Sirtuin 6 mediated stem cell cardiomyogenesis on protein coated nanofibrous scaffolds

Essential Role of Anisotropy in Bioengineered Cardiac Tissue Models

As regulatory bodies encourage alternatives to animal testing, there is renewed interest in engineering disease models, particularly for cardiac tissues. The aligned organization of cells in the mammalian heart controls the electrical and ionic currents and its ability to efficiently circulate blood to the body. Although the development of engineered cardiac systems is rising, insights into the topographical aspects, in particular, the necessity to design in vitro cardiac models incorporating cues for unidirectional cell growth, is lacking. This review first summarizes the widely used methods to organize cardiomyocytes (CMs) unidirectionally and the ways to quantify the resulting cellular alignment. The behavior of CMs in response to alignment is described, with emphasis on their functions and underlying mechanisms. Lastly, the limitations of state-of-the-art techniques to modulate CM alignment in vitro and opportunities for further development in the future to improve the cardiac tissue models that more faithfully mimic the pathophysiological hallmarks are outlined. This review serves as a call to action for bioengineers to delve deeper into the in vivo role of cellular organization in cardiac muscle tissue and draw inspiration to effectively mimic in vitro for engineering reliable disease models.

Nanotechnology in coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the major causes of death and disability worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries and among older populations. Conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have limitations such as low sensitivity, high cost and side effects. Nanotechnology offers promising alternative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of CHD by exploiting the unique properties of nanomaterials. In this review, we use bibliometric analysis to identify research hotspots in the application of nanotechnology in CHD and provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art. Nanomaterials with enhanced imaging and biosensing capabilities can improve the early detection of CHD through advanced contrast agents and high-resolution imaging techniques. Moreover, nanomaterials can facilitate targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering and modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress, thus addressing multiple aspects of CHD pathophysiology. We discuss the application of nanotechnology in CHD diagnosis (imaging and sensors) and treatment (regulation of macrophages, cardiac repair, anti-oxidative stress), and provide insights into future research directions and clinical translation. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians seeking to harness the potential of nanotechnology in the management of CHD. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the one of leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Nanotechnology offers new strategies for diagnosing and treating CHD by exploiting the unique properties of nanomaterials. This review uses bibliometric analysis to uncover research trends in the use of nanotechnology for CHD. We discuss the potential of nanomaterials for early CHD detection through advanced imaging and biosensing, targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. We also offer insights into future research directions and potential clinical applications. This work aims to guide researchers and clinicians in leveraging nanotechnology to improve CHD patient outcomes and quality of life.

Epigenetic Modification Factors and microRNAs Network Associated with Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells toward Cardiomyocytes: A Review

More research is being conducted on myocardial cell treatments utilizing stem cell lines that can develop into cardiomyocytes. All of the forms of cardiac illnesses have shown to be quite amenable to treatments using embryonic (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In the present study, we reviewed the differentiation of these cell types into cardiomyocytes from an epigenetic standpoint. We also provided a miRNA network that is devoted to the epigenetic commitment of stem cells toward cardiomyocyte cells and related diseases, such as congenital heart defects, comprehensively. Histone acetylation, methylation, DNA alterations, N6-methyladenosine (m⁶a) RNA methylation, and cardiac mitochondrial mutations are explored as potential tools for precise stem cell differentiation.

Nanoparticles Targeting the Molecular Pathways of Heart Remodeling and Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death worldwide, a trend that will continue to grow over the next decade. The heart consists of a complex cellular network based mainly on cardiomyocytes, but also on endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes, which closely communicate through paracrine factors and direct contact. These interactions serve as valuable targets in understanding the phenomenon of heart remodeling and regeneration. The advances in nanomedicine in the controlled delivery of active pharmacological agents are remarkable and may provide substantial contribution to the treatment of heart diseases. This review aims to summarize the main mechanisms involved in cardiac remodeling and regeneration and how they have been applied in nanomedicine.

A designer cell culture insert with a nanofibrous membrane toward engineering an epithelial tissue model validated by cellular nanomechanics

Engineered platforms for culturing cells of the skin and other epithelial tissues are useful for the regeneration and development of in vitro tissue models used in drug screening. Recapitulating the biomechanical behavior of the cells is one of the important hallmarks of successful tissue generation on these platforms. The biomechanical behavior of cells profoundly affects the physiological functions of the generated tissue. In this work, a designer nanofibrous cell culture insert (NCCI) device was developed, consisting of a free-hanging polymeric nanofibrous membrane. The free-hanging nanofibrous membrane has a well-tailored architecture, stiffness, and topography to better mimic the extracellular matrix of any soft tissue than conventional, flat tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) surfaces. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) cultured on the designer NCCIs exhibited a 3D tissue-like phenotype compared to the cells cultured on TCPS. Furthermore, the biomechanical characterization by bio-atomic force microscopy (Bio-AFM) revealed a markedly altered cellular morphology and stiffness of the cellular cytoplasm, nucleus, and cell-cell junctions. The nuclear and cytoplasmic moduli were reduced, while the stiffness of the cellular junctions was enhanced on the NCCI compared to cells on TCPS, which are indicative of the fluidic state and migratory phenotype on the NCCI. These observations were corroborated by immunostaining, which revealed enhanced cell-cell contact along with a higher expression of junction proteins and enhanced migration in a wound-healing assay. Taken together, these results underscore the role of the novel designer NCCI device as an in vitro platform for epithelial cells with several potential applications, including drug testing, disease modeling, and tissue regeneration.

Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Functionalized Graphene Oxide in Tissue Engineering: A Review on Recent Advances

Owing to the unique physical, chemical, mechanical and electrical properties, graphene and its derivatives have been extensively researched for diverse biomedical applications including in tissue engineering since the past decade. Tunable chemical functionalities of graphene oxide (GO), a graphene derivative, allow easy surface functionalization. Functionalization of GO with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (PEG-GO) has received significant attention as it offers superior solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. Besides being an attractive candidate for drug delivery, PEG-GO can aid in the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of stem cells, thereby augmenting tissue engineering. PEG-GO has shown excellent antibacterial efficacy, which could be an added advantage to minimize implant-associated infections. This review describes the synthesis techniques, properties, and biological potential of PEG-GO towards mammalian and bacterial cells. Studies wherein these nanomaterials have been explored for engineering various tissues are reviewed along with future opportunities in this field.