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Wan S, Aregueta Robles U, Poole-Warren L, Esrafilzadeh D. Advances in 3D tissue models for neural engineering: self-assembled versus engineered tissue models. Biomater Sci 2024. [PMID: 38829222 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00317a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Neural tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field that aims to create functional neural tissue for therapeutic applications, drug screening, and disease modelling. It is becoming evident in the literature that this goal requires development of three-dimensional (3D) constructs that can mimic the complex microenvironment of native neural tissue, including its biochemical, mechanical, physical, and electrical properties. These 3D models can be broadly classified as self-assembled models, which include spheroids, organoids, and assembloids, and engineered models, such as those based on decellularized or polymeric scaffolds. Self-assembled models offer advantages such as the ability to recapitulate neural development and disease processes in vitro, and the capacity to study the behaviour and interactions of different cell types in a more realistic environment. However, self-assembled constructs have limitations such as lack of standardised protocols, inability to control the cellular microenvironment, difficulty in controlling structural characteristics, reproducibility, scalability, and lengthy developmental timeframes. Integrating biomimetic materials and advanced manufacturing approaches to present cells with relevant biochemical, mechanical, physical, and electrical cues in a controlled tissue architecture requires alternate engineering approaches. Engineered scaffolds, and specifically 3D hydrogel-based constructs, have desirable properties, lower cost, higher reproducibility, long-term stability, and they can be rapidly tailored to mimic the native microenvironment and structure. This review explores 3D models in neural tissue engineering, with a particular focus on analysing the benefits and limitations of self-assembled organoids compared with hydrogel-based engineered 3D models. Moreover, this paper will focus on hydrogel based engineered models and probe their biomaterial components, tuneable properties, and fabrication techniques that allow them to mimic native neural tissue structures and environment. Finally, the current challenges and future research prospects of 3D neural models for both self-assembled and engineered models in neural tissue engineering will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqian Wan
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Ulises Aregueta Robles
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Laura Poole-Warren
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
- Tyree Foundation Institute of Health Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Dorna Esrafilzadeh
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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Wang Z, Yi SY, Zhang YY, Wang YD, Chen HL, Guo YJ, Wei XM, Yang DX. The role of vitamin D through SphK1/S1P in the regulation of MS progression. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 236:106425. [PMID: 37984747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2023.106425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is biologically active lipid, leading to neuroinflammation and macrophage invasion in central nervous system, plays an important role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) model in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) rats. Vitamin D is observed to be a key factor in regulating cell S1P levels. We detected vitamin D can alleviate the symptoms of EAE rats, but the exact mechanism is unclear. In PC12 cells, vitamin D can reverse S1P-induced cell death, but the signaling pathway unclear. This study was aimed to investigate S1P regulation mechanism or signaling pathway mediated by vitamin D in EAE and PC12 model. In our experiments, S1P and Sphingosine kinase type 1 (SphK1) mRNA and protein expression in EAE rats group, control group, vitamin D feeding group were detected by HPLC, ELISA, RT-PCR and western blot. PC12 cell death was detected by Propidium (PI) staining. VDR plasmid overexpression and RNA interference, immunofluorescence, real-time cell analysis, protein immunoblotting was used to detect SphK1 transcriptional regulation, cell-substrate attachment quality, the signaling pathway of cell apoptosis and inflammation related gene expression (Bax/Bcl-2, Casepase-3, Il-6, TGF-β, TNF-α). Our study showed vitamin D can reverse the elevation of S1P level in EAE rats, reduce the severity and shorten the course of EAE. 1,25-(OH) 2D3 coupled with vitamin D receptor (VDR) inhibited SphK1 transcription. 1,25-(OH)2D3 significantly reduced PC12 cell death rate induced by S1P, in addition improved the cell substrate attachment quality. 1,25-(OH) 2D3 can block S1P-induced p-ERK activation and PI3K /Akt signaling pathway reduced Il-6, TGF-β, TNF-α cytokine release and Bax/Bcl-2, Casepase-3 apoptosis protein expression. On the other hand, immunofluorescence staining showed 1,25-(OH) 2D3 can increase the expression of neuronal perinuclear protein MAP2 in PC12 cells probably protect nerve cells further. In summary, the ameliorative effect of vitamin D was derived from its ability to reduce S1P levels, provides an idea for vitamin D as a combination therapy for disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Shu-Ying Yi
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Yuan-Ying Zhang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Yu-di Wang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Han-Lin Chen
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Yi-Jie Guo
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xin-Ming Wei
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Du-Xiao Yang
- School of Clinical and Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China; Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250014, China.
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Renkler NZ, Scialla S, Russo T, D’Amora U, Cruz-Maya I, De Santis R, Guarino V. Micro- and Nanostructured Fibrous Composites via Electro-Fluid Dynamics: Design and Applications for Brain. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:134. [PMID: 38276504 PMCID: PMC10819193 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain consists of an interconnected network of neurons tightly packed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to form complex and heterogeneous composite tissue. According to recent biomimicry approaches that consider biological features as active components of biomaterials, designing a highly reproducible microenvironment for brain cells can represent a key tool for tissue repair and regeneration. Indeed, this is crucial to support cell growth, mitigate inflammation phenomena and provide adequate structural properties needed to support the damaged tissue, corroborating the activity of the vascular network and ultimately the functionality of neurons. In this context, electro-fluid dynamic techniques (EFDTs), i.e., electrospinning, electrospraying and related techniques, offer the opportunity to engineer a wide variety of composite substrates by integrating fibers, particles, and hydrogels at different scales-from several hundred microns down to tens of nanometers-for the generation of countless patterns of physical and biochemical cues suitable for influencing the in vitro response of coexistent brain cell populations mediated by the surrounding microenvironment. In this review, an overview of the different technological approaches-based on EFDTs-for engineering fibrous and/or particle-loaded composite substrates will be proposed. The second section of this review will primarily focus on describing current and future approaches to the use of composites for brain applications, ranging from therapeutic to diagnostic/theranostic use and from repair to regeneration, with the ultimate goal of providing insightful information to guide future research efforts toward the development of more efficient and reliable solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nergis Zeynep Renkler
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Scialla
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
| | - Teresa Russo
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
| | - Ugo D’Amora
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
| | - Iriczalli Cruz-Maya
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
| | - Roberto De Santis
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
| | - Vincenzo Guarino
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, Viale J.F. Kennedy 54, 80125 Naples, Italy (S.S.); (I.C.-M.)
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Hidalgo-Alvarez V, Madl CM. Leveraging Biomaterial Platforms to Study Aging-Related Neural and Muscular Degeneration. Biomolecules 2024; 14:69. [PMID: 38254669 PMCID: PMC10813704 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex multifactorial process that results in tissue function impairment across the whole organism. One of the common consequences of this process is the loss of muscle mass and the associated decline in muscle function, known as sarcopenia. Aging also presents with an increased risk of developing other pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration. Muscular and neuronal degeneration cause mobility issues and cognitive impairment, hence having a major impact on the quality of life of the older population. The development of novel therapies that can ameliorate the effects of aging is currently hindered by our limited knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and the use of models that fail to recapitulate the structure and composition of the cell microenvironment. The emergence of bioengineering techniques based on the use of biomimetic materials and biofabrication methods has opened the possibility of generating 3D models of muscular and nervous tissues that better mimic the native extracellular matrix. These platforms are particularly advantageous for drug testing and mechanistic studies. In this review, we discuss the developments made in the creation of 3D models of aging-related neuronal and muscular degeneration and we provide a perspective on the future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher M. Madl
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
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Rouleau N, Levin M. The Multiple Realizability of Sentience in Living Systems and Beyond. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0375-23.2023. [PMID: 37963652 PMCID: PMC10646883 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0375-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Rouleau
- Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Allen Discovery Center at, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215
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