In vivo vascularization of cell sheets provided better long-term tissue survival than injection of cell suspension

Abstract

Cell sheets have shown a remarkable ability for repairing damaged myocardium in clinical and preclinical studies. Although they demonstrate a high degree of viability as engrafted cells in vivo, the reason behind their survivability is unclear. In this study, the survival and vascularization of rat cardiac cell sheets transplanted in the subcutaneous tissue of athymic rats were investigated temporally. The cell sheets showed significantly higher survival than cell suspensions for up to 12 months, using an in vivo bioluminescence imaging system to detect luciferase-positive transplanted cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay also showed a smaller number of apoptotic cells in the cell sheets than in the cell suspensions at 1 day. Rapid vascular formation and maturation were observed inside the cell sheets using an in vivo imaging system. Leaky vessels appeared at 6 h, red blood cells flowing through functional vessels appeared at 12 h, and morphologically matured vessels appeared at 7 days. In addition, immunostaining of cell sheets with nerve/glial antigen-2 (NG2) showed that vessel maturity increased over time. Interestingly, these results correlated with the dynamics of cell sheet mRNA expression. Genes related to endothelial cells (ECs) proliferation, migration and vessel sprouting were highly expressed within 1 day, and genes related to pericyte recruitment and vessel maturation were highly expressed at 3 days or later. This suggested that the cell sheets could secrete appropriate angiogenic factors in a timely way after transplantation, and this ability might be a key reason for their high survival. 

Ryohei Takeuchi, Yosuke Kuruma, Hidekazu Sekine, Izumi Dobashi, Masayuki Yamato, Mitsuo Umezu, Tatsuya Shimizu, Teruo Okano

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Keywords

cardiac tissue engineering; cell sheet; engraftment; angiogenesis; vascularization; in vivo imaging

Dynamic three-dimensional micropatterned cell co-cultures within photocurable and chemically degradable hydrogels

Abstract

In this paper we report on the development of dynamically controlled three-dimensional (3D) micropatterned cellular co-cultures within photocurable and chemically degradable hydrogels. Specifically, we generated dynamic co-cultures of micropatterned murine embryonic stem (mES) cells with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells within 3D hydrogels. HepG2 cells were used due to their ability to direct the differentiation of mES cells through secreted paracrine factors. To generate dynamic co-cultures, mES cells were first encapsulated within micropatterned photocurable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels. These micropatterned cell-laden PEG hydrogels were subsequently surrounded by calcium alginate (Ca-Alg) hydrogels containing HepG2 cells. After 4 days, the co-culture step was halted by exposing the system to sodium citrate solution, which removed the alginate gels and the encapsulated HepG2 cells. The encapsulated mES cells were then maintained in the resulting cultures for 16 days and cardiac differentiation was analysed. We observed that the mES cells that were exposed to HepG2 cells in the co-cultures generated cells with higher expression of cardiac genes and proteins, as well as increased spontaneous beating. Due to its ability to control the 3D microenvironment of cells in a spatially and temporally regulated manner, the method presented in this study is useful for a range of cell-culture applications related to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Shinji Sugiura, Jae Min Cha, Fumiki Yanagawa, Pinar Zorlutuna, Hojae Bae, Ali Khademhosseini

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Keywords

mouse embryonic stem cells; cardiac differentiation; micropatterning; encapsulation; co-culture; calcium alginate; hydrogel

Increased cell seeding efficiency in bioplotted three-dimensional PEOT/PBT scaffolds

Abstract

In regenerative medicine studies, cell seeding efficiency is not only optimized by changing the chemistry of the biomaterials used as cell culture substrates, but also by altering scaffold geometry, culture and seeding conditions. In this study, the importance of seeding parameters, such as initial cell number, seeding volume, seeding concentration and seeding condition is shown. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were seeded into cylindrically shaped 4 × 3 mm polymeric scaffolds, fabricated by fused deposition modelling. The initial cell number ranged from 5 × 104 to 8 × 105 cells, in volumes varying from 50 µl to 400 µl. To study the effect of seeding conditions, a dynamic system, by means of an agitation plate, was compared with static culture for both scaffolds placed in a well plate or in a confined agarose moulded well. Cell seeding efficiency decreased when seeded with high initial cell numbers, whereas 2 × 105 cells seemed to be an optimal initial cell number in the scaffolds used here. The influence of seeding volume was shown to be dependent on the initial cell number used. By optimizing seeding parameters for each specific culture system, a more efficient use of donor cells can be achieved.

A. M. Leferink, W. J. Hendrikson, J. Rouwkema, M. Karperien, C. A. van Blitterswijk, L. Moroni

Source

Keywords

cell seeding efficiency; mesenchymal stromal cells; rapid prototyping

Size matters: effects of PLGA-microsphere size in injectable CPC/PLGA on bone formation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PLGA microsphere dimensions on bone formation after injection of calcium phosphate cement (CPC)/PLGA in a guinea pig tibial intramedullarly model. To this end, injectable CPC/PLGA formulations were prepared using PLGA microspheres with either a small (~25 µm) or large (~100 µm) diameter, which were incorporated at a 20:80 ratio (wt%) within apatite CPC. Both CPC/PLGA formulations were injected into a marrow-ablated tibial intramedullary cavity and, after an implantation period of 12 weeks, histology and histomorphometry were used to address bone formation. The results demonstrated bone ingrowth throughout the entire scaffold material for both CPC/PLGA formulations upon PLGA microsphere degradation. More importantly, bone formation within the CPC matrix was > two-fold higher for CPC-PLGA with 25 µm PLGA microspheres. Additionally, the pattern of bone and marrow formation showed distinct differences related to PLGA microsphere dimension. In general, this study demonstrates that PLGA microsphere dimensions of ~25 µm, leading to pores of ~25 µm within CPC, are sufficient for bone ingrowth and allow substantial bone formation. Further, the results demonstrate that PLGA microsphere dimensions provide a tool to control bone formation for injectable CPC/PLGA bone substitutes. 

Hongbing Liao, Rosa P. Félix Lanao, Jeroen J. J. P. van den Beucken, Nuo Zhou, Sanne K. Both,
Joop G. C. Wolke, John A. Jansen

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Keywords

calcium phosphate cement; microspheres; size; PLGA; biodegradation; animal model

The incorporation of growth factor and chondroitinase ABC into an electrospun scaffold to promote axon regrowth following spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury results in tissue necrosis in and around the lesion site, commonly leading to the formation of a fluid-filled cyst. This pathological end point represents a physical gap that impedes axonal regeneration. To overcome the obstacle of the cavity, we have explored the extent to which axonal substrates can be bioengineered through electrospinning, a process that uses an electrical field to produce fine fibres of synthetic or biological molecules. Recently, we demonstrated the potential of electrospinning to generate an aligned matrix that can influence the directionality and growth of axons. Here, we show that this matrix can be supplemented with nerve growth factor and chondroitinase ABC to provide trophic support and neutralize glial-derived inhibitory proteins. Moreover, we show how air-gap electrospinning can be used to generate a cylindrical matrix that matches the shape of the cord. Upon implantation in a completely transected rat spinal cord, matrices supplemented with NGF and chondroitinase ABC promote significant functional recovery. An examination of these matrices post-implantation shows that electrospun aligned monofilaments induce a more robust cellular infiltration than unaligned monofilaments. Further, a vascular network is generated in these matrices, with some endothelial cells using the electrospun fibres as a growth substrate. The presence of axons within these implanted matrices demonstrates that they facilitate axon regeneration following spinal cord injury. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of electrospinning to generate an aligned substrate that can provide trophic support, directional guidance cues and regeneration-inhibitory neutralizing compounds to regenerating axons following spinal cord injury.

Raymond J. Colello, Woon N. Chow, John W. Bigbee, Charles Lin, Dustin Dalton, Damien Brown, Balendu Shekhar Jha, Bruce E. Mathern, Kangmin D. Lee, David G. Simpson

Source

Keywords

electrospinning; matrix; spinal cord injury; angiogenesis; axon regeneration; polydioxinone; alginate

Differentiated adipose-derived stem cells act synergistically with RGD-modified surfaces to improve neurite outgrowth in a co-culture model

Abstract

Peripheral nerve damage is a problem encountered after trauma and during surgery and the development of synthetic polymer conduits may offer a promising alternative to autografts. In order to improve the performance of the polymer to be used for nerve conduits, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) films were chemically functionalized with RGD moieties, using a chemical reaction previously developed. In vitro cultures of dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons provide a valid model to study different factors affecting axonal growth. In this work, DRG neurons were cultured on RGD-functionalized PCL films. Adult adipose-derived stem cells differentiated to Schwann cells (dASCs) were initially cultured on the functionalized PCL films, resulting in improved attachment and proliferation. dASCs were also co-cultured with DRG neurons on treated and untreated PCL to assess stimulation by dASCs on neurite outgrowth. Neuron response was generally poor on untreated PCL films, but long neurites were observed in the presence of dASCs or RGD moieties. A combination of the two factors enhanced even further neurite outgrowth, acting synergistically. Finally, in order to better understand the extracellular matrix (ECM)–cell interaction, a β1 integrin blocking experiment was carried out. Neurite outgrowth was not affected by the specific antibody blocking, showing that β1 integrin function can be compensated by other molecules present on the cell membrane. 

A. C. de Luca, A. Faroni, S. Downes, G. Terenghi

Source

Keywords

peripheral nerve repair; polycaprolactone; peptide functionalization; RGD; stem cells; neurons

Three-dimensional spatial configuration of tumour cells confers resistance to chemotherapy independent of drug delivery

Abstract

Anticancer drug discovery has been hampered by the lack of reliable preclinical models, which routinely use cells grown in two-dimensional (2D) culture systems. However, many of the characteristics of cells in 2D culture do not translate into the findings in animal xenografts. Three-dimensional (3D) growth may be responsible for some of these changes, and models using cells grown in 3D may form a more representative step in tumouricidal validation prior to animal implantation and human testing. For the 3D model, we cultured 143.98.2, SaOS2 or U2OS osteosarcoma cells seeded in porous Bombyx mori silk sponges. We conducted real-time PCR on cells grown in 2D culture and 3D scaffolds for the proliferation markers cyclin B1 and E2F1 and the actin regulator RhoA, and found a significant decrease in expression levels for the 3D tumour models (p = 0.02, < 0.001 and 0.008 for cyclin B1, E2F1 and RhoA for 143.98.2; p = 0.02, 0.002 and 0.02 for cyclin B1, E2F1 and RhoA for U2OS, respectively). In contrast, p21 was upregulated when SaOS2 and U2OS were cultured in the 3D scaffolds (p < 0.001) and there was no increase in DNA quantity during the culture period. We correspondingly observed G1 arrest when cell cycle analysis was conducted. Cytotoxicity results for cells treated with serial dilutions of doxorubicin and cisplatin showed that cells in 3D scaffolds were less sensitive to drug treatment than in 2D culture, and the difference was more pronounced for cell cycle specific agents.

Pamela H. S. Tan, Su Shin Chia, Siew Lok Toh, James C. H. Goh, Saminathan Suresh Nathan

Source

Keywords

chemotherapy; cytotoxicity; silk; cell proliferation; cell cycle arrest; three-dimensional tumour model; cyclin B1; E2F1

Epidermal-like architecture obtained from equine keratinocytes in three-dimensional cultures

Abstract

Despite the high prevalence of skin conditions in the horse, there is a dearth of literature on the culture and biology of equine skin cells, and this is partially attributable to the lack of suitable in vitro skin models. The objective of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) culture system that would support the proliferation and differentiation of equine keratinocytes, similar to that observed in natural epidermis. Cell monolayers were obtained from explants of equine skin and serially passaged as highly pure keratinocyte populations (> 95% of cells), based on their expression of cytokeratins, including CK-5 and CK-14, which are associated in vivo with proliferating keratinocyte populations. Explant-derived keratinocytes were seeded into Alvetex™ 3D tissue scaffolds for 30 days under conditions that promote cell differentiation. Ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses revealed that keratinocytes within scaffolds were able to proliferate and attain tissue polarity, including differentiation into basal and suprabasal layers. The basal layer contained distinct cuboidal cells with large nuclei and stained for proliferative markers such as CK-5 and CK-14. In contrast, the suprabasal layers consisted of cells with distinct polyhedral morphology, abundant cytoplasmic processes and desmosomes indicative of stratum spinosum and distinct flattened cornified cells that expressed involucrin, a marker of terminal differentiation. Thus, keratinocytes derived from primary equine skin explants were able to attain epidermal-like architecture in culture. This novel system could provide a very useful tool for modelling skin diseases, drug testing/toxicity studies and, potentially, equine regenerative medicine.

Ruchi Sharma, Safia Z. Barakzai, Sarah E. Taylor, F. Xavier Donadeu

Source

Keywords

equine; primary keratinocytes; three-dimensional cultures; cytokeratins; epidermis