1
|
Kalashnikov N, Moraes C. Substrate viscoelasticity affects human macrophage morphology and phagocytosis. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:2438-2445. [PMID: 36930245 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01683d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Viscoelasticity is an inherent characteristic of many living tissues and, in an attempt to better recapitulate this aspect in cell culture, hydrogel biomaterials have been engineered to exhibit time-dependent energy-dissipative mechanical behavior. Viscoelastic hydrogel culture platforms have been instrumental in understanding the biological effects of viscoelasticity. Although viscoelasticity has been shown to regulate fundamental cell processes such as spreading and differentiation in adherent cells, the influence of viscoelasticity on macrophage behavior has not been explored. Here, we use a tunable viscoelastic polyacrylamide hydrogel culture system to demonstrate that viscoelasticity is an important biophysical regulator of macrophage function. After biologically validating our system with HS-5 fibroblasts to show behavior consistent with existing reports, we seed human THP-1 monocytes on these viscoelastic substrates and differentiate them into macrophages. THP-1 macrophages become smaller and rounder, and less efficient at phagocytosis on more viscous polyacrylamide hydrogel substrates. Since macrophages play key roles in mounting responses such as inflammation and fibrosis, these results indicate that viscoelasticity is an important parameter in the design of immunomodulatory biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang Q, Wang P, Fang X, Lin F, Fang J, Xiong C. Collagen gel contraction assays: From modelling wound healing to quantifying cellular interactions with three-dimensional extracellular matrices. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151253. [PMID: 35785635 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells respond to and actively remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The dynamic and bidirectional interaction between cells and ECM, especially their mechanical interactions, has been found to play an essential role in triggering a series of complex biochemical and biomechanical signal pathways and in regulating cellular functions and behaviours. The collagen gel contraction assay (CGCA) is a widely used method to investigate cell-ECM interactions in 3D environments and provides a mechanically associated readout reflecting 3D cellular contractility. In this review, we summarize various versions of CGCA, with an emphasis on recent high-throughput and low-consumption CGCA techniques. More importantly, we focus on the technique of force monitoring during the contraction of collagen gel, which provides a quantitative characterization of the overall forces generated by all the resident cells in the collagen hydrogel. Accordingly, we present recent biological applications of the CGCA, which have expanded from the initial wound healing model to other studies concerning cell-ECM interactions, including fibrosis, cancer, tissue repair and the preparation of biomimetic microtissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Pudi Wang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xu Fang
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Jing Fang
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chunyang Xiong
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Winston TS, Chen C, Suddhapas K, Tarris BA, Elattar S, Sun S, Zhang T, Ma Z. Controlling Mesenchyme Tissue Remodeling via Spatial Arrangement of Mechanical Constraints. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:833595. [PMID: 35252142 PMCID: PMC8896258 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.833595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue morphogenetic remodeling plays an important role in tissue repair and homeostasis and is often governed by mechanical stresses. In this study, we integrated an in vitro mesenchymal tissue experimental model with a volumetric contraction-based computational model to investigate how geometrical designs of tissue mechanical constraints affect the tissue remodeling processes. Both experimental data and simulation results verified that the standing posts resisted the bulk contraction of the tissues, leading to tissue thinning around the posts as gap extension and inward remodeling at the edges as tissue compaction. We changed the geometrical designs for the engineered mesenchymal tissues with different shapes of posts arrangements (triangle vs. square), different side lengths (6 mm vs. 8 mm), and insertion of a center post. Both experimental data and simulation results showed similar trends of tissue morphological changes of significant increase of gap extension and deflection compaction with larger tissues. Additionally, insertion of center post changed the mechanical stress distribution within the tissues and stabilized the tissue remodeling. This experimental-computational integrated model can be considered as a promising initiative for future mechanistic understanding of the relationship between mechanical design and tissue remodeling, which could possibly provide design rationale for tissue stability and manufacturing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tackla S. Winston
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Chao Chen
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Kantaphon Suddhapas
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Bearett A. Tarris
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Saif Elattar
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Shiyang Sun
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Teng Zhang
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Teng Zhang, ; Zhen Ma,
| | - Zhen Ma
- Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- BioInspired Syracuse Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Teng Zhang, ; Zhen Ma,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Boghdady CM, Kalashnikov N, Mok S, McCaffrey L, Moraes C. Revisiting tissue tensegrity: Biomaterial-based approaches to measure forces across length scales. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:041501. [PMID: 34632250 PMCID: PMC8487350 DOI: 10.1063/5.0046093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-generated forces play a foundational role in tissue dynamics and homeostasis and are critically important in several biological processes, including cell migration, wound healing, morphogenesis, and cancer metastasis. Quantifying such forces in vivo is technically challenging and requires novel strategies that capture mechanical information across molecular, cellular, and tissue length scales, while allowing these studies to be performed in physiologically realistic biological models. Advanced biomaterials can be designed to non-destructively measure these stresses in vitro, and here, we review mechanical characterizations and force-sensing biomaterial-based technologies to provide insight into the mechanical nature of tissue processes. We specifically and uniquely focus on the use of these techniques to identify characteristics of cell and tissue “tensegrity:” the hierarchical and modular interplay between tension and compression that provide biological tissues with remarkable mechanical properties and behaviors. Based on these observed patterns, we highlight and discuss the emerging role of tensegrity at multiple length scales in tissue dynamics from homeostasis, to morphogenesis, to pathological dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | - Stephanie Mok
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3A 0C5, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tran R, Hoesli CA, Moraes C. Accessible dynamic micropatterns in monolayer cultures via modified desktop xurography. Biofabrication 2020; 13. [PMID: 33238251 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abce0b] [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: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Micropatterned cell cultures provide an important tool to understand dynamic biological processes, but often require specialized equipment and expertise. Here we present subtractive bioscribing (SuBscribe), a readily accessible and inexpensive technique to generate dynamic micropatterns in biomaterial monolayers on-the-fly. We first describe our modifications to a commercially available desktop xurographer and demonstrate the utility and limits of this system in creating micropatterned cultures by mechanically scribing patterns into a brittle, non-adhesive biomaterial layer. Patterns are sufficiently small to influence cell morphology and orientation and can be extended to pattern large areas with complex reproducible shapes. We also demonstrate the use of this system as a dynamic patterning tool for cocultures. Finally, we use this technique to explore and improve upon the well-established epithelial scratch assay, and demonstrate that robotic control of the scratching tool can be used to create custom-shaped wounds in epithelial monolayers, and that the scribing direction leaves trace remnants of matrix molecules that may significantly affect conventional implementations of this common assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Tran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H4X1N3, CANADA
| | - Corinne Annette Hoesli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H4X 1N3, CANADA
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Rm 3A, Montreal, Quebec, H4X1N3, CANADA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ma Z, Sagrillo-Fagundes L, Mok S, Vaillancourt C, Moraes C. Mechanobiological regulation of placental trophoblast fusion and function through extracellular matrix rigidity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5837. [PMID: 32246004 PMCID: PMC7125233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62659-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The syncytiotrophoblast is a multinucleated layer that plays a critical role in regulating functions of the human placenta during pregnancy. Maintaining the syncytiotrophoblast layer relies on ongoing fusion of mononuclear cytotrophoblasts throughout pregnancy, and errors in this fusion process are associated with complications such as preeclampsia. While biochemical factors are known to drive fusion, the role of disease-specific extracellular biophysical cues remains undefined. Since substrate mechanics play a crucial role in several diseases, and preeclampsia is associated with placental stiffening, we hypothesize that trophoblast fusion is mechanically regulated by substrate stiffness. We developed stiffness-tunable polyacrylamide substrate formulations that match the linear elasticity of placental tissue in normal and disease conditions, and evaluated trophoblast morphology, fusion, and function on these surfaces. Our results demonstrate that morphology, fusion, and hormone release is mechanically-regulated via myosin-II; optimal on substrates that match healthy placental tissue stiffness; and dysregulated on disease-like and supraphysiologically-stiff substrates. We further demonstrate that stiff regions in heterogeneous substrates provide dominant physical cues that inhibit fusion, suggesting that even focal tissue stiffening limits widespread trophoblast fusion and tissue function. These results confirm that mechanical microenvironmental cues influence fusion in the placenta, provide critical information needed to engineer better in vitro models for placental disease, and may ultimately be used to develop novel mechanically-mediated therapeutic strategies to resolve fusion-related disorders during pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Ma
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Lucas Sagrillo-Fagundes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- INRS-Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Réseau Intersectoriel de Recherche en Santé de l'Université du Québec, Laval, QC, Canada
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephanie Mok
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- INRS-Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Réseau Intersectoriel de Recherche en Santé de l'Université du Québec, Laval, QC, Canada
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Well-Being, Health, Society and Environment, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Moraes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Huang NF, Chaudhuri O, Cahan P, Wang A, Engler AJ, Wang Y, Kumar S, Khademhosseini A, Li S. Multi-scale cellular engineering: From molecules to organ-on-a-chip. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:010906. [PMID: 32161833 PMCID: PMC7054123 DOI: 10.1063/1.5129788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technological advances in cellular and molecular engineering have provided new
insights into biology and enabled the design, manufacturing, and manipulation of complex
living systems. Here, we summarize the state of advances at the molecular, cellular, and
multi-cellular levels using experimental and computational tools. The areas of focus
include intrinsically disordered proteins, synthetic proteins, spatiotemporally dynamic
extracellular matrices, organ-on-a-chip approaches, and computational modeling, which all
have tremendous potential for advancing fundamental and translational science.
Perspectives on the current limitations and future directions are also described, with the
goal of stimulating interest to overcome these hurdles using multi-disciplinary
approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Patrick Cahan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | | | - Adam J Engler
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacob School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacob School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | | | | | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Huynh RN, Yousof M, Ly KL, Gombedza FC, Luo X, Bandyopadhyay BC, Raub CB. Microstructural densification and alignment by aspiration-ejection influence cancer cell interactions with three-dimensional collagen networks. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:1826-1838. [PMID: 32073148 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix microstructure and mechanics are crucial to breast cancer progression and invasion into surrounding tissues. The peritumor collagen network is often dense and aligned, features which in vitro models lack. Aspiration of collagen hydrogels led to densification and alignment of microstructure surrounding embedded cancer cells. Two metastasis-derived breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, were cultured in initially 4 mg/ml collagen gels for 3 days after aspiration, as well as in unaspirated control hydrogels. Videomicroscopy during aspiration, and at 0, 1, and 3 days after aspiration, epifluorescence microscopy of phalloidin-stained F-actin cytoskeleton, histological sections, and soluble metabolic byproducts from constructs were collected to characterize effects on the embedded cell morphology, the collagen network microstructure, and proliferation. Breast cancer cells remained viable after aspiration-ejection, proliferating slightly less than in unaspirated gels. Furthermore, MDA-MB-231 cells appear to partially relax the collagen network and lose alignment 3 days after aspiration. Aspiration-ejection generated aligned, compact collagen network microstructure with immediate cell co-orientation and higher cell number density apparently through purely physical means, though cell-collagen contact guidance and network remodeling influence cell organization and collagen network microstructure during subsequent culture. This study establishes a platform to determine the effects of collagen density and alignment on cancer cell behavior, with translational potential for anticancer drug screening in a biomimetic three-dimensional matrix microenvironment, or implantation in preclinical models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruby N Huynh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Manal Yousof
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Khanh L Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Farai C Gombedza
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Bidhan C Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia.,Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Christopher B Raub
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia
| |
Collapse
|