Publications
495 results found
Hedegaard MAB, Cloyd KL, Horejs C-M, et al., 2014, Model based variable selection as a tool to highlight biological differences in Raman spectra of cells, Analyst, Vol: 139, Pages: 4629-4633, ISSN: 0003-2654
Nair R, Santos L, Awasthi S, et al., 2014, Extracellular vesicles derived from preosteoblasts influence embryonic stem cell differentiation, Stem Cells and Development, Vol: 23, Pages: 1625-1635, ISSN: 1557-8534
Poologasundarampillai G, Yu B, Tsigkou O, et al., 2014, Poly(gamma-glutamic acid)/Silica Hybrids with Calcium Incorporated in the Silica Network by Use of a Calcium Alkoxide Precursor, Chemistry-A European Journal, Vol: 20, Pages: 8149-8160, ISSN: 1521-3765
Current materials used for bone regeneration are usually bioactive ceramics or glasses. Although they bond to bone, they are brittle. There is a need for new materials that can combine bioactivity with toughness and controlled biodegradation. Sol-gel hybrids have the potential to do this through their nanoscale interpenetrating networks (IPN) of inorganic and organic components. Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) was introduced into the sol-gel process to produce a hybrid of γ-PGA and bioactive silica. Calcium is an important element for bone regeneration but calcium sources that are used traditionally in the sol-gel process, such as Ca salts, do not allow Ca incorporation into the silicate network during low-temperature processing. The hypothesis for this study was that using calcium methoxyethoxide (CME) as the Ca source would allow Ca incorporation into the silicate component of the hybrid at room temperature. The produced hybrids would have improved mechanical properties and controlled degradation compared with hybrids of calcium chloride (CaCl2), in which the Ca is not incorporated into the silicate network. Class II hybrids, with covalent bonds between the inorganic and organic species, were synthesised by using organosilane. Calcium incorporation in both the organic and inorganic IPNs of the hybrid was improved when CME was used. This was clearly observed by using FTIR and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, which showed ionic cross-linking of γ-PGA by Ca and a lower degree of condensation of the Si species compared with the hybrids made with CaCl2 as the Ca source. The ionic cross-linking of γ-PGA by Ca resulted in excellent compressive strength and reduced elastic modulus as measured by compressive testing and nanoindentation, respectively. All hybrids showed bioactivity as hydroxyapatite (HA) was formed after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF).
Lin Y, Chapman R, Stevens MM, 2014, Label-free multimodal protease detection based on protein/perylene dye coassembly and enzyme-triggered disassembly, Analytical Chemistry, Vol: 86, Pages: 6410-6417, ISSN: 1086-4377
de la Rica R, Mendoza E, Chow LW, et al., 2014, Self-assembly of collagen building blocks guided by electric fields, Small, Vol: 10, Pages: 3876-3879, ISSN: 1613-6810
Show me the way: protein building blocks are programmed to assemble hierarchically and yield a defined fiber morphology of micrometric length and precise nanometric diameter. The key step of this method is to align the building blocks with an AC field prior to assembly. The resulting protein nanofibers are straightforwardly integrated with the circuitry for potential applications in bionanotechnology.
de la Rica R, Bat E, Herpoldt KL, et al., 2014, Nanoparticle growth via concentration gradients generated by enzyme nanopatterns, Advanced Functional Materials, Vol: 24, Pages: 3692-3698, ISSN: 1616-3028
Smith EL, Kanczler JM, Gothard D, et al., 2014, Dual growth factor-releasing hydrogels for enhancement of skeletal tissue repair within an <i>ex vivo</i> chick femur defect model, JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, Vol: 8, Pages: 361-361, ISSN: 1932-6254
Poologasundarampillai G, Wang D, Li S, et al., 2014, Cotton-wool-like bioactive glasses for bone regeneration, Acta Biomaterialia, Vol: 10, Pages: 3733-3746, ISSN: 1742-7061
Inorganic sol–gel solutions were electrospun to produce the first bioactive three-dimensional (3-D) scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration with a structure like cotton-wool (or cotton candy). This flexible 3-D fibrous structure is ideal for packing into complex defects. It also has large inter-fiber spaces to promote vascularization, penetration of cells and transport of nutrients throughout the scaffold. The 3-D fibrous structure was obtained by electrospinning, where the applied electric field and the instabilities exert tremendous force on the spinning jet, which is required to be viscoelastic to prevent jet break up. Previously, polymer binding agents were used with inorganic solutions to produce electrospun composite two-dimensional fibermats, requiring calcination to remove the polymer. This study presents novel reaction and processing conditions for producing a viscoelastic inorganic sol–gel solution that results in fibers by the entanglement of the intermolecularly overlapped nanosilica species in the solution, eliminating the need for a binder. Three-dimensional cotton-wool-like structures were only produced when solutions containing calcium nitrate were used, suggesting that the charge of the Ca2+ ions had a significant effect. The resulting bioactive silica fibers had a narrow diameter range of 0.5–2 μm and were nanoporous. A hydroxycarbonate apatite layer was formed on the fibers within the first 12 h of soaking in simulated body fluid. MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells cultured on the fibers showed no adverse cytotoxic effect and they were observed to attach to and spread in the material.
Bertazzo S, Steele JAM, Chester AH, et al., 2014, Cardiovascular calcification violet pearl, The Lancet, Vol: 384, Pages: 1294-1294, ISSN: 0140-6736
Steele JAM, McCullen SD, Callanan A, et al., 2014, Combinatorial scaffold morphologies for zonal articular cartilage engineering, ACTA BIOMATERIALIA, Vol: 10, Pages: 2065-2075, ISSN: 1742-7061
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- Citations: 104
Horejs C-M, Serio A, Purvis A, et al., 2014, Biologically-active laminin-111 fragment that modulates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in embryonic stem cells, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol: 111, Pages: 5908-5913, ISSN: 0027-8424
The dynamic interplay between the extracellular matrix and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) constitutes one of the key steps in understanding stem cell differentiation in vitro. Here we report a biologically-active laminin-111 fragment generated by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) processing, which is highly up-regulated during differentiation. We show that the β1-chain–derived fragment interacts via α3β1-integrins, thereby triggering the down-regulation of MMP2 in mouse and human ESCs. Additionally, the expression of MMP9 and E-cadherin is up-regulated in mouse ESCs—key players in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We also demonstrate that the fragment acts through the α3β1-integrin/extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer complex. This study reveals a previously unidentified role of laminin-111 in early stem cell differentiation that goes far beyond basement membrane assembly and a mechanism by which an MMP2-cleaved laminin fragment regulates the expression of E-cadherin, MMP2, and MMP9.
Basey-Fisher TH, Guerra N, Triulzi C, et al., 2014, Microwaving blood as a non‐destructive technique for haemoglobin measurements on microlitre samples, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Vol: 3, Pages: 536-542, ISSN: 2192-2640
The electric field component of the microwaves emanating from the dielectric resonator is able to penetrate the microfluidic channel, serum, and individual blood cells. Subsequently, it interacts with every hemoglobin molecule present within each red blood cell. On page 536 , Toby H. Basey-Fisher and team conclude that the dielectric contrast between water and hemoglobin means that a change in the hemoglobin concentration leads to a change in the microwave response.
Basey-Fisher TH, Guerra N, Triulzi C, et al., 2014, Microwaving Blood as a Non-Destructive Technique for Haemoglobin Measurements on Microlitre Samples, ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS, Vol: 3, Pages: 536-542, ISSN: 2192-2640
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- Citations: 18
Newman SD, Lotfibakhshaiesh N, O'Donnell M, et al., 2014, Enhanced Osseous Implant Fixation with Strontium-Substituted Bioactive Glass Coating, TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, Vol: 20, Pages: 1850-1857, ISSN: 1937-3341
The use of endosseous implants is firmly established in skeletal reconstructive surgery, with rapid and permanent fixation of prostheses being a highly desirable feature. Implant coatings composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) have become the standard and have been used with some success in prolonging the time to revision surgery, but aseptic loosening remains a significant issue. The development of a new generation of more biologically active coatings is a promising approach for tackling this problem. Bioactive glasses are an ideal candidate material due to the osteostimulative properties of their dissolution products. However, to date, they have not been formulated with stability to devitrification or thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) that are suitable for stable coating onto metal implants while still retaining their bioactive properties. Here, we present a strontium-substituted bioactive glass (SrBG) implant coating which has been designed to encourage peri-implant bone formation and with a TEC similar to that of HA. The coating can be successfully applied to roughened Ti6Al4V and after implantation into the distal femur and proximal tibia of twenty-seven New Zealand White rabbits for 6, 12, or 24 weeks, it produced no adverse tissue reaction. The glass dissolved over a 6 week period, stimulating enhanced peri-implant bone formation compared with matched HA coated implants in the contralateral limb. Furthermore, superior mechanical fixation was evident in the SrBG group after 24 weeks of implantation. We propose that this coating has the potential to enhance implant fixation in a variety of orthopedic reconstructive surgery applications.
Chandrawati R, Stevens MM, 2014, Controlled assembly of peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles for label-free detection of blood coagulation Factor XIII activity, Chemical Communications, Vol: 50, Pages: 5431-5434, ISSN: 1364-548X
Chow LW, Armgarth A, St-Pierre J-P, et al., 2014, Peptide-Directed Spatial Organization of Biomolecules in Dynamic Gradient Scaffolds, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Vol: 3, Pages: 1381-1386, ISSN: 2192-2640
da Silva MA, Bode F, Drake AF, et al., 2014, Enzymatically cross-linked gelatin/chitosan hydrogels: tuning gel properties and cellular response, Macromolecular Bioscience, Vol: 14, Pages: 817-830, ISSN: 1616-5187
This work investigates the effect of combining physical and chemical gelation processes in a biopolymer blend: chitosan and tilapia fish gelatin. Chemical (C) gels are obtained by cross-linking with the microbial enzyme transglutaminase at 37 °C. Hybrid physical-co-chemical (PC) gels are cross-linked at 21 °C, below gelatin gelation temperature. These protocols provide two microenvironments for the gelation process: in C gels, both gelatin and chitosan are present as single strands; in PC gels, cross-linking proceeds within a transient physical gel of gelatin, filled by chitosan strands. The chitosan/gelatin chemical networks generated in PC gels show a consistently higher shear modulus than pure C gels; they are also less turbid than their C gels counterparts, suggesting a more homogeneous network. Finally, chitosan enhances the gels' shear modulus in all gels. Proliferation assays show that MC3T3 cells proliferate in these mixed, hybrid gels and better so on PC gels than in C mixed gels
Amin HD, Brady MA, St-Pierre J-P, et al., 2014, Stimulation of chondrogenic differentiation of adult human bone marrow-derived stromal cells by a moderate-strength static magnetic field, Tissue Engineering: Parts A, B, and C, Vol: 20, Pages: 1612-1620, ISSN: 1937-3368
Tissue-engineering strategies for the treatment of osteoarthritis would benefit from the ability to induce chondrogenesis in precursor cells. One such cell source is bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs). Here, we examined the effects of moderate-strength static magnetic fields (SMFs) on chondrogenic differentiation in human BMSCs in vitro. Cells were cultured in pellet form and exposed to several strengths of SMFs for various durations. mRNA transcript levels of the early chondrogenic transcription factor SOX9 and the late marker genes ACAN and COL2A1 were determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, and production of the cartilage-specific macromolecules sGAG, collage type 2 (Col2), and proteoglycans was determined both biochemically and histologically. The role of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway was also examined. Results showed that a 0.4 T magnetic field applied for 14 days elicited a strong chondrogenic differentiation response in cultured BMSCs, so long as TGF-β3 was also present, that is, a synergistic response of a SMF and TGF-β3 on BMSC chondrogenic differentiation was observed. Further, SMF alone caused TGF-β secretion in culture, and the effects of SMF could be abrogated by the TGF-β receptor blocker SB-431542. These data show that moderate-strength magnetic fields can induce chondrogenesis in BMSCs through a TGF-β-dependent pathway. This finding has potentially important applications in cartilage tissue-engineering strategies.
Harrison RH, St-Pierre J-P, Stevens MM, 2014, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: A Year in Review, Tissue Engineering Part B-Reviews, Vol: 20, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 1937-3376
Tsigkou O, Labbaf S, Stevens MM, et al., 2014, Monodispersed Bioactive Glass Submicron Particles and Their Effect on Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells, ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS, Vol: 3, Pages: 115-125, ISSN: 2192-2640
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- Citations: 98
May JR, Gentilini C, Clarke DE, et al., 2014, Tailoring of mechanical properties of derivatized natural polyamino acids through esterification and tensile deformation, RSC ADVANCES, Vol: 4, Pages: 2096-2102
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- Citations: 11
Howes PD, Rana S, Stevens MM, 2013, Plasmonic nanomaterials for biodiagnostics, Chemical Society Reviews, Vol: 43, Pages: 3835-3853, ISSN: 0306-0012
The application of nanomaterials to detect disease biomarkers is giving rise to ultrasensitive assays, with scientists exploiting the many advantageous physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials. The fundamental basis of such work is to link unique phenomena that arise at the nanoscale to the presence of a specific analyte biomolecule, and to modulate the intensity of such phenomena in a ratiometric fashion, in direct proportion with analyte concentration. Precise engineering of nanomaterial surfaces is of utmost importance here, as the interface between the material and the biological environment is where the key interactions occur. In this tutorial review, we discuss the use of plasmonic nanomaterials in the development of biodiagnostic tools for the detection of a large variety of biomolecular analytes, and how their plasmonic properties give rise to tunable optical characteristics and surface enhanced Raman signals. We put particular focus on studies that have explored the efficacy of the systems using physiological samples in an effort to highlight the clinical potential of such assays.
Chan WCW, Gogotsi Y, Hafner JH, et al., 2013, Exciting Times for Nano, ACS NANO, Vol: 7, Pages: 10437-10439, ISSN: 1936-0851
Poh PSP, Hutmacher DW, Stevens MM, et al., 2013, Fabrication and <i>in vitro</i> characterization of bioactive glass composite scaffolds for bone regeneration, BIOFABRICATION, Vol: 5, ISSN: 1758-5082
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- Citations: 77
LaPointe VLS, Fernandes AT, Bell NC, et al., 2013, Nanoscale Topography and Chemistry Affect Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Early Differentiation, ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS, Vol: 2, Pages: 1644-1650, ISSN: 2192-2640
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- Citations: 29
LaPointe VLS, Verpoorte A, Stevens MM, 2013, The changing integrin expression and a role for integrin beta 8 in the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, PLoS ONE, Vol: 8, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 1932-6203
Many cartilage tissue engineering approaches aim to differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into chondrocytes and develop cartilage in vitro by targeting cell-matrix interactions. We sought to better inform the design of cartilage tissue engineering scaffolds by understanding how integrin expression changes during chondrogenic differentiation. In three models of in vitro chondrogenesis, we studied the temporal change of cartilage phenotype markers and integrin subunits during the differentiation of hMSCs. We found that transcript expression of most subunits was conserved across the chondrogenesis models, but was significantly affected by the time-course of differentiation. In particular, ITGB8 was up-regulated and its importance in chondrogenesis was further established by a knockdown of integrin β8, which resulted in a non-hyaline cartilage phenotype, with no COL2A1 expression detected. In conclusion, we performed a systematic study of the temporal changes of integrin expression during chondrogenic differentiation in multiple chondrogenesis models, and revealed a role for integrin β8 in chondrogenesis. This work enhances our understanding of the changing adhesion requirements of hMSCs during chondrogenic differentiation and underlines the importance of integrins in establishing a cartilage phenotype.
Lim E-H, Sardinha JP, Myers S, et al., 2013, Latent Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 Functionalised Electrospun Scaffolds Promote Human Cartilage Differentiation: Towards an Engineered Cartilage Construct., Arch Plast Surg, Vol: 40, Pages: 676-686, ISSN: 2234-6163
BACKGROUND: To overcome the potential drawbacks of a short half-life and dose-related adverse effects of using active transforming growth factor-beta 1 for cartilage engineering, a cell-mediated latent growth factor activation strategy was developed incorporating latent transforming growth factor-β1 (LTGF) into an electrospun poly(L-lactide) scaffold. METHODS: The electrospun scaffold was surface modified with NH3 plasma and biofunctionalised with LTGF to produce both random and orientated biofunctionalised electrospun scaffolds. Scaffold surface chemical analysis and growth factor bioavailability assays were performed. In vitro biocompatibility and human nasal chondrocyte gene expression with these biofunctionalised electrospun scaffold templates were assessed. In vivo chondrogenic activity and chondrocyte gene expression were evaluated in athymic rats. RESULTS: Chemical analysis demonstrated that LTGF anchored to the scaffolds was available for enzymatic, chemical and cell activation. The biofunctionalised scaffolds were non-toxic. Gene expression suggested chondrocyte re-differentiation after 14 days in culture. By 6 weeks, the implanted biofunctionalised scaffolds had induced highly passaged chondrocytes to re-express Col2A1 and produce type II collagen. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a proof of concept for cell-mediated activation of anchored growth factors using a novel biofunctionalised scaffold in cartilage engineering. This presents a platform for development of protein delivery systems and for tissue engineering.
Tang M, Purcell M, Steele JAM, et al., 2013, Porous Copolymers of ε-Caprolactone as Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering, MACROMOLECULES, Vol: 46, Pages: 8136-8143, ISSN: 0024-9297
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- Citations: 34
Parak WJ, Javey A, Chan WCW, et al., 2013, Be Critical but Fair, ACS NANO, Vol: 7, Pages: 8313-8316, ISSN: 1936-0851
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- Citations: 6
de la Rica R, Stevens MM, 2013, Plasmonic ELISA for the detection of analytes at ultralow concentrations with the naked eye, NATURE PROTOCOLS, Vol: 8, Pages: 1759-1764, ISSN: 1754-2189
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- Citations: 105
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