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Licciardello M, Traldi C, Cicolini M, Bertana V, Marasso SL, Cocuzza M, Tonda-Turo C, Ciardelli G. A miniaturized multicellular platform to mimic the 3D structure of the alveolar-capillary barrier. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1346660. [PMID: 38646009 PMCID: PMC11026571 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1346660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Several diseases affect the alveoli, and the efficacy of medical treatments and pharmaceutical therapies is hampered by the lack of pre-clinical models able to recreate in vitro the diseases. Microfluidic devices, mimicking the key structural and compositional features of the alveoli, offer several advantages to medium and high-throughput analysis of new candidate therapies. Here, we developed an alveolus-on-a-chip recapitulating the microanatomy of the physiological tissue by including the epithelium, the fibrous interstitial layer and the capillary endothelium. A PDMS device was obtained assembling a top layer and a bottom layer obtained by replica molding. A polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL-Gel) electrospun membrane was included within the two layers supporting the seeding of 3 cell phenotypes. Epithelial cells were grown on a fibroblast-laden collagen hydrogel located on the top side of the PCL-Gel mats while endothelial cells were seeded on the basolateral side of the membrane. The innovative design of the microfluidic device allows to replicate both cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions according to the in vivo cell arrangement along with the establishment of physiologically relevant air-liquid interface conditions. Indeed, high cell viability was confirmed for up to 10 days and the formation of a tight endothelial and epithelial barrier was assessed by immunofluorescence assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Licciardello
- La.Di.Spe Bioengineerig, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Turin, Italy
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Italy
| | - Cecilia Traldi
- La.Di.Spe Bioengineerig, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Turin, Italy
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Italy
| | - Martina Cicolini
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- ChiLab- Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Chivasso, Italy
| | - Valentina Bertana
- ChiLab- Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Chivasso, Italy
| | - Simone Luigi Marasso
- ChiLab- Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Chivasso, Italy
- CNR-IMEM, National Research Council-Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Cocuzza
- ChiLab- Materials and Microsystems Laboratory, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Chivasso, Italy
| | - Chiara Tonda-Turo
- La.Di.Spe Bioengineerig, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Turin, Italy
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Italy
| | - Gianluca Ciardelli
- La.Di.Spe Bioengineerig, Politecnico di Torino, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Turin, Italy
- PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Italy
- CNR-IPCF, National Research Council-Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, Pisa, Italy
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2
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Faley SL, Boghdeh NA, Schaffer DK, Spivey EC, Alem F, Narayanan A, Wikswo JP, Brown JA. Gravity-perfused airway-on-a-chip optimized for quantitative BSL-3 studies of SARS-CoV-2 infection: barrier permeability, cytokine production, immunohistochemistry, and viral load assays. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1794-1807. [PMID: 38362777 PMCID: PMC10929697 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00894k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Human microphysiological systems, such as organs on chips, are an emerging technology for modeling human physiology in a preclinical setting to understand the mechanism of action of drugs, to evaluate the efficacy of treatment options for human disease and impairment, and to assess drug toxicity. By using human cells co-cultured in three-dimensional constructs, organ chips can provide greater fidelity to the human cellular condition than their two-dimensional predecessors. However, with the rise of SARS-CoV-2 and the global COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that many microphysiological systems were not compatible with or optimized for studies of infectious disease and operation in a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) environment. Given that one of the early sites of SARS-CoV-2 infection is the airway, we created a human airway organ chip that could operate in a BSL-3 space with high throughput and minimal manipulation, while retaining the necessary physical and physiological components to recapitulate tissue response to infectious agents and the immune response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L Faley
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - Niloufar A Boghdeh
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Institute of Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - David K Schaffer
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Eric C Spivey
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - Farhang Alem
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Institute of Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Aarthi Narayanan
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Institute of Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
- College of Science, Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - John P Wikswo
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jacquelyn A Brown
- Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
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3
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Dos Santos JF, Dos Reis EM, Berti FV, Colla G, Koepp J, Nunes VA. CALU-3 lung cells three-dimensionally assembled onto CellFate® matrix present angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 activity. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:3602-3611. [PMID: 37691178 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28552] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there is a great need for the development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro lung models. Particularly, the production of a suitable 3D model of pulmonary epithelium for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases such as the COVID-19 must consider the tissue architecture and presence, for example, of the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) in the cells. Different polymeric membranes are being used to support cell culturing, especially of lung cells, however, there is still no information about the culture of these cells onto bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) matrices. We have used the BNC matrix CellFate® as a support for the assembly of a 3D in vitro model of lung epithelium, composed of human lung fibroblasts (HLF) and lung adenocarcinoma cells (CALU-3). CellFate® matrices were made from bacterial fermentation resulting in a natural and biocompatible biopolymer. Cells were cultured onto CellFate® and maintained in a 5% CO2 humidified atmosphere at 37°C. Cell viability was assessed by the resazurin method The samples were, then, exposed to the air-liquid interface (ALI), and histologically analyzed. ACE-2 activity was verified on the hydrolyze of the fluorogenic substrate Mca-APK(Dnp)-OH, and its presence was evaluated by flow cytometry. The expression of the anionic transporter SLCO3A1 was evaluated by qPCR. Cell viability analysis indicates that CellFate® was not toxic to these cells. By flow cytometry, the presence of the ACE-2 was identified in the CALU-3 cells surface corroborating the results obtained from enzymatic activity analysis. The SLCO3A1 transporter expression was identified in cells cultured onto CellFate®, but not in cells cultured onto the transwell (control). CALU-3 cells cultivated onto CellFate® resulted in a pseudostratified organization, a typical morphology of the human respiratory tract epithelium. The current model opens perspectives for studies involving physiological characterization, improving its relevance for the understanding of the pathophysiology of diseases as well as the response to drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeniffer Farias Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Skin Physiology and Tissue Bioengineering, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities (EACH) of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Janice Koepp
- Biocelltis Biotechnology SA, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Viviane Abreu Nunes
- Laboratory of Skin Physiology and Tissue Bioengineering, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities (EACH) of University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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4
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Effah F, Adragna J, Luglio D, Bailey A, Marczylo T, Gordon T. Toxicological assessment of E-cigarette flavored E-liquids aerosols using Calu-3 cells: A 3D lung model approach. Toxicology 2023; 500:153683. [PMID: 38013136 PMCID: PMC10826471 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153683] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Scientific progress and ethical considerations are increasingly shifting the toxicological focus from in vivo animal models to in vitro studies utilizing physiologically relevant cell cultures. Consequently, we evaluated and validated a three-dimensional (3D) model of the human lung using Calu-3 cells cultured at an air-liquid interface (ALI) for 28 days. Assessment of seven essential genes of differentiation and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements, in conjunction with mucin (MUC5AC) staining, validated the model. We observed a time-dependent increase in TEER, genetic markers of mucus-producing cells (muc5ac, muc5b), basal cells (trp63), ciliated cells (foxj1), and tight junctions (tjp1). A decrease in basal cell marker krt5 levels was observed. Subsequently, we utilized this validated ALI-cultured Calu-3 model to investigate the adversity of the aerosols generated from three flavored electronic cigarette (EC) e-liquids: cinnamon, vanilla tobacco, and hazelnut. These aerosols were compared against traditional cigarette smoke (3R4F) to assess their relative toxicity. The aerosols generated from PG/VG vehicle control, hazelnut and cinnamon e-liquids, but not vanilla tobacco, significantly decreased TEER and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release compared to the incubator and air-only controls. Compared to 3R4F, there were no significant differences in TEER or LDH with the tested flavored EC aerosols other than vanilla tobacco. This starkly contrasted our expectations, given the common perception of e-liquids as a safer alternative to cigarettes. Our study suggests that these results depend on flavor type. Therefore, we strongly advocate for further research, increased user awareness regarding flavors in ECs, and rigorous regulatory scrutiny to protect public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Effah
- Pharmacology Section, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE London, UK; UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 ORQ, UK.
| | - John Adragna
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Luglio
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis Bailey
- Pharmacology Section, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 0RE London, UK
| | - Tim Marczylo
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 ORQ, UK
| | - Terry Gordon
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
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5
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DiGuilio KM, Rybakovsky E, Baek Y, Valenzano MC, Mullin JM. The multiphasic TNF-α-induced compromise of Calu-3 airway epithelial barrier function. Exp Lung Res 2023; 49:72-85. [PMID: 37000123 DOI: 10.1080/01902148.2023.2193637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Airway epithelial barrier leak and the involvement of proinflammatory cytokines play a key role in a variety of diseases. This study evaluates barrier compromise by the inflammatory mediator Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in the human airway epithelial Calu-3 model. Methods: We examined the effects of TNF-α on barrier function in Calu-3 cell layers using Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TER) and transepithelial diffusion of radiolabeled probe molecules. Western immunoblot analyses of tight junctional (TJ) proteins in detergent soluble fractions were performed. Results: TNF-α dramatically reduced TER and increased paracellular permeability of both 14C-D-mannitol and the larger 5 kDa probe, 14C-inulin. A time course of the effects shows two separate actions on barrier function. An initial compromise of barrier function occurs 2-4 hours after TNF-α exposure, followed by complete recovery of barrier function by 24 hrs. Beginning 48 hrs. post-exposure, a second more sustained barrier compromise ensues, in which leakiness persists through 144 hrs. There were no changes in TJ proteins observed at 3 hrs. post exposure, but significant increases in claudins-2, -3, -4, and -5, as well as a decrease in occludin were seen at 72 hrs. post TNF-α exposure. Both the 2-4 hr. and the 72 hr. TNF-α induced leaks are shown to be mediated by the ERK signaling pathway. Conclusion: TNF-α induced a multiphasic transepithelial leak in Calu-3 cell layers that was shown to be ERK mediated, as well as involve changes in the TJ complex. The micronutrients, retinoic acid and calcitriol, were effective at reducing this barrier compromise caused by TNF-α. The significance of these results for airway disease and for COVID-19 specifically are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yoongyeong Baek
- Department of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - James M Mullin
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
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6
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Möckel M, Baldok N, Walles T, Hartig R, Müller AJ, Reichl U, Genzel Y, Walles H, Wiese-Rischke C. Human 3D Airway Tissue Models for Real-Time Microscopy: Visualizing Respiratory Virus Spreading. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223634. [PMID: 36429061 PMCID: PMC9688616 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge about respiratory virus spreading is mostly based on monolayer cultures that hardly reflect the complex organization of the airway epithelium. Thus, there is a strong demand for biologically relevant models. One possibility to study virus spreading at the cellular level is real-time imaging. In an attempt to visualize virus spreading under somewhat more physiological conditions, Calu-3 cells and human primary fibroblasts were co-cultured submerged or as air-liquid interface (ALI). An influenza A virus (IAV) replicating well in cell culture, and carrying a red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter gene was used for real-time imaging. Our three-dimensional (3D) models exhibited important characteristics of native airway epithelium including a basement membrane, tight junctions and, in ALI models, strong mucus production. In submerged models, first fluorescence signals appeared between 9 and 12 h post infection (hpi) with a low multiplicity of infection of 0.01. Virus spreading further proceeded in the immediate vicinity of infected cells. In ALI models, RFP was found at 22 hpi and later. Consequently, the progression of infection was delayed, in contrast to the submerged model. With these features, we believe that our 3D airway models can deliver new insights in the spreading of IAV and other respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Möckel
- University Clinic for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Nino Baldok
- University Clinic for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Walles
- University Clinic for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Roland Hartig
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Andreas J. Müller
- Institute for Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Udo Reichl
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Genzel
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Heike Walles
- Core Facility Tissue Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Cornelia Wiese-Rischke
- University Clinic for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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7
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Cutroneo M, Hnatowicz V, Mackova A, Malinsky P, Miksova R, Ceccio G, Maly J, Smejkal J, Štofik M, Havranek V. Ion Lithography of Single Ions Irradiation for Spatially Regular Arrays of Pores in Membranes of Polyethylene Terephthalate. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3927. [PMID: 36432215 PMCID: PMC9697708 DOI: 10.3390/nano12223927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Routinely, in membrane technology, the decay from radioactive particles or the bombardment of ions with MeV energy per nucleon have been employed for the production of narrow and long pores in membranes. Presently, the ion lithography is proposed to make the fabrication cost more affordable. It is prospective for the use of medium capacity accelerators making more feasible the fabrication of customized membranes. Thin polyethylene terephthalate foils have been patterned using 12 MeV O5+ ions and then processed to obtain good aspect ratio ion track pores in membranes. Pores of micrometric diameter with the following profiles were fabricated in the membranes: truncated cone, double conical, ideal cone, and cylindrical. Monitoring of the shape and size of pores has been attempted with a combination of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscope and a newly designed simulation program. This study is focused on the use of low-energy ions, accomplished in all laboratories, for the fabrication of membranes where the pores are not randomly traced and exhibit higher surface density and negligible overlapping than in membranes commonly manufactured. The good reproducibility and the ordered pore locations can be potentially utilized in applications such as microfluidics and organ-on-chip microsystems, where cells growing over porous substrates are used in simulation of biological barriers and transport processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Mackova
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of J. E. Purkyně, Pasteurova 3544/1, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Malinsky
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of J. E. Purkyně, Pasteurova 3544/1, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Miksova
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Giovanni Ceccio
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Maly
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Smejkal
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Štofik
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Havranek
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
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Meldrum K, Moura JA, Doak SH, Clift MJD. Dynamic Fluid Flow Exacerbates the (Pro-)Inflammatory Effects of Aerosolised Engineered Nanomaterials In Vitro. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:nano12193431. [PMID: 36234557 PMCID: PMC9565225 DOI: 10.3390/nano12193431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The majority of in vitro studies focusing upon particle-lung cell interactions use static models at an air-liquid interface (ALI). Advancing the physiological characteristics of such systems allows for closer resemblance of the human lung, in turn promoting 3R strategies. PATROLS (EU Horizon 2020 No. 760813) aimed to use a well-characterised in vitro model of the human alveolar epithelial barrier to determine how fluid-flow dynamics would impact the outputs of the model following particle exposure. Using the QuasiVivoTM (Kirkstall Ltd., York, UK) system, fluid-flow conditions were applied to an A549 + dTHP-1 cell co-culture model cultured at the ALI. DQ12 and TiO2 (JRCNM01005a) were used as model particles to assess the in vitro systems' sensitivity. Using a quasi- and aerosol (VitroCell Cloud12, VitroCell Systems, Waldkirch, Germany) exposure approach, cell cultures were exposed over 24 h at IVIVE concentrations of 1 and 10 (DQ12) and 1.4 and 10.4 (TiO2) µg/cm2, respectively. We compared static and fluid flow conditions after both these exposure methods. The co-culture was subsequently assessed for its viability, membrane integrity and (pro-)inflammatory response (IL-8 and IL-6 production). The results suggested that the addition of fluid flow to this alveolar co-culture model can influence the viability, membrane integrity and inflammatory responses dependent on the particle type and exposure.
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Singh R, Birru B, Veit JGS, Arrigali EM, Serban MA. Development and Characterization of an In Vitro Round Window Membrane Model for Drug Permeability Evaluations. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15091105. [PMID: 36145326 PMCID: PMC9504332 DOI: 10.3390/ph15091105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing loss and balance disorders are highly common disorders, and the development of effective oto-therapeutics remains an area of intense research. Drug development and screening in the hearing research field heavily rely on the use of preclinical models with often ambiguous translational relevance. This often leads to failed advancement in the market of effective therapeutics. In this context, especially for inner ear-specific pathologies, the availability of an in vitro, physiologically relevant, round window membrane (RWM) model could enable rapid, high-throughput screening of potential topical drugs for inner ear and cochlear dysfunctions and could help accelerate the advancement to clinic and market of more viable drug candidates. In this study, we report the development and evaluation of an in vitro model that mimics the native RWM tissue morphology and microenvironment as shown via immunostaining and histological analyses. The developed three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model was additionally assessed for barrier integrity by transepithelial electrical resistance, and the permeability of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs was determined. Our collective findings suggest that this in vitro model could serve as a tool for rapid development and screening of topically deliverable oto-therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Singh
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Skaggs 394, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Montana Biotechnology Center (BIOTECH), University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Bhaskar Birru
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Skaggs 394, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Montana Biotechnology Center (BIOTECH), University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Joachim G. S. Veit
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Skaggs 394, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Montana Biotechnology Center (BIOTECH), University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Arrigali
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Skaggs 394, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Montana Biotechnology Center (BIOTECH), University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Monica A. Serban
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montana, 32 Campus Dr., Skaggs 394, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Montana Biotechnology Center (BIOTECH), University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Correspondence:
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10
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Baptista D, Moreira Teixeira L, Barata D, Tahmasebi Birgani Z, King J, van Riet S, Pasman T, Poot AA, Stamatialis D, Rottier RJ, Hiemstra PS, Carlier A, van Blitterswijk C, Habibović P, Giselbrecht S, Truckenmüller R. 3D Lung-on-Chip Model Based on Biomimetically Microcurved Culture Membranes. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:2684-2699. [PMID: 35502997 PMCID: PMC9198974 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
![]()
A comparatively straightforward
approach to accomplish more physiological
realism in organ-on-a-chip (OoC) models is through substrate geometry.
There is increasing evidence that the strongly, microscale curved
surfaces that epithelial or endothelial cells experience when lining
small body lumens, such as the alveoli or blood vessels, impact their
behavior. However, the most commonly used cell culture substrates
for modeling of these human tissue barriers in OoCs, ion track-etched
porous membranes, provide only
flat surfaces. Here, we propose a more realistic culture environment
for alveolar cells based on biomimetically microcurved track-etched
membranes. They recreate the mainly spherical geometry of the cells’
native microenvironment. In this feasibility study, the membranes
were given the shape of hexagonally arrayed hemispherical microwells
by an innovative combination of three-dimensional (3D) microfilm (thermo)forming
and ion track technology. Integrated in microfluidic chips, they separated
a top from a bottom cell culture chamber. The microcurved membranes
were seeded by infusion with primary human alveolar epithelial cells.
Despite the pronounced topology, the cells fully lined the alveoli-like
microwell structures on the membranes’ top side. The confluent
curved epithelial cell monolayers could be cultured successfully at
the air−liquid interface for 14 days. Similarly, the top and
bottom sides of the microcurved membranes were seeded with cells from
the Calu-3 lung epithelial cell line and human lung microvascular
endothelial cells, respectively. Thereby, the latter lined the interalveolar
septum-like interspace between the microwells in a network-type fashion,
as in the natural counterpart. The coculture was maintained for 11
days. The presented 3D lung-on-a-chip model might set the stage for
other (micro)anatomically inspired membrane-based OoCs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Baptista
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Liliana Moreira Teixeira
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - David Barata
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Zeinab Tahmasebi Birgani
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jasia King
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Sander van Riet
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thijs Pasman
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - André A Poot
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitrios Stamatialis
- Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert J Rottier
- Department of Pediatric Surgery/Cell Biology, Erasmus (University) Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter S Hiemstra
- Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Clemens van Blitterswijk
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Habibović
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Giselbrecht
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Roman Truckenmüller
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
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11
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Selo MA, Sake JA, Kim KJ, Ehrhardt C. In vitro and ex vivo models in inhalation biopharmaceutical research - advances, challenges and future perspectives. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 177:113862. [PMID: 34256080 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Oral inhalation results in pulmonary drug targeting and thereby reduces systemic side effects, making it the preferred means of drug delivery for the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis. In addition, the high alveolar surface area, relatively low enzymatic activity and rich blood supply of the distal airspaces offer a promising pathway to the systemic circulation. This is particularly advantageous when a rapid onset of pharmacological action is desired or when the drug is suffering from stability issues or poor biopharmaceutical performance following oral administration. Several cell and tissue-based in vitro and ex vivo models have been developed over the years, with the intention to realistically mimic pulmonary biological barriers. It is the aim of this review to critically discuss the available models regarding their advantages and limitations and to elaborate further which biopharmaceutical questions can and cannot be answered using the existing models.
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12
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Emerging Approaches to Understanding Microvascular Endothelial Heterogeneity: A Roadmap for Developing Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157770. [PMID: 34360536 PMCID: PMC8346165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium is the inner layer of all blood vessels and it regulates hemostasis. It also plays an active role in the regulation of the systemic inflammatory response. Systemic inflammatory disease often results in alterations in vascular endothelium barrier function, increased permeability, excessive leukocyte trafficking, and reactive oxygen species production, leading to organ damage. Therapeutics targeting endothelium inflammation are urgently needed, but strong concerns regarding the level of phenotypic heterogeneity of microvascular endothelial cells between different organs and species have been expressed. Microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity in different organs and organ-specific variations in endothelial cell structure and function are regulated by intrinsic signals that are differentially expressed across organs and species; a result of this is that neutrophil recruitment to discrete organs may be regulated differently. In this review, we will discuss the morphological and functional variations in differently originated microvascular endothelia and discuss how these variances affect systemic function in response to inflammation. We will review emerging in vivo and in vitro models and techniques, including microphysiological devices, proteomics, and RNA sequencing used to study the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of endothelia from different organs. A better understanding of microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity will provide a roadmap for developing novel therapeutics to target the endothelium.
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