A PDA-Functionalized 3D Lung Scaffold Bioplatform to Construct Complicated Breast Tumor Microenvironment for Anticancer Drug Screening and Immunotherapy

Causal effects of immune cells on the efficacy and adverse drug reactions of platinum drugs

Platinum drugs are widely used in lung cancer chemotherapy, but the immune characteristics of different individuals have different effects on the sensitivity and side effects of platinum drugs. In this study, we use 731 kinds of immune cell traits of 3757 healthy individuals and 429 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University to conduct a Mendel randomized analysis in order to find out the causal relationship between some immune cell traits and the efficacy and adverse reactions of platinum drugs. We find that CD19 on CD24 +CD27 + B cell (OR = 0.598, P = 0.004) is the most significant immune cell trait as the protective factor of efficacy. HLA-DR +CD8 + T cell % lymphocyte (OR = 0.427, P = 7.55 × 10 -4) and HLA-DR +CD8 + T cell % T cell (OR = 0.471, P = 0.003) are the protective factors of liver injury. CD39 on CD39 + secreting CD4 + regulatory T cell (OR = 28.729, P = 0.009) and CD3 on CD39 + resting CD4 regulatory T cell (OR = 3.024, P = 0.009) are the risk factors of renal injury. Meanwhile, B cell-related traits mainly affect gastrointestinal upset and cutaneous toxicity, while T cell-related traits mainly affect other outcome variables. These findings may promote our understanding of the relationship between the efficacy and adverse reactions of platinum drugs and the immune system, and promote future development of biomarkers for predicting the efficacy and adverse reactions of platinum drugs.

Advanced Microarrays as Heterogeneous Force-Remodeling Coordinator to Orchestrate Nuclear Configuration and Force-Sensing Mechanotransduction in Stem Cells

Integrin and focal adhesion can regulate cytoskeleton distribution to govern actin-related force remodeling and play an important role in nuclear configuration and force-sensing mechanotransduction of stem cells. However, further exploration of the interaction between actinin complex and myosin, kinetics, and molecular mechanism of cytoskeleton structures to nucleate within the engineered stem cells is vague. An extensive comprehension of cell morphogenesis, force remodeling, and nuclear force-sensing mechanotransduction is essential to reveal the basic physical principles of cytoskeleton polymerization and force-related signaling delivery. Advanced microarrays are designed to determine heterogeneous cell morphology and cell adhesion behaviors in stem cells. The heterogeneity from the engineered microarrays is transferred into nuclei to regulate nuclear configuration and force-sensing mechanotransduction by the evaluation of Lamins, YAP, and BrdU expression. Tuning the activation of adhesion proteins and cytoskeleton nucleators to adjust heterogeneous cell mechanics may be the underlying mechanism to change nuclear force-sensing configuration in response to its physiological mechanotransduction in microarrayed stem cells.

Functional nanoplatform for modulating cellular forces to enhance antitumor immunity via mechanotransduction

Immune cells are sensitive to the perception of mechanical stimuli in the tumor microenvironment. Changes in biophysical cues within tumor tissue can alter the force-sensing mechanisms experienced by cells. Mechanical stimuli within the extracellular matrix are transformed into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction. Delving into how these minute biophysical cues affect the activation of immune cells, metabolic reprogramming, and subsequent effector functions could offer perspectives on therapeutic interventions for immune-related disorders. Our study used a ternary phycocyanin-podophyllotoxin-IDO1 self-assembled nanoplatform to investigate molecule-scale regulation of mechanical cues in the tumor microenvironment on immune cell functions to modulate immune responses. After treatment, a caspase cascade was mediated by remodeling mechanical cues, including cytoskeleton-related assembly, force channel activation, and metabolic reprogramming, all of which contributed to enhancing anti-tumor immunity via mechanotransduction. The results will be helpful for understanding the interaction between cell force remodeling and antitumor immunity via mechanotransduction.

Application of polydopamine as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory materials

Polydopamine (PDA), as a material mimicking the adhesive proteins of mussels in nature, has emerged as a strong candidate for developing novel antibacterial and anti-inflammatory materials due to its outstanding biomimetic adhesion, effective photothermal conversion, excellent biocompatibility and antioxidant capabilities. This review discussed in detail the intricate structure and polymerization principles of PDA, elucidated its mechanisms in combating bacterial infections and inflammation, as well as explored the innovative use of PDA-based composite materials for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory applications. By providing an in-depth analysis of PDA's capabilities and future research directions, this review addresses a crucial need for safer, more effective, and controllable antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory strategies, which aim to contribute to the development of advanced materials that can significantly impact public health.

Scaffolds functionalized with matrix metalloproteinase-responsive release of miRNA for synergistic magnetic hyperthermia and sensitizing chemotherapy of drug-tolerant breast cancer

Combining hyperthermia and chemotherapy for maximum anticancer efficacy remains a challenge because drug-tolerant cancer cells often evade this synergistic treatment due to drug resistance and asynchronous drug release. In this study, multifunctional scaffolds were designed to efficiently treat drug-tolerant breast cancer by improving the sensitization of breast cancer cells and synchronizing anticancer drug release with magnetic hyperthermia. The scaffolds contained microRNA-encapsulated matrix metalloproteinase-cleavable liposomes, doxorubicin-encapsulated thermoresponsive liposomes and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The scaffolds could release microRNA specifically to improve the sensitization of breast cancer cells to anticancer drugs. The scaffolds also showed excellent hyperthermia effects under alternating magnetic field irradiation. Moreover, doxorubicin release was synchronized with magnetic hyperthermia. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that the scaffolds effectively reduced drug resistance and eliminated doxorubicin-tolerant MDA-MB-231 cells through the synergistic effect of magnetic hyperthermia and sensitizing chemotherapy. Additionally, the scaffolds could support the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of stem cells for adipose tissue regeneration after killing cancer cells at a late therapeutic stage. These composite scaffolds offer an innovative strategy for treating breast cancer, with synergistic anticancer effects and regenerative functions.

Heterogeneous focal adhesion cytoskeleton nanoarchitectures from microengineered interfacial curvature to oversee nuclear remodeling and mechanotransduction of mesenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND

Interfacial heterogeneity is widely explored to reveal molecular mechanisms of force-mediated pathways due to biased tension. However, the influence of cell density,, curvature, and interfacial heterogeneity on underlying pathways of mechanotransduction is obscure.

METHODS

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based stencils were micropatterned to prepare the micropores for cell culture. The colonies of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were formed by controlling cell seeding density to investigate the influences of cell density, curvature and heterogeneity on mechanotransduction. Immunofluorescent staining of integrin, vinculin, and talin-1 was conducted to evaluate adhesion-related expression levels. Then, immunofluorescent staining of actin, actinin, and myosin was performed to detect cytoskeleton distribution, especially at the periphery. Nuclear force-sensing mechanotransduction was explained by yes-associated protein (YAP) and laminA/C analysis.

RESULTS

The micropatterned colony of hMSCs demonstrated the coincident characters with engineered micropores of microstencils. The cell colony obviously developed the heterogeneous morphogenesis. Heterogeneous focal adhesion guided the development of actin, actinin, and myosin together to regulate cellular contractility and movement by integrin, vinculin, and talin-1. Cytoskeletal staining showed that actin, actinin, and myosin fibers were reorganized at the periphery of microstencils. YAP nuclear translocation and laminA/C nuclear remodeling were enhanced at the periphery by the regulation of heterogeneous focal adhesion (FA) and cytoskeleton arrangement.

CONCLUSIONS

The characters of the engineered clustering colony showed similar results with prepared microstencils, and colony curvature was also well adjusted to establish heterogeneous balance at the periphery of cell colony. The mechanism of curvature, spreading, and elongation was also investigated to disclose the compliance of FA and cytoskeleton along with curvature microarrays for increased nuclear force-sensing mechanotransduction. The results may provide helpful information for understanding interfacial heterogeneity and nuclear mechanotransduction of stem cells.

Biofunctionalized patterned platform as microarray biochip to supervise delivery and expression of pDNA nanolipoplexes in stem cells via mechanotransduction

Biochips are widely applied to manipulate the geometrical morphology of stem cells in recent years. Patterned antenna-like pseudopodia are also probed to explore the influence of pseudopodia formation on gene delivery and expression on biochips. However, how the antenna-like pseudopodia affect gene transfection is unsettled and the underlying trafficking mechanism of exogenous genes in engineered single cells is not announced. Therefore, the engineered microarray biochips were conceptualized and prepared by the synthesized photointelligent biopolymer to precisely manage geometric topological structures (cell size and antenna-like protrusion) of stem cells on biochips. The cytoskeleton could be regulated in engineered cells and large cells with more antennas assembled well-organized actin filaments to affect cell tension distribution. The stiffness and adhesion force were measured by atomic force microscope to reveal cell nanomechanics on microarray biochips. Cytoskeleton-mediated nanomechanics could be adjusted by actin filaments. Gene transfection efficiency was enhanced with increasing cell nanomechanics, which was also confirmed by the evaluation of cell internalization capacity of nanoparticles and DNA synthesis ability. This work will provide a new strategy to study functional biomaterials, microarray chips and internal mechanism of gene transfection in patterned stem cells on biochips.

Application and progress of 3D tumor models in breast cancer

Due to its high heterogeneity and significant impact on women's health globally, breast cancer necessitates robust preclinical models to understand tumor biology and guide personalized treatment strategies. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro tumor models hold immense promise in this regard. These tumor models not only mimic the spatial structure and growth environment of tumors in vivo, but also retain the pathological and genetic characteristics of solid tumors. This fidelity makes them powerful tools for accelerating advancements in fundamental research and translational medicine. The diversity, modularity, and efficacy of 3D tumor models are driving a biotechnological revolution. As these technologies become increasingly sophisticated, 3D tumor models are poised to become powerful weapons in the fight against breast cancer. This article expounds on the progress made in utilizing 3D tumor models for breast cancer research.

Force-sensing protein expression in response to cardiovascular mechanotransduction

Force-sensing biophysical cues in microenvironment, including extracellular matrix performances, stretch-mediated mechanics, shear stress and flow-induced hemodynamics, have a significant influence in regulating vascular morphogenesis and cardiac remodeling by mechanotransduction. Once cells perceive these extracellular mechanical stimuli, Piezo activation promotes calcium influx by forming integrin-adhesion-coupling receptors. This induces robust contractility of cytoskeleton structures to further transmit biomechanical alternations into nuclei by regulating Hippo-Yes associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway between cytoplasmic and nuclear translocation. Although biomechanical stimuli are widely studied in cardiovascular diseases, the expression of force-sensing proteins in response to cardiovascular mechanotransduction has not been systematically concluded. Therefore, this review will summarize the force-sensing Piezo, cytoskeleton and YAP proteins to mediate extracellular mechanics, and also give the prominent emphasis on intrinsic connection of these mechanical proteins and cardiovascular mechanotransduction. Extensive insights into cardiovascular mechanics may provide some new strategies for cardiovascular clinical therapy.

Model construction and clinical therapeutic potential of engineered cardiac organoids for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Engineered cardiac organoids are being developed and used to replicate cardiac tissues supporting cardiac morphogenesis and development. These organoids have applications in drug screening, cardiac disease models and regenerative medicine. Therefore, a thorough understanding of cardiac organoids and a comprehensive overview of their development are essential for cardiac tissue engineering. This review summarises different types of cardiac organoids used to explore cardiac function, including those based on co-culture, aggregation, scaffolds, and geometries. The self-assembly of monolayers, multilayers and aggravated cardiomyocytes forms biofunctional cell aggregates in cardiac organoids, elucidating the formation mechanism of scaffold-free cardiac organoids. In contrast, scaffolds such as decellularised extracellular matrices, three-dimensional hydrogels and bioprinting techniques provide a supportive framework for cardiac organoids, playing a crucial role in cardiac development. Different geometries are engineered to create cardiac organoids, facilitating the investigation of intrinsic communication between cardiac organoids and biomechanical pathways. Additionally, this review emphasises the relationship between cardiac organoids and the cardiac system, and evaluates their clinical applications. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the study of three-dimensional cardiac organoids and their clinical potential.

Bioinspired Polydopamine Modification for Interface Compatibility of PDMS-Based Responsive Structurally Colored Textiles

Textiles that can repeatedly change color in the presence of external stimuli have attracted great interest. Effectively designing to produce such functional textiles is essential, yet there remain challenges like producing stable coloration, rapid response, and reverse color changing. Here, the preparation of a magnetic field response (MFR) textile with a fast magnetic field response, brilliant structural coloration, and mechanical robustness is reported. The MFR textile is knitted by incorporating magnetic particles' ethylene glycol (EG) suspension within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based fibers. A surface modification strategy is designed to prevent EG from seeping out along the PDMS polymer chains. A PDMS fiber is encapsulated in waterborne polyurethane, and a polydopamine joint layer is used. The MFR textile demonstrates magnetic field-triggered structural colors, and the breaking strength and elongation at break of each composite fiber are improved. In addition, multishaped patterns can be printed on the MFR textile with the help of the photo etching technology, which enhances the applications of the new functional textiles.

Decellularized extracellular matrix-based bioengineered 3D breast cancer scaffolds for personalized therapy and drug screening

Breast cancer (BC) is the second deadliest cancer after lung cancer. Similar to all cancers, it is also driven by a 3D microenvironment. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of the 3D tumor micro-environment, wherein it functions as a scaffold for cells and provides metabolic support. BC is characterized by alterations in the ECM. Various studies have attempted to mimic BC-specific ECMs using artificial materials, such as Matrigel. Nevertheless, research has proven that naturally derived decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) are superior in providing the essential in vivo-like cues needed to mimic a cancer-like environment. Developing in vitro 3-D BC models is not straightforward and requires extensive analysis of the data established by researchers. For the benefit of researchers, in this review, we have tried to highlight all developmental studies that have been conducted by various scientists so far. The analysis of the conclusions drawn from these studies is also discussed. The advantages and drawbacks of the decellularization methods employed for generating BC scaffolds will be covered, and the review will shed light on how dECM scaffolds help develop a BC environment. The later stages of the article will also focus on immunogenicity issues arising from decellularization and the origin of the tissue. Finally, this review will also discuss the biofabrication of matrices, which is the core part of the bioengineering process.

Advanced gene nanocarriers/scaffolds in nonviral-mediated delivery system for tissue regeneration and repair

Tissue regeneration technology has been rapidly developed and widely applied in tissue engineering and repair. Compared with traditional approaches like surgical treatment, the rising gene therapy is able to have a durable effect on tissue regeneration, such as impaired bone regeneration, articular cartilage repair and cancer-resected tissue repair. Gene therapy can also facilitate the production of in situ therapeutic factors, thus minimizing the diffusion or loss of gene complexes and enabling spatiotemporally controlled release of gene products for tissue regeneration. Among different gene delivery vectors and supportive gene-activated matrices, advanced gene/drug nanocarriers attract exceptional attraction due to their tunable physiochemical properties, as well as excellent adaptive performance in gene therapy for tissue regeneration, such as bone, cartilage, blood vessel, nerve and cancer-resected tissue repair. This paper reviews the recent advances on nonviral-mediated gene delivery systems with an emphasis on the important role of advanced nanocarriers in gene therapy and tissue regeneration.

Exercise Inhibits Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Regulating B Cells

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent, but its use is limited by acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Exercise training has been shown to protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, but the involvement of immune cells remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of exercise-derived B cells in protecting against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and to further determine whether B cell activation and antibody secretion play a role in this protection.

METHODS

Mice that were administered with doxorubicin (5 mg/kg per week, 20 mg/kg cumulative dose) received treadmill running exercise. The adoptive transfer of exercise-derived splenic B cells to μMT-/- (B cell-deficient) mice was performed to elucidate the mechanism of B cell regulation that mediated the effect of exercise.

RESULTS

Doxorubicin-administered mice that had undergone exercise training showed improved cardiac function, and low levels of cardiac apoptosis, atrophy, and fibrosis, and had reduced cardiac antibody deposition and proinflammatory responses. Similarly, B cell pharmacological and genetic depletion alleviated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, which phenocopied the protection of exercise. In vitro performed coculture experiments confirmed that exercise-derived B cells reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and fibroblast activation compared with control B cells. Importantly, the protective effect of exercise on B cells was confirmed by the adoptive transfer of splenic B cells from exercised donor mice to μMT-/- recipient mice. However, blockage of Fc gamma receptor IIB function using B cell transplants from exercised Fc gamma receptor IIB-/- mice abolished the protection of exercise-derived B cells against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Mechanistically, we found that Fc gamma receptor IIB, an important B cell inhibitory receptor, responded to exercise and increased B cell activation threshold, which participated in exercise-induced protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that exercise training protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by upregulating Fc gamma receptor IIB expression in B cells, which plays an important anti-inflammatory role and participates in the protective effect of exercise against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Chiral Cell Nanomechanics Originated in Clockwise/Counterclockwise Biofunctional Microarrays to Govern the Nuclear Mechanotransduction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Cell chirality is extremely important for the evolution of cell morphogenesis to manipulate cell performance due to left-right asymmetry. Although chiral micro- and nanoscale biomaterials have been developed to regulate cell functions, how cell chirality affects cell nanomechanics to command nuclear mechanotransduction was ambiguous. In this study, chiral engineered microcircle arrays were prepared by photosensitive cross-linking synthesis on cell culture plates to control the clockwise/counterclockwise geometric topology of stem cells. Asymmetric focal adhesion and cytoskeleton structures could induce chiral cell nanomechanics measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation in left-/right-handed stem cells. Cell nanomechanics could be enhanced when the construction of mature focal adhesion and the assembly of actin and myosin cytoskeletons were well organized in chiral engineered stem cells. Curvature angles had a negative effect on cell nanomechanics, while cell chirality did not change cytoskeletal mechanics. The biased cytoskeleton tension would engender different nuclear mechanotransductions by yes-associated protein (YAP) evaluation. The chiral stimuli were delivered into the nuclei to oversee nuclear behaviors. A strong cell modulus could activate high nuclear DNA synthesis activity by mechanotransduction. The results will bring the possibility of understanding the interplay of chiral cell nanomechanics and mechanotransduction in nanomedicines and biomaterials.