Publications
495 results found
Guex A, Puetzer J, Armgarth A, et al., 2017, Highly porous scaffolds of PEDOT:PSS for bone tissue engineering, Acta Biomaterialia, Vol: 62, Pages: 91-101, ISSN: 1742-7061
Conjugated polymers have been increasingly considered for the design of conductive materials in the field of regenerative medicine. However, optimal scaffold properties addressing the complexity of the desired tissue still need to be developed. The focus of this study lies in the development and evaluation of a conductive scaffold for bone tissue engineering. In this study PEDOT:PSS scaffolds were designed and evaluated in vitro using MC3T3-E1 osteogenic precursor cells, and the cells were assessed for distinct differentiation stages and the expression of an osteogenic phenotype.Ice-templated PEDOT:PSS scaffolds presented high pore interconnectivity with a median pore diameter of 53.6 ± 5.9 µm and a total pore surface area of 7.72 ± 1.7 m2·g−1. The electrical conductivity, based on I-V curves, was measured to be 140 µS·cm−1 with a reduced, but stable conductivity of 6.1 µS·cm−1 after 28 days in cell culture media. MC3T3-E1 gene expression levels of ALPL, COL1A1 and RUNX2 were significantly enhanced after 4 weeks, in line with increased extracellular matrix mineralisation, and osteocalcin deposition. These results demonstrate that a porous material, based purely on PEDOT:PSS, is suitable as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering and thus represents a promising candidate for regenerative medicine.
Wang ST, Lin Y, Spencer RK, et al., 2017, Sequence-Dependent Self-Assembly and Structural Diversity of Islet Amyloid Polypeptide-Derived β-Sheet Fibrils, ACS Nano, Vol: 11, Pages: 8579-8589, ISSN: 1936-086X
Determining the structural origins of amyloid fibrillation is essential for understanding both the pathology of amyloidosis and the rational design of inhibitors to prevent or reverse amyloid formation. In this work, the decisive roles of peptide structures on amyloid self-assembly and morphological diversity were investigated by the design of eight amyloidogenic peptides derived from islet amyloid polypeptide. Among the segments, two distinct morphologies were highlighted in the form of twisted and planar (untwisted) ribbons with varied diameters, thicknesses, and lengths. In particular, transformation of amyloid fibrils from twisted ribbons into untwisted structures was triggered by substitution of the C-terminal serine with threonine, where the side chain methyl group was responsible for the distinct morphological change. This effect was confirmed following serine substitution with alanine and valine and was ascribed to the restriction of intersheet torsional strain through the increased hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. We also studied the variation of fibril morphology (i.e., association and helicity) and peptide aggregation propensity by increasing the hydrophobicity of the peptide side group, capping the N-terminus, and extending sequence length. We anticipate that our insights into sequence-dependent fibrillation and morphological diversity will shed light on the structural interpretation of amyloidogenesis and development of structure-specific imaging agents and aggregation inhibitors.
Littmann E, Autefage H, Solanki AN, et al., 2017, Cobalt-containing bioactive glasses reduce humanmesenchymal stem cell chondrogenic differentiation despiteHIF-1α stabilisation, Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Vol: 38, Pages: 877-886, ISSN: 0955-2219
Bioactive glasses (BGs) are excellent delivery systems for the sustained release of therapeutic ions and have been extensively studied in the context of bone tissue engineering. More recently, due to their osteogenic properties and expanding application to soft tissue repair, BGs have been proposed as promising materials for use at the osteochondral interface. Since hypoxia plays a critical role during cartilage formation, we sought to investigate the influence of BGs releasing the hypoxia-mimicking agent cobalt (CoBGs) on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) chondrogenesis, as a novel approach that may guide future osteochondral scaffold design. The CoBG dissolution products significantly increased the level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in hMSCs in a cobalt dose-dependent manner. Continued exposure to the cobalt-containing BG extracts significantly reduced hMSC proliferation and metabolic activity, as well as chondrogenic differentiation. Overall, this study demonstrates that prolonged exposure to cobalt warrants careful consideration for cartilage repair applications.
Chung JJ, Sum BST, Li S, et al., 2017, Effect of comonomers on physical properties and cell attachment to silica-methacrylate/acrylate hybrids for bone substitution, Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol: 38, Pages: 1-5, ISSN: 1022-1336
Hybrids with a silica network covalently bonded to a polymer are promising materials for bone repair. Previous work on synthesizing methyl methacrylate (MMA) based copolymers by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization gives high tailorability of mechanical properties since sophisticated polymer structures can be designed. However, more flexible hybrids would be beneficial. Here, n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) based hybrids are produced. Unlike MMA, BMA and MA hybrids do not show plastic deformation, and BMA hybrid has strain to failure of 33%. Although the new hybrids are more flexible, preosteoblast cells do not adhere on their surfaces, due to higher hydrophobicity and lower stiffness. Comonomer choice is crucial for bone regenerative hybrids.
Chan WCW, Chhowalla M, Glotzer S, et al., 2017, Our First and Next Decades at <i>ACS Nano</i>, Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Amdursky N, Rashid MH, Stevens MM, et al., 2017, Exploring the binding sites and proton diffusion on insulin amyloid fibril surface by naphthol-based photoacid fluorescence and molecular simulations, Scientific Reports, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2045-2322
The diffusion of protons along biological surfaces and the interaction of biological structures with water are fundamental areas of interest in biology and chemistry. Here, we examine the surface of insulin amyloid fibrils and follow the binding of small molecules (photoacids) that differ according to the number and location of their sulfonic groups. We use transient fluorescence combined with a spherically-symmetric diffusion theory to show that the binding mode of different photoacids determines the efficiency of proton dissociation from the photoacid and the dimensionality of the proton’s diffusion. We use molecular dynamics simulations to examine the binding mode and mechanism of the photoacids and its influence on the unique kinetic rates and diffusion properties of the photoacid’s dissociated proton, where we also suggest a proton transfer process between one of the photoacids to proximal histidine residues. We show that the photoacids can be used as fluorescent markers for following the progression of amyloidogenic processes. The detailed characterisation of different binding modes to the surface of amyloid fibrils paves the way for better understanding of the binding mechanism of small molecules to amyloid fibrils.
Chandrawati R, Olesen MTJ, Marini TCC, et al., 2017, Enzyme prodrug therapy engineered into electrospun fibers with embedded liposomes for controlled, localized synthesis of therapeutics, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2192-2640
Enzyme prodrug therapy (EPT) enables localized conversion of inert prodrugs to active drugs by enzymes. Performance of EPT necessitates that the enzyme remains active throughout the time frame of the envisioned therapeutic application. β-glucuronidase is an enzyme with historically validated performance in EPT, however it retains its activity in biomaterials for an insufficiently long period of time, typically not exceeding 7 d. Herein, the encapsulation of β-glucuronidase in liposomal subcompartments within poly(vinyl alcohol) electrospun fibers is reported, leading to the assembly of biocatalytically active materials with activity of the enzyme sustained over at least seven weeks. It is further shown that liposomes provide the highly beneficial stabilization of the enzyme when incubated in cell culture media. The assembled biocatalytic materials successfully produce antiproliferative drugs (SN-38) using externally administered prodrugs (SN-38-glucuronide) and effectively suppress cell proliferation, with envisioned utility in the design of cardiovascular grafts.
Guex AG, Spicer CD, Armgarth A, et al., 2017, Electrospun aniline-tetramer-co-polycaprolactone fibres for conductive, biodegradable scaffolds, MRS Communications, Vol: 7, Pages: 375-382, ISSN: 2159-6867
Conjugated polymers have been proposed as promising materials for scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. However, the restricted processability and biodegradability of conjugated polymers limit their use for biomedical applications. Here we synthesized a block-co-polymer of aniline tetramer and PCL (AT–PCL), and processed it into fibrous non-woven scaffolds by electrospinning. We showed that fibronectin (Fn) adhesion was dependent on the AT–PCL oxidative state, with a reduced Fn unfolding length on doped membranes. Furthermore, we demonstrated the cytocompatibility and potential of these membranes to support the growth and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells over 21 days.
Reznikov N, Phillips C, Cooke M, et al., 2017, Functional adaptation of the calcaneus in historical foot binding, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Vol: 32, Pages: 1915-1925, ISSN: 1523-4681
The normal structure of human feet is optimized for shock dampening during walking and running. Foot binding was a historical practice in China aimed at restricting the growth of female feet for aesthetic reasons. In a bound foot the shock-dampening function normally facilitated by the foot arches is withdrawn, resulting in the foot functioning as a rigid extension of the lower leg. An interesting question inspiring this study regards the nature of adaptation of the heel bone to this nonphysiological function using the parameters of cancellous bone anisotropy and 3D fabric topology and a novel intertrabecular angle (ITA) analysis. We found that the trabecular microarchitecture of the normal heel bone, but not of the bound foot, adapts to function by increased anisotropy and preferred orientation of trabeculae. The anisotropic texture in the normal heel bone consistently follows the physiological stress trajectories. However, in the bound foot heel bone the characteristic anisotropy pattern fails to develop, reflecting the lack of a normal biomechanical input. Moreover, the basic topological blueprint of cancellous bone investigated by the ITA method is nearly invariant in both normal and bound foot. These findings suggest that the anisotropic cancellous bone texture is an acquired characteristic that reflects recurrent loading conditions; conversely, an inadequate biomechanical input precludes the formation of anisotropic texture. This opens a long-sought-after possibility to reconstruct bone function from its form. The conserved topological parameters characterize the generic 3D fabric of cancellous bone, which is to a large extent independent of its adaptation to recurrent loading and perhaps determines the mechanical competence of trabecular bone regardless of its functional adaptation. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Li S, Macon ALB, Jacquemin M, et al., 2017, Sol-gel derived lithium-releasing glass for cartilage regeneration, Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Vol: 32, Pages: 104-113, ISSN: 0885-3282
Wnt-signalling cascadeis one of the crucial pathways involved in the development and homeostasis of cartilage. Influencing this pathway can potentially contribute to improved cartilage repair or regeneration. One key molecular regulator of the Wnt pathway is the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) enzyme, the inhibition of which allows initiation of the signalling pathway. This study aims to utilise a binary SiO2-Li2O sol-gel derived glass for controlled delivery of lithium, a known GSK-3 antagonist. The effect of the dissolution products of the glass on chondrogenic differentiation inanin vitro3-D pellet culture modelis reported. Dissolution productsthat contained5 mM lithium and 3.5 mM silicon, were capable of inducing chondrogenic differentiation and hyaline cartilaginous matrix formation without the presence of growth factors such as TGF-β3. The results suggest that sol-gel derived glass has the potential to be used as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic lithium ions in cartilage regeneration applications.
Soh JH, Lin Y, Thomas MR, et al., 2017, Distinct bimodal roles of aromatic molecules in controlling gold nanorod growth for biosensing, Advanced Functional Materials, Vol: 27, ISSN: 1616-3028
New aromatic molecule–seed particle interactions are examined and exploited to control and guide seed-mediated gold nanorod (Au NR) growth. This new approach enables better understanding of how small molecules impact the synthesis of metallic nanostructures, catalysing their use in various biomedical applications, such as plasmonic biosensing. We perform experimental studies and theoretical molecular simulations using a library of aromatic molecules where we take advantage of the chemical versatility of the molecules with varied spatial arrangements of electron donating/withdrawing groups, charge, and Au-binding propensity. Au NR growth is regulated by two principal mechanisms, producing either a red or blue shift in the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonance (LLSPR) peaks. Aromatic molecules with high redox potentials produced an increase in NR aspect ratio and red shift of LLSPR peaks. In contrast, molecules that strongly bind gold surfaces resulted in blue shifts, demonstrating a strong correlation between their binding energy and blue shifts produced. Through enzymatic conversion of selected molecules, 4-aminophenylphosphate to 4-aminophenol, we obtained opposing growth mechanisms at opposite extremes of target concentration, and established a chemical pathway for performing plasmonic ELISA. This unlocks new strategies for tailoring substrate design and enzymatic mechanisms for controlling plasmonic response to target detection in biosensing applications.
Bergholt M, Albro M, Stevens MM, 2017, Online quantitative monitoring of live cell engineered cartilage growth using diffuse fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy, Biomaterials, Vol: 140, Pages: 128-137, ISSN: 1878-5905
Tissue engineering (TE) has the potential to improve the outcome for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The successful clinical translation of this technique as part of a therapy requires the ability to measure extracellular matrix (ECM) production of engineered tissues in vitro, in order to ensure quality control and improve the likelihood of tissue survival upon implantation. Conventional techniques for assessing the ECM content of engineered cartilage, such as biochemical assays and histological staining are inherently destructive. Raman spectroscopy, on the other hand, represents a non-invasive technique for in situ biochemical characterization. Here, we outline current roadblocks in translational Raman spectroscopy in TE and introduce a comprehensive workflow designed to non-destructively monitor and quantify ECM biomolecules in large (>3 mm), live cell TE constructs online. Diffuse near-infrared fiber-optic Raman spectra were measured from live cell cartilaginous TE constructs over a 56-day culturing period. We developed a multivariate curve resolution model that enabled quantitative biochemical analysis of the TE constructs. Raman spectroscopy was able to non-invasively quantify the ECM components and showed an excellent correlation with biochemical assays for measurement of collagen (R2 = 0.84) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) (R2 = 0.86). We further demonstrated the robustness of this technique for online prospective analysis of live cell TE constructs. The fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy strategy developed in this work offers the ability to non-destructively monitor construct growth online and can be adapted to a broad range of TE applications in regenerative medicine toward controlled clinical translation.
Horejs CM, St-Pierre JP, Ojala JRM, et al., 2017, Preventing tissue fibrosis by local biomaterials interfacing of specific cryptic extracellular matrix information, Nature Communications, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2041-1723
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to the breakdown of tissue structures such as the basement membrane, promoting tissue fibrosis. Here we developed an electrospun membrane biofunctionalized with a fragment of the laminin β1-chain to modulate the expression of MMP2 in this context. We demonstrate that interfacing of the β1-fragment with the mesothelium of the peritoneal membrane via a biomaterial abrogates the release of active MMP2 in response to transforming growth factor β1 and rescues tissue integrity ex vivo and in vivo in a mouse model of peritoneal fibrosis. Importantly, our data demonstrate that the membrane inhibits MMP2 expression. Changes in the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related molecules further point towards a contribution of the modulation of EMT. Biomaterial-based presentation of regulatory basement membrane signals directly addresses limitations of current therapeutic approaches by enabling a localized and specific method to counteract MMP2 release applicable to a broad range of therapeutic targets.
Amdursky N, Wang X, Meredith P, et al., 2017, Electron Hopping Across Hemin-Doped Serum Albumin Mats on Centimetre-Length Scales, Advanced Materials, Vol: 29, ISSN: 1521-4095
Exploring long-range electron transport across protein assemblies is a central interest in both the fundamental research of biological processes and the emerging field of bioelectronics. This work examines the use of serum-albumin-based freestanding mats as macroscopic electron mediators in bioelectronic devices. In particular, this study focuses on how doping the protein mat with hemin improves charge-transport. It is demonstrated that doping can increase conductivity 40-fold via electron hopping between adjacent hemin molecules, resulting in the highest measured conductance for a protein-based material yet reported, and transport over centimeter length scales. The use of distance-dependent AC impedance and DC current–voltage measurements allows the contribution from electron hopping between adjacent hemin molecules to be isolated. Because the hemin-doped serum albumin mats have both biocompatibility and fabrication simplicity, they should be applicable to a range of bioelectronic devices of varying sizes, configurations, and applications.
Hall CE, Yao Z, Choi M, et al., 2017, Progressive motor neuron pathology and the role of astrocytes in a human stem cell model of VCP-related ALS, Cell Reports, Vol: 19, Pages: 1739-1749, ISSN: 2211-1247
Motor neurons (MNs) and astrocytes (ACs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but their interaction and the sequence of molecular events leading to MN death remain unresolved. Here, we optimized directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into highly enriched (> 85%) functional populations of spinal cord MNs and ACs. We identify significantly increased cytoplasmic TDP-43 and ER stress as primary pathogenic events in patient-specific valosin-containing protein (VCP)-mutant MNs, with secondary mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Cumulatively, these cellular stresses result in synaptic pathology and cell death in VCP-mutant MNs. We additionally identify a cell-autonomous VCP-mutant AC survival phenotype, which is not attributable to the same molecular pathology occurring in VCP-mutant MNs. Finally, through iterative co-culture experiments, we uncover non-cell-autonomous effects of VCP-mutant ACs on both control and mutant MNs. This work elucidates molecular events and cellular interplay that could guide future therapeutic strategies in ALS.
Clarke D, Pashuck ET, Bertazzo S, et al., 2017, Self-healing self-assembled B-sheet peptide poly(G-glutamic acid) hybrid hydrogels, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol: 139, Pages: 7250-7255, ISSN: 1520-5126
Self-assembled biomaterials are an important class of materials that can be injected and formed in situ. However, they often are not able to meet the mechanical properties necessary for many biological applications, losing mechanical properties at low strains. We synthesized hybrid hydrogels consisting of a poly(γ-glutamic acid) polymer network physically cross-linked via grafted self-assembling β-sheet peptides to provide non-covalent cross-linking through β-sheet assembly, reinforced with a polymer backbone to improve strain stability. By altering the β-sheet peptide graft density and concentration, we can tailor the mechanical properties of the hydrogels over an order of magnitude range of 10–200 kPa, which is in the region of many soft tissues. Also, due to the ability of the non-covalent β-sheet cross-links to reassemble, the hydrogels can self-heal after being strained to failure, in most cases recovering all of their original storage moduli. Using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, we were able to probe the secondary structure of the materials and verify the presence of β-sheets within the hybrid hydrogels. Since the polymer backbone requires less than a 15% functionalization of its repeating units with β-sheet peptides to form a hydrogel, it can easily be modified further to incorporate specific biological epitopes. This self-healing polymer−β-sheet peptide hybrid hydrogel with tailorable mechanical properties is a promising platform for future tissue-engineering scaffolds and biomedical applications.
Wang C, Lin Y, Hsu C, et al., 2017, Probing amylin fibrillation at an early stage via a tetracysteine-recognising fluorophore, Talanta, Vol: 173, Pages: 44-50, ISSN: 1873-3573
Amyloid fibrillation is a nucleation-dependent process known be involved in the development of more than 20 progressive and chronic diseases. The detection of amyloid formation at the nucleation stage can greatly advance early diagnoses and treatment of diseases. In this work, we developed a new assay for the early detection of amylin fibrillation using the biarsenical dye 4,5-bis(1,3,2-dithiarsolan-2-yl)fluorescein (FlAsH), which could recognise tetracysteine motifs and transform from non-fluorescent form into strongly fluorescent complexes. Due to the close proximity of two cysteine residues within the hydrophilic domain of amylin, a non-contiguous tetracysteine motif can form upon amylin dimerisation or oligomerisation, which can be recognised by FlAsH and emit strong fluorescence. This enables us to report the nucleation-growth process of amylin without modification of the protein sequence. We showed that the use of this assay not only allowed the tracking of initial nucleation events, but also enabled imaging of amyloid fibrils and investigation of the effects of amyloid inhibitor/modulator toward amylin fibrillation.
Chang JYH, Chow LW, Dismuke WM, et al., 2017, Peptide-functionalized fluorescent particles for in situ detection of nitric oxide via peroxynitrite-mediated nitration, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2192-2640
Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in modulating physiological homeostasis across multiple biological systems. NO dysregulation is linked to the pathogenesis of multiple diseases; therefore, its quantification is important for understanding pathophysiological processes. The detection of NO is challenging, typically limited by its reactive nature and short half-life. Additionally, the presence of interfering analytes and accessibility to biological fluids in the native tissues make the measurement technically challenging and often unreliable. Here, a bio-inspired peptide-based NO sensor is developed, which detects NO-derived oxidants, predominately peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine residues. It is demonstrated that these peptide-based NO sensors can detect peroxynitrite-mediated nitration in response to physiological shear stress by endothelial cells in vitro. Using the peptide-conjugated fluorescent particle immunoassay, peroxynitrite-mediated nitration activity with a detection limit of ≈100 × 10−9m is detected. This study envisions that the NO detection platform can be applied to a multitude of applications including monitoring of NO activity in healthy and diseased tissues, localized detection of NO production of specific cells, and cell-based/therapeutic screening of peroxynitrite levels to monitor pronitroxidative stress in biological samples.
Ember KJI, Hoeve MA, McAughtrie SL, et al., 2017, Raman spectroscopy and regenerative medicine: a review, npj Regenerative Medicine, Vol: 2, ISSN: 2057-3995
The field of regenerative medicine spans a wide area of the biomedical landscape—from single cell culture in laboratories to human whole-organ transplantation. To ensure that research is transferrable from bench to bedside, it is critical that we are able to assess regenerative processes in cells, tissues, organs and patients at a biochemical level. Regeneration relies on a large number of biological factors, which can be perturbed using conventional bioanalytical techniques. A versatile, non-invasive, non-destructive technique for biochemical analysis would be invaluable for the study of regeneration; and Raman spectroscopy is a potential solution. Raman spectroscopy is an analytical method by which chemical data are obtained through the inelastic scattering of light. Since its discovery in the 1920s, physicists and chemists have used Raman scattering to investigate the chemical composition of a vast range of both liquid and solid materials. However, only in the last two decades has this form of spectroscopy been employed in biomedical research. Particularly relevant to regenerative medicine are recent studies illustrating its ability to characterise and discriminate between healthy and disease states in cells, tissue biopsies and in patients. This review will briefly outline the principles behind Raman spectroscopy and its variants, describe key examples of its applications to biomedicine, and consider areas of regenerative medicine that would benefit from this non-invasive bioanalytical tool.
Kim E, Zwi Dantsis L, Reznikov N, et al., 2017, One-pot synthesis of multiple protein-encapsulated DNA flowers and their application in intracellular protein delivery, Advanced Materials, Vol: 29, ISSN: 1521-4095
Inspired by biological systems, many biomimetic methods suggest fabrication of functional materials with unique physicochemical properties. Such methods frequently generate organic–inorganic composites that feature highly ordered hierarchical structures with intriguing properties, distinct from their individual components. A striking example is that of DNA–inorganic hybrid micro/nanostructures, fabricated by the rolling circle technique. Here, a novel concept for the encapsulation of bioactive proteins in DNA flowers (DNF) while maintaining the activity of protein payloads is reported. A wide range of proteins, including enzymes, can be simultaneously associated with the growing DNA strands and Mg2PPi crystals during the rolling circle process, ultimately leading to the direct immobilization of proteins into DNF. The unique porous structure of this construct, along with the abundance of Mg ions and DNA molecules present, provides many interaction sites for proteins, enabling high loading efficiency and enhanced stability. Further, as a proof of concept, it is demonstrated that the DNF can deliver payloads of cytotoxic protein (i.e., RNase A) to the cells without a loss in its biological function and structural integrity, resulting in highly increased cell death compared to the free protein.
Higgins SG, Stevens MM, 2017, Extracting the contents of living cells, SCIENCE, Vol: 356, Pages: 379-380, ISSN: 0036-8075
Being able to monitor cells at different times is key to tracking fundamental cellular processes such as differentiation and cellular senescence, as well as disease progression and the effectiveness of drugs. However, most approaches are destructive and involve lysing the cells. Different time points can be studied by using parallel cell cultures, but the inferred changes could also be the result of cell heterogeneity (1, 2). Techniques for extracting small quantities of the cytosol for long-term tracking of a single cell's response must manipulate picoliter-scale volumes, maintain high cell viability, and give an accurate reflection of the cell's multiple biological components, as well as avoid influencing the ongoing development of the cell (see the figure) (1, 3). Cao et al. approached this problem by culturing cells on top of a random arrangement of hollow cylinders, which they call nanostraws (2). These 150-nm-diameter alumina tubes can sample 5 to 10% of proteins, messenger RNA (mRNA), and small molecules from the cells but only reduce cell viability by ∼5%. Their approach allows intracellular sampling and characterization at multiple time points from the same cells to track changes.
Chandrawati R, Chang J, Reina-Torres E, et al., 2017, Localized and controlled delivery of nitric oxide to the conventional outflow pathway via enzyme biocatalysis: towards therapy for Glaucoma, Advanced Materials, Vol: 29, ISSN: 1521-4095
Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to lower intraocular pressure (IOP), however its therapeutic effects on outflow physiology are location- and dose-dependent. Here, a NO delivery platform that directly targets the resistance-generating region of the conventional outflow pathway and locally liberates a controlled dose of NO is reported. An increase in outflow facility (decrease in IOP) is demonstrated in mouse model.
Speidel AT, Stuckey DJ, Chow LW, et al., 2017, Multi-modal hydrogel-based platform to deliver and monitor cardiac progenitor/stem cell engraftment, ACS Central Science, Vol: 3, Pages: 338-348, ISSN: 2374-7951
Retention and survival of transplanted cells are major limitations to the efficacy of regenerative medicine, with short-term paracrine signals being the principal mechanism underlying current cell therapies for heart repair. Consequently, even improvements in short-term durability may have a potential impact on cardiac cell grafting. We have developed a multimodal hydrogel-based platform comprised of a poly(ethylene glycol) network cross-linked with bioactive peptides functionalized with Gd(III) in order to monitor the localization and retention of the hydrogel in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, we have tailored the material for cardiac applications through the inclusion of a heparin-binding peptide (HBP) sequence in the cross-linker design and formulated the gel to display mechanical properties resembling those of cardiac tissue. Luciferase-expressing cardiac stem cells (CSC-Luc2) encapsulated within these gels maintained their metabolic activity for up to 14 days in vitro. Encapsulation in the HBP hydrogels improved CSC-Luc2 retention in the mouse myocardium and hind limbs at 3 days by 6.5- and 12- fold, respectively. Thus, this novel heparin-binding based, Gd(III)-tagged hydrogel and CSC-Luc2 platform system demonstrates a tailored, in vivo detectable theranostic cell delivery system that can be implemented to monitor and assess the transplanted material and cell retention.
Kallepitis C, Bergholt MS, Mazo MM, et al., 2017, Quantitative volumetric Raman imaging of three dimensional cell cultures, Nature Communications, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2041-1723
The ability to simultaneously image multiple biomolecules in biologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) cell culture environments would contribute greatly to the understanding of complex cellular mechanisms and cell-material interactions. Here, we present a computational framework for label-free quantitative volumetric Raman imaging (qVRI). We apply qVRI to a selection of biological systems: human pluripotent stem cells with their cardiac derivatives, monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages in conventional cell culture systems and mesenchymal stem cells inside biomimetic hydrogels that supplied a 3D cell culture environment. We demonstrate visualization and quantification of fine details in 3D cell shape, cytoplasm, nucleus, lipid bodies and cytoskeletal structures in 3D with unprecedented biomolecular specificity for vibrational microspectroscopy.
Chung JJ, Fujita Y, Li S, et al., 2017, Biodegradable inorganic-organic hybrids of methacrylate star polymers for bone regeneration, Acta Biomaterialia, Vol: 54, Pages: 411-418, ISSN: 1878-7568
Hybrids that are molecular scale co-networks of organic and inorganic components are promising biomaterials, improving the brittleness of bioactive glass and the strength of polymers. Methacrylate polymers have high potential as the organic source for hybrids since they can be produced, through controlled polymerization, with sophisticated polymer architectures that can bond to silicate networks. Previous studies showed the mechanical properties of hybrids can be modified by polymer architecture and molar mass (MM). However, biodegradability is critical if hybrids are to be used as tissue engineering scaffolds, since the templates must be remodelled by host tissue. Degradation by-products have to either completely biodegrade or be excreted by the kidneys. Enzyme, or bio-degradation is preferred to hydrolysis by water uptake as it is expected to give a more controlled degradation rate. Here, branched and star shaped poly(methyl methacrylate-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (poly(MMA-co-TMSPMA)) were synthesized with disulphide based dimethacrylate (DSDMA) as a biodegradable branching agent. Biodegradability was confirmed by exposing the copolymers to glutathione, a tripeptide which is known to cleave disulphide bonds. Cleaved parts of the star polymer from the hybrid system were detected after 2 weeks of immersion in glutathione solution, and MM was under threshold of kidney filtration. The presence of the branching agent did not reduce the mechanical properties of the hybrids and bone progenitor cells attached on the hybrids in vitro. Incorporation of the DSDMA branching agent has opened more possibilities to design biodegradable methacrylate polymer based hybrids for regenerative medicine.Statement of significanceBioactive glasses can regenerate bone but are brittle. Hybrids can overcome this problem as intimate interactions between glass and polymer creates synergetic properties. Implants have previously been made with synthetic polymers that degrade by
Pelaz B, Alexiou C, Alvarez -Puebla RA, et al., 2017, Diverse applications of nanomedicine, ACS Nano, Vol: 11, Pages: 2313-2381, ISSN: 1936-0851
The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.
Wang S, Lin Y, Todorova N, et al., 2017, Facet-dependent interactions of islet amyloid polypeptide with gold nanoparti-cles: implications for fibril formation and peptide-induced lipid membrane dis-ruption, Chemistry of Materials, Vol: 29, ISSN: 1520-5002
A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between proteins or peptides and nanomaterials is crucial for the development of nanomaterial-based diagnos-tics and therapeutics. In this work, we systematically explored the interactions between citrate-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a 37-amino acid peptide hormone co-secreted with insulin from the pancreatic islet. We uti-lized diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, localized surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis, atomic force microscopy, transmis-sion electron microscopy (TEM), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to systemati-cally elucidate the underlying mechanism of the IAPP−AuNP interactions. Because of the presence of a metal-binding sequence motif in the hydrophilic peptide domain, IAPP strongly interacts with the Au surface in both the monomeric and fibrillar states. Circular dichroism showed that AuNPs triggered the IAPP conformational transition from random coil to ordered structures (α-helix and β-sheet), and TEM imaging suggested the accelera-tion of IAPP fibrillation in the presence of AuNPs. MD simulations revealed that the IAPP−AuNP interactions were initiated by the N-terminal domain (IAPP residues 1−19), which subsequently induced a facet-dependent conformational change in IAPP. On a Au(111) surface, IAPP was unfolded and adsorbed directly onto the Au surface, while for the Au(100) surface, it interacted predominantly with the citrate adlayer and retained some helical conformation. The observed affinity of AuNPs for IAPP was further applied to reduce the level of peptide-induced lipid membrane disruption.
Ehademhosseini A, Chan WWC, Chhowalla M, et al., 2017, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Cross Borders, Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC
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Lin Y, Pashuck ET, Thomas MR, et al., 2017, Plasmonic chirality imprinting on nucleobase-displaying supramolecular nanohelices by metal-nucleobase recognition, ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, Vol: 56, Pages: 2361-2365, ISSN: 1433-7851
Supramolecular self-assembly is an important process that enables the conception of complex structures mimicking biological motifs. Herein, we constructed helical fibrils through chiral self-assembly of nucleobase–peptide conjugates (NPCs), where achiral nucleobases are helically displayed on the surface of fibrils, comparable to polymerized nucleic acids. Selective binding between DNA and the NPC fibrils was observed with fluorescence polarization. Taking advantage of metal–nucleobase recognition, we highlight the possibility of deposition/assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles onto the fibrillar constructs. In this approach, the supramolecular chirality of NPCs can be adaptively imparted to metallic nanoparticles, covering them to generate structures with plasmonic chirality that exhibit significantly improved colloidal stability. The self-assembly of rationally designed NPCs into nanohelices is a promising way to engineer complex, optically diverse nucleobase-derived nanomaterials.
Spicer C, Booth M, Mawad D, et al., 2017, Synthesis of hetero-bifunctional, end-capped oligo-EDOT derivatives, Chem, Vol: 2, Pages: 125-138, ISSN: 2451-9294
Conjugated oligomers of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) are attractive materials for tissue engineering applications, and as model systems for studying the properties of the widely used polymer PEDOT. We report here the facile synthesis of a series of keto-acid end-capped oligo-EDOT derivatives (n = 2-7) through a combination of a glyoxylation end capping strategy and iterative direct arylation chain extension. Importantly, these structures not only represent the longest oligo-EDOTs reported, but are also bench stable in contrast to previous reports on such oligomers. The constructs reported here can undergo subsequent derivatization for integration into higher order architectures, such as those required for tissue engineering applications. The synthesis of hetero-bifunctional constructs, as well as those containing mixed monomer units is also reported, allowing further complexity to be installed in a controlled manner. Finally, we describe the optical and electrochemical properties of these oligomers and demonstrate the importance of the keto-acid in determining their characteristics.
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