santiago, Chile
- Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rolando Rebolledo
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7821093, Santiago, Chile
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Unit, Surgery Service, Complejo Asistencial Dr. Sótero Del Río, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio P Boric
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Portugal 49, 8331150, Santiago, Chile.
| | - José Tomás Egaña
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, 7821093, Santiago, Chile.
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3
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Castillo V, Díaz-Astudillo P, Corrales-Orovio R, San Martín S, Egaña JT. Comprehensive Characterization of Tissues Derived from Animals at Different Regenerative Stages: A Comparative Analysis between Fetal and Adult Mouse Skin. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091215. [PMID: 37174615 PMCID: PMC10177150 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091215] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue regeneration capabilities vary significantly throughout an organism's lifespan. For example, mammals can fully regenerate until they reach specific developmental stages, after which they can only repair the tissue without restoring its original architecture and function. The high regenerative potential of fetal stages has been attributed to various factors, such as stem cells, the immune system, specific growth factors, and the presence of extracellular matrix molecules upon damage. To better understand the local differences between regenerative and reparative tissues, we conducted a comparative analysis of skin derived from mice at regenerative and reparative stages. Our findings show that both types of skin differ in their molecular composition, structure, and functionality. We observed a significant increase in cellular density, nucleic acid content, neutral lipid density, Collagen III, and glycosaminoglycans in regenerative skin compared with reparative skin. Additionally, regenerative skin had significantly higher porosity, metabolic activity, water absorption capacity, and elasticity than reparative skin. Finally, our results also revealed significant differences in lipid distribution, extracellular matrix pore size, and proteoglycans between the two groups. This study provides comprehensive data on the molecular and structural clues that enable full tissue regeneration in fetal stages, which could aid in developing new biomaterials and strategies for tissue engineering and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Castillo
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Pamela Díaz-Astudillo
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2540064, Chile
| | - Rocío Corrales-Orovio
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
- Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastián San Martín
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2540064, Chile
| | - José Tomás Egaña
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
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4
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Obaíd ML, Carvajal F, Camacho JP, Corrales-Orovio R, Martorell X, Varas J, Calderón W, Guzmán CD, Brenet M, Castro M, Orlandi C, San Martín S, Eblen-Zajjur A, Egaña JT. Case report: Long-term follow-up of a large full-thickness skin defect treated with a photosynthetic scaffold for dermal regeneration. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1004155. [DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1004155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
It is broadly described that almost every step of the regeneration process requires proper levels of oxygen supply; however, due to the vascular disruption in wounds, oxygen availability is reduced, being detrimental to the regeneration process. Therefore, the development of novel biomaterials combined with improved clinical procedures to promote wound oxygenation is an active field of research in regenerative medicine. This case report derives from a cohort of patients enrolled in a previously published ongoing phase I clinical trial (NCT03960164), to assess safety of photosynthetic scaffolds for the treatment of full skin defects. Here, we present a 56 year old patient, with a scar contracture in the cubital fossa, which impaired the elbow extension significantly affecting her quality of life. As part of the treatment, the scar contracture was removed, and the full-thickness wound generated was surgically covered with a photosynthetic scaffold for dermal regeneration, which was illuminated to promote local oxygen production. Then, in a second procedure, an autograft was implanted on top of the scaffold and the patient’s progress was followed for up to 17 months. Successful outcome of the whole procedure was measured as improvement in functionality, clinical appearance, and self-perception of the treated area. This case report underscores the long-term safety and applicability of photosynthetic scaffolds for dermal regeneration and their stable compatibility with other surgical procedures such as autograft application. Moreover, this report also shows the ability to further improve the clinical outcome of this procedure by means of dermal vacuum massage therapy and, more importantly, shows an overall long-term improvement in patient´s quality of life, supporting the translation of photosynthetic therapies into human patients.
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5
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Veloso-Giménez V, Escamilla R, Necuñir D, Corrales-Orovio R, Riveros S, Marino C, Ehrenfeld C, Guzmán CD, Boric MP, Rebolledo R, Egaña JT. Development of a Novel Perfusable Solution for ex vivo Preservation: Towards Photosynthetic Oxygenation for Organ Transplantation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:796157. [PMID: 34976984 PMCID: PMC8714958 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.796157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygen is the key molecule for aerobic metabolism, but no animal cells can produce it, creating an extreme dependency on external supply. In contrast, microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms, therefore, they are able to produce oxygen as plant cells do. As hypoxia is one of the main issues in organ transplantation, especially during preservation, the main goal of this work was to develop the first generation of perfusable photosynthetic solutions, exploring its feasibility for ex vivo organ preservation. Here, the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was incorporated in a standard preservation solution, and key aspects such as alterations in cell size, oxygen production and survival were studied. Osmolarity and rheological features of the photosynthetic solution were comparable to human blood. In terms of functionality, the photosynthetic solution proved to be not harmful and to provide sufficient oxygen to support the metabolic requirement of zebrafish larvae and rat kidney slices. Thereafter, isolated porcine kidneys were perfused, and microalgae reached all renal vasculature, without inducing damage. After perfusion and flushing, no signs of tissue damage were detected, and recovered microalgae survived the process. Altogether, this work proposes the use of photosynthetic microorganisms as vascular oxygen factories to generate and deliver oxygen in isolated organs, representing a novel and promising strategy for organ preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Veloso-Giménez
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosalba Escamilla
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - David Necuñir
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rocío Corrales-Orovio
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, LMU Munich, University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergio Riveros
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlo Marino
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Ehrenfeld
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Mauricio P Boric
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rolando Rebolledo
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Surgery Service, Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Tomás Egaña
- Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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6
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Obaíd ML, Camacho JP, Brenet M, Corrales-Orovio R, Carvajal F, Martorell X, Werner C, Simón V, Varas J, Calderón W, Guzmán CD, Bono MR, San Martín S, Eblen-Zajjur A, Egaña JT. A First in Human Trial Implanting Microalgae Shows Safety of Photosynthetic Therapy for the Effective Treatment of Full Thickness Skin Wounds. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:772324. [PMID: 34917636 PMCID: PMC8669306 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.772324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Insufficient oxygen supply represents a relevant issue in several fields of human physiology and medicine. It has been suggested that the implantation of photosynthetic cells can provide oxygen to tissues in the absence of a vascular supply. This approach has been demonstrated to be successful in several in vitro and in vivo models; however, no data is available about their safety in human patients. Here, an early phase-1 clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03960164, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03960164) is presented to evaluate the safety and feasibility of implanting photosynthetic scaffolds for dermal regeneration in eight patients with full-thickness skin wounds. Overall, this trial shows that the presence of the photosynthetic microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in the implanted scaffolds did not trigger any deleterious local or systemic immune responses in a 90 days follow-up, allowing full tissue regeneration in humans. The results presented here represent the first attempt to treat patients with photosynthetic cells, supporting the translation of photosynthetic therapies into clinics. Clinical Trial Registration:www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03960164, identifier: NCT03960164.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Luis Obaíd
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Marianne Brenet
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rocío Corrales-Orovio
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Division of Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, University Hospital Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Felipe Carvajal
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | - Valeska Simón
- Department of Biology, Faculty Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Varas
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Wilfredo Calderón
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Hospital del Salvador, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - María Rosa Bono
- Department of Biology, Faculty Science, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián San Martín
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Antonio Eblen-Zajjur
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Translational Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Tomás Egaña
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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