1
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Hu Y, Rigoldi F, Sun H, Gautieri A, Marelli B. Unbiased in silico design of pH-sensitive tetrapeptides. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:10157-10160. [PMID: 37530567 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc02412a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
We used coarse-grain molecular dynamics simulations to screen all possible histidine-bearing tetrapeptide sequences, finding novel peptide sequences with pH-tunable assembly properties. These tetrapeptides could be used for various biological applications, such as triggered delivery of bioactive molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Hu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
| | - Federica Rigoldi
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
| | - Hui Sun
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
| | - Alfonso Gautieri
- Biomolecular Engineering Lab, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA.
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2
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Zhang Y, Martinez MR, Sun H, Sun M, Yin R, Yan J, Marelli B, Giraldo JP, Matyjaszewski K, Tilton RD, Lowry GV. Charge, Aspect Ratio, and Plant Species Affect Uptake Efficiency and Translocation of Polymeric Agrochemical Nanocarriers. Environ Sci Technol 2023. [PMID: 37227395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
An incomplete understanding of how agrochemical nanocarrier properties affect their uptake and translocation in plants limits their application for promoting sustainable agriculture. Herein, we investigated how the nanocarrier aspect ratio and charge affect uptake and translocation in monocot wheat (Triticum aestivum) and dicot tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) after foliar application. Leaf uptake and distribution to plant organs were quantified for polymer nanocarriers with the same diameter (∼10 nm) but different aspect ratios (low (L), medium (M), and high (H), 10-300 nm long) and charges (-50 to +15 mV). In tomato, anionic nanocarrier translocation (20.7 ± 6.7 wt %) was higher than for cationic nanocarriers (13.3 ± 4.1 wt %). In wheat, only anionic nanocarriers were transported (8.7 ± 3.8 wt %). Both low and high aspect ratio polymers translocated in tomato, but the longest nanocarrier did not translocate in wheat, suggesting a phloem transport size cutoff. Differences in translocation correlated with leaf uptake and interactions with mesophyll cells. The positive charge decreases nanocarrier penetration through the leaf epidermis and promotes uptake into mesophyll cells, decreasing apoplastic transport and phloem loading. These results suggest design parameters to provide agrochemical nanocarriers with rapid and complete leaf uptake and an ability to target agrochemicals to specific plant organs, with the potential to lower agrochemical use and the associated environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | | | | | | | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Juan Pablo Giraldo
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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3
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Han Y, Wang S, Cao Y, Singh GP, Loh SI, Cheerlavancha R, Ang MCY, Khong DT, Chua PWL, Ho P, Strano MS, Marelli B. Design of Biodegradable, Climate-Specific Packaging Materials That Sense Food Spoilage and Extend Shelf Life. ACS Nano 2023; 17:8333-8344. [PMID: 37104566 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The AgriFood systems in tropical climates are under strain due to a rapid increase in human population and extreme environmental conditions that limit the efficacy of packaging technologies to extend food shelf life and guarantee food safety. To address these challenges, we rationally designed biodegradable packaging materials that sense spoilage and prevent molding. We nanofabricated the interface of 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to reinforce silk fibroin (SF) and obtain biodegradable membranes with augmented mechanical properties and that displayed an immediate colorimetric response (within 1 s) to food spoilage, using packaged poultry as an example. Loading COF with antimicrobial hexanal also mitigated biotic spoilage in high-temperature and -humidity conditions, resulting in a four-order of magnitude decrease in the total amount of mold growth in soybeans packaged in silk-COF, when compared to cling film (i.e., polyethylene). Together, the integration of sensing, structural reinforcement, and antimicrobial agent delivery within a biodegradable nanocomposite framework defines climate-specific packaging materials that can decrease food waste and enhance food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Han
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Song Wang
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Yunteng Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Gajendra Pratap Singh
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Suh In Loh
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Raju Cheerlavancha
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Mervin Chun-Yi Ang
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Duc Thinh Khong
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Patrina Wei Lin Chua
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Peiying Ho
- Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Michael S Strano
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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4
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Sun H, Marelli B. Large-Scale, Proteinaceous Nanotube Arrays with Programmable Hydrophobicity, Oleophilicity, and Gas Permeability. Nano Lett 2023; 23:3451-3458. [PMID: 37000712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Nanotubular structures possess remarkable advantages in a broad range of areas, such as catalysis, sensing, microencapsulation, selective mass transport, filtration, and drug delivery. While the fields of carbon nanotubes and nanotubes made of several noncarbon materials (e.g., metals, oxides, semiconductors) have been progressing rapidly, proteinaceous nanotubes remained largely underexplored. Here, by retrofitting a template wetting approach with multiple silk-based suspensions, we present a rapidly scalable and robust technology for fabricating large arrays (e.g., 20 × 20 cm2) of well-aligned 1D nanostructures made of silk proteins. Benefiting from the polymorphic nature of silk, precise control over the size, density, aspect ratio, and morphology (tubes versus pillars) of silk nanostructures is achieved, which then allows for programmable modulation of the end materials' functions and properties (e.g., hydrophobicity, oleophilicity, and gas permeability). The silk nanotube arrays fabricated present great utility as antifouling coatings against marine algae and in oil extraction from oil-water mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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5
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Sun H, Maji S, Chandrakasan AP, Marelli B. Integrating biopolymer design with physical unclonable functions for anticounterfeiting and product traceability in agriculture. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadf1978. [PMID: 36947609 PMCID: PMC10032598 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf1978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Smallholder farmers and manufacturers in the Agri-Food sector face substantial challenges because of increasing circulation of counterfeit products (e.g., seeds), for which current countermeasures are implemented mainly at the secondary packaging level, and are generally vulnerable because of limited security guarantees. Here, by integrating biopolymer design with physical unclonable functions (PUFs), we propose a cryptographic protocol for seed authentication using biodegradable and miniaturized PUF tags made of silk microparticles. By simply drop casting a mixture of variant silk microparticles on a seed surface, tamper-evident PUF tags can be seamlessly fabricated on a variety of seeds, where the unclonability comes from the stochastic assembly of spectrally and visually distinct silk microparticles in the tag. Unique, reproducible, and unpredictable PUF codes are generated from both Raman mapping and microscopy imaging of the silk tags. Together, the proposed technology offers a highly secure solution for anticounterfeiting and product traceability in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Saurav Maji
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Anantha P. Chandrakasan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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6
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Zhang Y, Fu L, Martinez MR, Sun H, Nava V, Yan J, Ristroph K, Averick SE, Marelli B, Giraldo JP, Matyjaszewski K, Tilton RD, Lowry GV. Temperature-Responsive Bottlebrush Polymers Deliver a Stress-Regulating Agent In Vivo for Prolonged Plant Heat Stress Mitigation. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 2023; 11:3346-3358. [PMID: 36874196 PMCID: PMC9976702 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c06461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anticipated increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme temperatures will damage crops. Methods that efficiently deliver stress-regulating agents to crops can mitigate these effects. Here, we describe high aspect ratio polymer bottlebrushes for temperature-controlled agent delivery in plants. The foliar-applied bottlebrush polymers had near complete uptake into the leaf and resided in both the apoplastic regions of the leaf mesophyll and in cells surrounding the vasculature. Elevated temperature enhanced the in vivo release of spermidine (a stress-regulating agent) from the bottlebrushes, promoting tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) photosynthesis under heat and light stress. The bottlebrushes continued to provide protection against heat stress for at least 15 days after foliar application, whereas free spermidine did not. About 30% of the ∼80 nm short and ∼300 nm long bottlebrushes entered the phloem and moved to other plant organs, enabling heat-activated release of plant protection agents in phloem. These results indicate the ability of the polymer bottlebrushes to release encapsulated stress relief agents when triggered by heat to provide long-term protection to plants and the potential to manage plant phloem pathogens. Overall, this temperature-responsive delivery platform provides a new tool for protecting plants against climate-induced damage and yield loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Zhang
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Liye Fu
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Michael R. Martinez
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Hui Sun
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Valeria Nava
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Jiajun Yan
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Kurt Ristroph
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Saadyah E. Averick
- Neuroscience
Institute, Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny
General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Juan Pablo Giraldo
- Department
of Botany and Plant Sciences, University
of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Robert D. Tilton
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Gregory V. Lowry
- Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Center for Environmental Implications
of Nano Technology (CEINT), Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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7
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Cao Y, Koh SS, Han Y, Tan JJ, Kim D, Chua NH, Urano D, Marelli B. Drug Delivery in Plants Using Silk Microneedles. Adv Mater 2023; 35:e2205794. [PMID: 36245320 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202205794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
New systems for agrochemical delivery in plants will foster precise agricultural practices and provide new tools to study plants and design crop traits, as standard spray methods suffer from elevated loss and limited access to remote plant tissues. Silk-based microneedles can circumvent these limitations by deploying a known amount of payloads directly in plants' deep tissues. However, plant response to microneedles' application and microneedles' efficacy in deploying physiologically relevant biomolecules are unknown. Here, it is shown that gene expression associated with Arabidopsis thaliana wounding response decreases within 24 h post microneedles' application. Additionally, microinjection of gibberellic acid (GA3 ) in A. thaliana mutant ft-10 provides a more effective and efficient mean than spray to activate GA3 pathways, accelerating bolting and inhibiting flower formation. Microneedle efficacy in delivering GA3 is also observed in several monocot and dicot crop species, i.e., tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), rice (Oryza Sativa), maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and soybean (Glycine max). The wide range of plants that can be successfully targeted with microinjectors opens the doors to their use in plant science and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunteng Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sally Shuxian Koh
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Yangyang Han
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Javier Jingheng Tan
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
| | - Doyoon Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Nam-Hai Chua
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Daisuke Urano
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117604, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
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8
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Liu M, Millard PE, Urch H, Zeyons O, Findley D, Konradi R, Marelli B. Microencapsulation of High-Content Actives Using Biodegradable Silk Materials. Small 2022; 18:e2201487. [PMID: 35802906 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202201487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There is a compelling need across several industries to substitute non-degradable, intentionally added microplastics with biodegradable alternatives. Nonetheless, stringent performance criteria in actives' controlled release and manufacturing at scale of emerging materials hinder the replacement of polymers used for microplastics fabrication with circular ones. Here, the authors demonstrate that active microencapsulation in a structural protein such as silk fibroin can be achieved by modulating protein protonation and chain relaxation at the point of material assembly. Silk fibroin micelles' size is tuned from several to hundreds of nanometers, enabling the manufacturing-by retrofitting spray drying and spray freeze drying techniques-of microcapsules with tunable morphology and structure, that is, hollow-spongy, hollow-smooth, hollow crumpled matrices, and hollow crumpled multi-domain. Microcapsules degradation kinetics and sustained release of soluble and insoluble payloads typically used in cosmetic and agriculture applications are controlled by modulating fibroin's beta-sheet content from 20% to near 40%. Ultraviolet-visible studies indicate that burst release of a commonly used herbicide (i.e., saflufenacil) significantly decreases from 25% to 0.8% via silk fibroin microencapsulation. As a proof-of-concept for agrochemicals applications, a 6-day greenhouse trial demonstrates that saflufenacil delivered on corn plants via silk microcapsules reduces crop injury when compared to the non-encapsulated version.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muchun Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | | | - Henning Urch
- BASF SE, BASF Agricultural Center, Speyerer Str. 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - Ophelie Zeyons
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Straße 38, 67063, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Douglas Findley
- BASF Corporation, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Rupert Konradi
- BASF Corporation, Harvard University, Pierce Hall 113, 29 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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9
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Abstract
Renewable silk-protein technologies promote plant growth and reduce food waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Zvinavashe AT, Mardad I, Mhada M, Kouisni L, Marelli B. Engineering the Plant Microenvironment To Facilitate Plant-Growth-Promoting Microbe Association. J Agric Food Chem 2021; 69:13270-13285. [PMID: 33929839 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
New technologies that enhance soil biodiversity and minimize the use of scarce resources while boosting crop production are highly sought to mitigate the increasing threats that climate change, population growth, and desertification pose on the food infrastructure. In particular, solutions based on plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) bring merits of self-replication, low environmental impact, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stressors, and reduction of inputs, such as fertilizers. However, challenges in facilitating PGPB delivery in the soil still persist and include survival to desiccation, precise delivery, programmable resuscitation, competition with the indigenous rhizosphere, and soil structure. These factors play a critical role in microbial root association and development of a beneficial plant microbiome. Engineering the seed microenvironment with protein and polysaccharides is one proposed way to deliver PGPB precisely and effectively in the seed spermosphere. In this review, we will cover new advancements in the precise and scalable delivery of microbial inoculants, also highlighting the latest development of multifunctional rhizobacteria solutions that have beneficial impact on not only legumes but also cereals. To conclude, we will discuss the role that legislators and policymakers play in promoting the adoption of new technologies that can enhance the sustainability of crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustine T Zvinavashe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Ilham Mardad
- AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), 43150 Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Manal Mhada
- African integrated Plant and Soil Group (AiPlaS), AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), 43150 Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Lamfeddal Kouisni
- AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), 43150 Ben Guerir, Morocco
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (ASARI-UM6P), 70000 Laayoune, Morocco
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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11
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Mhada M, Zvinavashe AT, Hazzoumi Z, Zeroual Y, Marelli B, Kouisni L. Bioformulation of Silk-Based Coating to Preserve and Deliver Rhizobium tropici to Phaseolus vulgaris Under Saline Environments. Front Plant Sci 2021; 12:700273. [PMID: 34408761 PMCID: PMC8366584 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.700273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Seed priming has been for a long time an efficient application method of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. Due to the quick degradation of the priming agents, this technique has been limited to specific immediate uses. With the increase of awareness of the importance of sustainable use of biofertilizers, seed coating has presented a competitive advantage regarding its ability to adhere easily to the seed, preserve the inoculant, and decompose in the soil. This study compared primed Phaseolus vulgaris seeds with Rhizobium tropici and trehalose with coated seeds using a silk solution mixed with R. tropici and trehalose. We represented the effect of priming and seed coating on seed germination and the development of seedlings by evaluating physiological and morphological parameters under different salinity levels (0, 20, 50, and 75 mM). Results showed that germination and morphological parameters have been significantly enhanced by applying R. tropici and trehalose. Seedlings of coated seeds show higher root density than the freshly primed seeds and the control. The physiological response has been evaluated through the stomatal conductance, the chlorophyll content, and the total phenolic compounds. The stability of these physiological traits indicated the role of trehalose in the protection of the photosystems of the plant under low and medium salinity levels. R. tropici and trehalose helped the plant mitigate the negative impact of salt stress on all traits. These findings represent an essential contribution to our understanding of stress responses in coated and primed seeds. This knowledge is essential to the design of coating materials optimized for stressed environments. However, further progress in this area of research must anticipate the development of coatings adapted to different stresses using micro and macro elements, bacteria, and fungi with a significant focus on biopolymers for sustainable agriculture and soil microbiome preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal Mhada
- African Integrated Plant and Soil Research Group, AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco
| | - Augustine T. Zvinavashe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Zakaria Hazzoumi
- Green Biotechnology Laboratory, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science Innovation and Research (MAScIR), Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lamfeddal Kouisni
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI–UM6P), Laayoune, Morocco
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12
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Zvinavashe AT, Laurent J, Mhada M, Sun H, Fouda HME, Kim D, Mouhib S, Kouisni L, Marelli B. Programmable design of seed coating function induces water-stress tolerance in semi-arid regions. Nat Food 2021; 2:485-493. [PMID: 37117674 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-021-00315-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
In semi-arid regions, water stress during seed germination and early seedling growth is the highest cause of crop loss. In nature, some seeds (for example, chia and basil) produce a mucilage-based hydrogel that creates a germination-promoting microenvironment by retaining water, regulating nutrient entry and facilitating interactions with beneficial microorganisms. Inspired by this strategy, a two-layered biopolymer-based seed coating has been developed to increase germination and water-stress tolerance in semi-arid, sandy soils. Seeds are coated with a silk/trehalose inner layer containing rhizobacteria and a pectin/carboxymethylcellulose outer layer that reswells upon sowing and acts as a water jacket. Using Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) cultured under water-stress conditions in an experimental farm in Ben Guerir, Morocco, the proposed seed coating effectively delivered rhizobacteria to form root nodules, resulted in plants with better health and mitigated water stress in drought-prone marginal lands. A programmable seed coating technology has the potential to increase seed germination and water-stress tolerance in semi-arid, sandy soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustine T Zvinavashe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julie Laurent
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Manal Mhada
- AgroBiosciences Department (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Henri Manu Effa Fouda
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Doyoon Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Salma Mouhib
- AgroBiosciences Department (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben-Guerir, Morocco
| | - Lamfeddal Kouisni
- AgroBiosciences Department (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben-Guerir, Morocco
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (ASARI-UM6P), Laayoune, Morocco
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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13
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Xu G, Jiang H, Stapelberg M, Zhou J, Liu M, Li QJ, Cao Y, Gao R, Cai M, Qiao J, Galanek MS, Fan W, Xue W, Marelli B, Zhu M, Li J. Self-Perpetuating Carbon Foam Microwave Plasma Conversion of Hydrocarbon Wastes into Useful Fuels and Chemicals. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:6239-6247. [PMID: 33821621 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
White wastes (unseparated plastics, face masks, textiles, etc.) pose a serious challenge to sustainable human development and the ecosystem and have recently been exacerbated due to the surge in plastic usage and medical wastes from COVID-19. Current recycling methods such as chemical recycling, mechanical recycling, and incineration require either pre-sorting and washing or releasing CO2. In this work, a carbon foam microwave plasma process is developed, utilizing plasma discharge to generate surface temperatures exceeding ∼3000 K in a N2 atmosphere, to convert unsorted white wastes into gases (H2, CO, C2H4, C3H6, CH4, etc.) and small amounts of inorganic minerals and solid carbon, which can be buried as artificial "coal". This process is self-perpetuating, as the new solid carbon asperities grafted onto the foam's surface actually increase the plasma discharge efficiency over time. This process has been characterized by in situ optical probes and infrared sensors and optimized to handle most of the forms of white waste without the need for pre-sorting or washing. Thermal measurement and modeling show that in a flowing reactor, the device can achieve locally extremely high temperatures, but the container wall will still be cold and can be made with cheap materials, and thus, a miniaturized waste incinerator is possible that also takes advantage of intermittent renewable electricity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyin Xu
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Haibin Jiang
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Myles Stapelberg
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Mengyang Liu
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qing-Jie Li
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yunteng Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Minggang Cai
- College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jinliang Qiao
- SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Beijing 100013, China
| | - Mitchell S Galanek
- Environment, Health & Safety Office, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Weiwei Fan
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Weijiang Xue
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Meifang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Ju Li
- Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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14
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Yin H, Cao Y, Marelli B, Zeng X, Mason AJ, Cao C. Soil Sensors and Plant Wearables for Smart and Precision Agriculture. Adv Mater 2021; 33:e2007764. [PMID: 33829545 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202007764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Soil sensors and plant wearables play a critical role in smart and precision agriculture via monitoring real-time physical and chemical signals in the soil, such as temperature, moisture, pH, and pollutants and providing key information to optimize crop growth circumstances, fight against biotic and abiotic stresses, and enhance crop yields. Herein, the recent advances of the important soil sensors in agricultural applications, including temperature sensors, moisture sensors, organic matter compounds sensors, pH sensors, insect/pest sensors, and soil pollutant sensors are reviewed. Major sensing technologies, designs, performance, and pros and cons of each sensor category are highlighted. Emerging technologies such as plant wearables and wireless sensor networks are also discussed in terms of their applications in precision agriculture. The research directions and challenges of soil sensors and intelligent agriculture are finally presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyu Yin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Laboratory for Soft Machines & Electronics, School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Yunteng Cao
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Xiangqun Zeng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Andrew J Mason
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Changyong Cao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Laboratory for Soft Machines & Electronics, School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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15
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Guidetti G, Sun H, Marelli B, Omenetto FG. Photonic paper: Multiscale assembly of reflective cellulose sheets in Lunaria annua. Sci Adv 2020; 6:6/27/eaba8966. [PMID: 32937438 PMCID: PMC7458438 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba8966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Bright, iridescent colors observed in nature are often caused by light interference within nanoscale periodic lattices, inspiring numerous strategies for coloration devoid of inorganic pigments. Here, we describe and characterize the septum of the Lunaria annua plant that generates large (multicentimeter), freestanding iridescent sheets, with distinctive silvery-white reflective appearance. This originates from the thin-film assembly of cellulose fibers in the cells of the septum that induce thin-film interference-like colors at the microscale, thus accounting for the structure's overall silvery-white reflectance at the macroscale. These cells further assemble into two thin layers, resulting in a mechanically robust, iridescent septum, which is also significantly light due to its high air porosity (>70%) arising from the cells' hollow-core structure. This combination of hierarchical structure comprising mechanical and optical function can inspire technological classes of devices and interfaces based on robust, light, and spectrally responsive natural substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Guidetti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - H Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - B Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - F G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, USA
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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16
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Cao Y, Lim E, Xu M, Weng J, Marelli B. Precision Delivery of Multiscale Payloads to Tissue-Specific Targets in Plants. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2020; 7:1903551. [PMID: 32670750 PMCID: PMC7341084 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The precise deployment of functional payloads to plant tissues is a new approach to help advance the fundamental understanding of plant biology and accelerate plant engineering. Here, the design of a silk-based biomaterial is reported to fabricate a microneedle-like device, dubbed "phytoinjector," capable of delivering a variety of payloads ranging from small molecules to large proteins into specific loci of various plant tissues. It is shown that phytoinjector can be used to deliver payloads into plant vasculature to study material transport in xylem and phloem and to perform complex biochemical reactions in situ. In another application, it is demonstrated Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer to shoot apical meristem (SAM) and leaves at various stages of growth. Tuning of the material composition enables the fabrication of another device, dubbed "phytosampler," which is used to precisely sample plant sap. The design of plant-specific biomaterials to fabricate devices for drug delivery in planta opens new avenues to enhance plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, provides new tools for diagnostics, and enables new opportunities in plant engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunteng Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Eugene Lim
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Menglong Xu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMA02142USA
| | - Jing‐Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMA02142USA
- Department of BiologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
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17
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Abstract
Despite advances in directing the assembly of biomacromolecules into well-defined nanostructures, leveraging pathway complexity of molecular disorder to order transition while bridging materials fabrication from nano- to macroscale remains a challenge. Here, we present templated crystallization of structural proteins to nanofabricate hierarchically structured materials up to centimeter scale, using silk fibroin as an example. The process involves the use of ordered peptide supramolecular assemblies as templates to direct the folding and assembly of silk fibroin into nanofibrillar structures. Silk polymorphs can be engineered by varying the peptide seeds used. Modulation of the relative concentration between silk fibroin and peptide seeds, silk fibroin molecular weight and pH allows control over nanofibrils morphologies and mechanical properties. Finally, facile integration of the bottom-up templated crystallization with emerging top-down techniques enables the generation of macroscopic nanostructured materials with potential applications in information storage/encryption, surface functionalization, and printable three-dimensional constructs of customized architecture and controlled anisotropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- Laboratory for Advanced Biopolymers, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Laboratory for Advanced Biopolymers, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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18
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Contessi Negrini N, Bonnetier M, Giatsidis G, Orgill DP, Farè S, Marelli B. Tissue-mimicking gelatin scaffolds by alginate sacrificial templates for adipose tissue engineering. Acta Biomater 2019; 87:61-75. [PMID: 30654214 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
When adipose tissue (AT) is impaired by trauma or disease, AT engineering could provide a shelf-ready structural and functional restoration as alternative to current clinical treatments, which mainly aim at aesthetic replacement. Yet, the lack of an efficient vascular network within the scaffolds represents a major limitation to their translation application in patients. Here, we propose the use of microstructured crosslinked gelatin hydrogels with an embedded prevascular channel as scaffolding materials for AT engineering. The scaffolds are fabricated using - simultaneously - alginate-based microbeads and 3D printed filaments as sacrificial material encapsulated in gelatin at the point of material fabrication and removed post-crosslinking. This method yields the formation of microstructures that resemble the micro-architecture of physiological human fat tissue and of microvessels that can facilitate vascularization through anastomosis with patients' own blood vessels. The cytocompatible method used to prepare the gelatin scaffolds showed structural stability over time while allowing for cell infiltration and protease-based remodeling/degradation. Scaffolds' mechanical properties were also designed to mimic the one of natural breast adipose tissue, a key parameter for AT regeneration. Scaffold's embedded channel (∅ = 300-400 µm) allowed for cell infiltration and enabled blood flow in vitro when an anastomosis with a rat blood artery was performed using surgical glue. In vitro tests with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) showed colonization of the porous structure of the gelatin hydrogels, differentiation into adipocytes and accumulation of lipid droplets, as shown by Oil Red O staining. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The potential clinical use of scaffolds for adipose tissue (AT) regeneration is currently limited by an unmet simultaneous achievement of adequate structural/morphological properties together with a promoted scaffold vascularization. Sacrificial materials, currently used either to obtain a tissue-mimicking structure or hollow channels to promote scaffold' vascularization, are powerful versatile tools for the fabrication of scaffolds with desired features. However, an integrated approach by means of sacrificial templates aiming at simultaneously achieving an adequate AT-mimicking structure and hollow channels for vascularization is missing. Here, we prove the suitability of crosslinked gelatin scaffolds obtained by using sacrificial alginate microbeads and 3D printed strands to achieve proper features and hollow channels useful for scaffolds vascularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Contessi Negrini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, United States; Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy; INSTM, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Local Unit Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mathilde Bonnetier
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Giorgio Giatsidis
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dennis P Orgill
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Silvia Farè
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy; INSTM, National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Local Unit Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, United States.
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19
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Zhou Z, Zhang S, Cao Y, Marelli B, Xia X, Tao TH. Engineering the Future of Silk Materials through Advanced Manufacturing. Adv Mater 2018; 30:e1706983. [PMID: 29956397 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Silk is a natural fiber renowned for its outstanding mechanical properties that have enabled the manufacturing of ultralight and ultrastrong textiles. Recent advances in silk processing and manufacturing have underpinned a re-interpretation of silk from textiles to technological materials. Here, it is argued that silk materials-optimized by selective pressure to work in the environment at the biotic-abiotic interface-can be harnessed by human micro- and nanomanufacturing technology to impart new functionalities and opportunities. A critical overview of recent progress in silk technology is presented with emphasis on high-tech applications enabled by recent innovations in multilevel modifications, multiscale manufacturing, and multimodal characterization of silk materials. These advances have enabled successful demonstrations of silk materials across several disciplines, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, implantable medical devices, and biodissolvable/degradable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhitao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shaoqing Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Yunteng Cao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Tiger H Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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20
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Tseng P, Napier B, Zhao S, Mitropoulos AN, Applegate MB, Marelli B, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Directed assembly of bio-inspired hierarchical materials with controlled nanofibrillar architectures. Nat Nanotechnol 2017; 12:474-480. [PMID: 28250472 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2017.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In natural systems, directed self-assembly of structural proteins produces complex, hierarchical materials that exhibit a unique combination of mechanical, chemical and transport properties. This controlled process covers dimensions ranging from the nano- to the macroscale. Such materials are desirable to synthesize integrated and adaptive materials and systems. We describe a bio-inspired process to generate hierarchically defined structures with multiscale morphology by using regenerated silk fibroin. The combination of protein self-assembly and microscale mechanical constraints is used to form oriented, porous nanofibrillar networks within predesigned macroscopic structures. This approach allows us to predefine the mechanical and physical properties of these materials, achieved by the definition of gradients in nano- to macroscale order. We fabricate centimetre-scale material geometries including anchors, cables, lattices and webs, as well as functional materials with structure-dependent strength and anisotropic thermal transport. Finally, multiple three-dimensional geometries and doped nanofibrillar constructs are presented to illustrate the facile integration of synthetic and natural additives to form functional, interactive, hierarchical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Tseng
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Bradley Napier
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Siwei Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | | | - Matthew B Applegate
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Silklab, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Suite 4875 Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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21
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Ghezzi CE, Marelli B, Omenetto FG, Funderburgh JL, Kaplan DL. 3D Functional Corneal Stromal Tissue Equivalent Based on Corneal Stromal Stem Cells and Multi-Layered Silk Film Architecture. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169504. [PMID: 28099503 PMCID: PMC5242458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide need for human cornea equivalents continues to grow. Few clinical options are limited to allogenic and synthetic material replacements. We hypothesized that tissue engineered human cornea systems based on mechanically robust, patterned, porous, thin, optically clear silk protein films, in combination with human corneal stromal stem cells (hCSSCs), would generate 3D functional corneal stroma tissue equivalents, in comparison to previously developed 2D approaches. Silk film contact guidance was used to control the alignment and distribution of hCSSCs on RGD-treated single porous silk films, which were then stacked in an orthogonally, multi-layered architecture and cultured for 9 weeks. These systems were compared similar systems generated with human corneal fibroblasts (hCFs). Both cell types were viable and preferentially aligned along the biomaterial patterns for up to 9 weeks in culture. H&E histological sections showed that the systems seeded with the hCSSCs displayed ECM production throughout the entire thickness of the constructs. In addition, the ECM proteins tested positive for keratocyte-specific tissue markers, including keratan sulfate, lumican, and keratocan. The quantification of hCSSC gene expression of keratocyte-tissue markers, including keratocan, lumican, human aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1), prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTDGS), and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4 (PDK4), within the 3D tissue systems demonstrated upregulation when compared to 2D single silk films and to the systems generated with the hCFs. Furthermore, the production of ECM from the hCSSC seeded systems and subsequent remodeling of the initial matrix significantly improved cohesiveness and mechanical performance of the constructs, while maintaining transparency after 9 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara E. Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James L. Funderburgh
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States of America
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22
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Marelli B, Patel N, Duggan T, Perotto G, Shirman E, Li C, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Programming function into mechanical forms by directed assembly of silk bulk materials. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:451-456. [PMID: 28028213 PMCID: PMC5255612 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1612063114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We report simple, water-based fabrication methods based on protein self-assembly to generate 3D silk fibroin bulk materials that can be easily hybridized with water-soluble molecules to obtain multiple solid formats with predesigned functions. Controlling self-assembly leads to robust, machinable formats that exhibit thermoplastic behavior consenting material reshaping at the nanoscale, microscale, and macroscale. We illustrate the versatility of the approach by realizing demonstrator devices where large silk monoliths can be generated, polished, and reshaped into functional mechanical components that can be nanopatterned, embed optical function, heated on demand in response to infrared light, or can visualize mechanical failure through colorimetric chemistries embedded in the assembled (bulk) protein matrix. Finally, we show an enzyme-loaded solid mechanical part, illustrating the ability to incorporate biological function within the bulk material with possible utility for sustained release in robust, programmably shapeable mechanical formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Marelli
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Nereus Patel
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Thomas Duggan
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Giovanni Perotto
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Elijah Shirman
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Chunmei Li
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - David L Kaplan
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Silklab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155;
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
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23
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Li C, Hotz B, Ling S, Guo J, Haas DS, Marelli B, Omenetto F, Lin SJ, Kaplan DL. Regenerated silk materials for functionalized silk orthopedic devices by mimicking natural processing. Biomaterials 2016. [PMID: 27697669 DOI: 10.1016/i.biomaterials.2016,09,014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Silk fibers spun by silkworms and spiders exhibit exceptional mechanical properties with a unique combination of strength, extensibility and toughness. In contrast, the mechanical properties of regenerated silk materials can be tuned through control of the fabrication process. Here we introduce a biomimetic, all-aqueous process, to obtain bulk regenerated silk-based materials for the fabrication of functionalized orthopedic devices. The silk materials generated in the process replicate the nano-scale structure of natural silk fibers and possess excellent mechanical properties. The biomimetic materials demonstrate excellent machinability, providing a path towards the fabrication of a new family of resorbable orthopedic devices where organic solvents are avoided, thus allowing functionalization with bioactive molecules to promote bone remodeling and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Blake Hotz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Shengjie Ling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jin Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Dylan S Haas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fiorenzo Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Samuel J Lin
- Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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24
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Qin N, Zhang S, Jiang J, Corder SG, Qian Z, Zhou Z, Lee W, Liu K, Wang X, Li X, Shi Z, Mao Y, Bechtel HA, Martin MC, Xia X, Marelli B, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG, Liu M, Tao TH. Nanoscale probing of electron-regulated structural transitions in silk proteins by near-field IR imaging and nano-spectroscopy. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13079. [PMID: 27713412 PMCID: PMC5059764 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Silk protein fibres produced by silkworms and spiders are renowned for their unparalleled mechanical strength and extensibility arising from their high-β-sheet crystal contents as natural materials. Investigation of β-sheet-oriented conformational transitions in silk proteins at the nanoscale remains a challenge using conventional imaging techniques given their limitations in chemical sensitivity or limited spatial resolution. Here, we report on electron-regulated nanoscale polymorphic transitions in silk proteins revealed by near-field infrared imaging and nano-spectroscopy at resolutions approaching the molecular level. The ability to locally probe nanoscale protein structural transitions combined with nanometre-precision electron-beam lithography offers us the capability to finely control the structure of silk proteins in two and three dimensions. Our work paves the way for unlocking essential nanoscopic protein structures and critical conditions for electron-induced conformational transitions, offering new rules to design protein-based nanoarchitectures. Silk protein fibres are exceptionally strong, owing to their high β-sheet nanocrystal content. Here, the authors use an electron beam to guide silk β-sheet crystals through structural transitions, and visualize the changes by infrared near-field optics, achieving close to molecular-level resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Shaoqing Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Jianjuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | | | - Zhigang Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhitao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Woonsoo Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Keyin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Xiaohan Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Xinxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhifeng Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Wulumuqi Zhong Road 12, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Wulumuqi Zhong Road 12, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Hans A Bechtel
- Nano-FTIR, Advanced Light Source Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Michael C Martin
- Nano-FTIR, Advanced Light Source Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Xiaoxia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.,Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Mengkun Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Tiger H Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 200031, China
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25
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Li C, Hotz B, Ling S, Guo J, Haas DS, Marelli B, Omenetto F, Lin SJ, Kaplan DL. Regenerated silk materials for functionalized silk orthopedic devices by mimicking natural processing. Biomaterials 2016; 110:24-33. [PMID: 27697669 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Silk fibers spun by silkworms and spiders exhibit exceptional mechanical properties with a unique combination of strength, extensibility and toughness. In contrast, the mechanical properties of regenerated silk materials can be tuned through control of the fabrication process. Here we introduce a biomimetic, all-aqueous process, to obtain bulk regenerated silk-based materials for the fabrication of functionalized orthopedic devices. The silk materials generated in the process replicate the nano-scale structure of natural silk fibers and possess excellent mechanical properties. The biomimetic materials demonstrate excellent machinability, providing a path towards the fabrication of a new family of resorbable orthopedic devices where organic solvents are avoided, thus allowing functionalization with bioactive molecules to promote bone remodeling and integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Blake Hotz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Shengjie Ling
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jin Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Dylan S Haas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Fiorenzo Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Samuel J Lin
- Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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26
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Marelli B, Brenckle MA, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Silk Fibroin as Edible Coating for Perishable Food Preservation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25263. [PMID: 27151492 PMCID: PMC4858704 DOI: 10.1038/srep25263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The regeneration of structural biopolymers into micelles or nanoparticles suspended in water has enabled the design of new materials with unique and compelling properties that can serve at the interface between the biotic and the abiotic worlds. In this study, we leveraged silk fibroin quintessential properties (i.e. polymorphism, conformability and hydrophobicity) to design a water-based protein suspension that self-assembles on the surface of food upon dip coating. The water-based post-processing control of the protein polymorphism enables the modulation of the diffusion of gases through the silk fibroin thin membranes (e.g. O2 and CO2 diffusion, water vapour permeability), which is a key parameter to manage food freshness. In particular, an increased beta-sheet content corresponds to a reduction in oxygen diffusion through silk fibroin thin films. By using the dip coating of strawberries and bananas as proof of principle, we have shown that the formation of micrometre-thin silk fibroin membranes around the fruits helps the management of postharvest physiology of the fruits. Thus, silk fibroin coatings enhance fruits’ shelf life at room conditions by reducing cell respiration rate and water evaporation. The water-based processing and edible nature of silk fibroin makes this approach a promising alternative for food preservation with a naturally derived material.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - M A Brenckle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - D L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - F G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering Tufts University 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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27
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Applegate MB, Partlow BP, Coburn J, Marelli B, Pirie C, Pineda R, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Photocrosslinking of Silk Fibroin Using Riboflavin for Ocular Prostheses. Adv Mater 2016; 28:2417-20. [PMID: 26821561 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201504527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A novel method to photocrosslink silk fibroin protein is reported, using riboflavin (vitamin B2) as a photoinitiator and the mechanism of crosslinking is determined. Exposure of riboflavin-doped liquid silk solution to light results in the formation of a transparent, elastic hydrogel. Several applications for this new material are investigated including corneal reshaping to restore visual acuity and photolithography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Applegate
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Benjamin P Partlow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Jeannine Coburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Christopher Pirie
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA
| | - Roberto Pineda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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28
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Khalid A, Mitropoulos AN, Marelli B, Tomljenovic-Hanic S, Omenetto FG. Doxorubicin loaded nanodiamond-silk spheres for fluorescence tracking and controlled drug release. Biomed Opt Express 2016; 7:132-47. [PMID: 26819823 PMCID: PMC4722898 DOI: 10.1364/boe.7.000132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle (NP) based technologies have proved to be considerably beneficial for advances in biomedicine especially in the areas of disease detection, drug delivery and bioimaging. Over the last few decades, NPs have garnered interest for their exemplary impacts on the detection, treatment, and prevention of cancer. The full potential of these technologies are yet to be employed for clinical use. The ongoing research and development in this field demands single multifunctional composite materials that can be employed simultaneously for drug delivery and biomedical imaging. In this manuscript, a unique combination of silk fibroin (SF) and nanodiamonds (NDs) in the form of nanospheres are fabricated and investigated. The spheres were loaded with the anthracyline Doxorubicin (DoX) and the drug release kinetics for these ND-SF-DoX (NDSX) spheres were studied. NDs provided the fluorescence modality for imaging while the degradable SF spheres stabilized and released the drug in a controlled manner. The emission and structural properties of the spheres were characterized during drug release. The degradability of SF and the subsequent release of DoX from the spheres were monitored through fluorescence of NDs inside the spheres. This research demonstrates the enormous potential of the ND-SF nanocomposite platforms for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, which are both important for pharmaceutical research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Khalid
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | | | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | | | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA;
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29
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Park J, Lee SG, Marelli B, Lee M, Kim T, Oh HK, Jeon H, Omenetto FG, Kim S. Eco-friendly photolithography using water-developable pure silk fibroin. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra04516b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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30
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Mitropoulos AN, Marelli B, Perotto G, Amsden J, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Towards the fabrication of biohybrid silk fibroin materials: entrapment and preservation of chloroplast organelles in silk fibroin films. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra13228f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroplasts extracted from spinach leaves were entrapped in B. mori silk fibroin films to investigate the maintenance of their photosynthetic activity in a dry environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jason Amsden
- Department
- of Biomedical Engineering
- Tufts University
- Medford
- USA
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department
- of Biomedical Engineering
- Tufts University
- Medford
- USA
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31
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Ghezzi CE, Marelli B, Donelli I, Alessandrino A, Freddi G, Nazhat SN. Multilayered dense collagen-silk fibroin hybrid: a platform for mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2015; 11:2046-2059. [PMID: 26549403 DOI: 10.1002/term.2100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Type I collagen is a major structural and functional protein in connective tissues. However, collagen gels exhibit unstable geometrical properties, arising from extensive cell-mediated contraction. In an effort to stabilize collagen-based hydrogels, plastic compression was used to hybridize dense collagen (DC) with electrospun silk fibroin (SF) mats, generating multilayered DC-SF-DC constructs. Seeded mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-mediated DC-SF-DC contraction, as well as growth and differentiation under chondrogenic and osteogenic supplements, were compared to those seeded in DC and on SF alone. The incorporation of SF within DC prevented extensive cell-mediated collagen gel contraction. The effect of the multilayered hybrid on MSC remodelling capacity was also evident at the transcription level, where the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitor (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP13 and Timp1) by MSCs within DC-SF-DC were comparable to those on SF and significantly downregulated in comparison to DC, except for Timp1. Chondrogenic supplements stimulated extracellular matrix production within the construct, stabilizing its multilayered structure and promoting MSC chondrogenic differentiation, as indicated by the upregulation of the genes Col2a1 and Agg and the production of collagen type II. In osteogenic medium there was an upregulation in ALP and OP along with the presence of an apatitic phase, indicating MSC osteoblastic differentiation and matrix mineralization. In sum, these results have implications on the modulation of three-dimensional collagen-based gel structural stability and on the stimulation and maintenance of the MSC committed phenotype inherent to the in vitro formation of chondral tissue and bone, as well as on potential multilayered complex tissues. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara E Ghezzi
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ilaria Donelli
- Innovhub-Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Alessandrino
- Innovhub-Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliano Freddi
- Innovhub-Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Showan N Nazhat
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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32
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Khalid A, Mitropoulos AN, Marelli B, Simpson DA, Tran PA, Omenetto FG, Tomljenovic-Hanic S. Fluorescent Nanodiamond Silk Fibroin Spheres: Advanced Nanoscale Bioimaging Tool. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:1104-1113. [PMID: 33429552 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
High resolution bioimaging is not only critical to the study of cellular structures and processes but it also has important applications in drug delivery and therapeutics. Fluorescent nanodiamonds (NDs) are excellent candidates for long-term bioimaging and tracking of biological structures at the nanoscale. Encapsulating NDs in natural biopolymers like silk fibroin (SF) widens their biomedical applications. Here we report the synthesis, structural and optical characterization of ND incorporated SF nanospheres. The photoluminescence from optical defects within the NDs is found to increase when encapsulated in the SF spheres. The encapsulated NDs are applied in vitro to investigate the intracellular mobility compared to bare NDs. The diffusion rate of encapsulated NDs is shown to improve due to SF coating. These ND-SF spheres are envisioned as highly suitable candidates for bioinjectable imaging and drug release carriers for targeted drug delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander N Mitropoulos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | | | - Phong A Tran
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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33
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Mitropoulos AN, Marelli B, Ghezzi CE, Applegate MB, Partlow BP, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Transparent, Nanostructured Silk Fibroin Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:964-970. [PMID: 33429527 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Silk fibroin from the Bombyx mori caterpillar has been processed into many material forms, with potential applications in areas ranging from optoelectronics to tissue engineering. As a hydrogel, silk fibroin has been engineered as a substrate for the regeneration of soft tissues where hydration and mechanical compatibility are necessary. Current fabrication of silk fibroin hydrogels produces microstructured materials that lack transparency and limits the ability to fully exploit the hydrogel form. Transparency is the main characteristic of some human tissues (e.g., cornea) where silk fibroin in the film format has shown potential as scaffolding material, however, lacking the necessary hydration and successful attachment of cells without biochemical functionalization. Additionally, detection using light is an important method to translate information for instruction, sensing, and visualization of biological entities and light sensitive molecules. Here, we introduce a method for the fabrication of transparent silk hydrogels by driving the formation of nanostructures in the silk fibroin material. These nanostructures are formed by exposing silk solution (concentration below 15 mg/mL) to organic solvents that induce the amorphous to crystalline transition of the protein and indeed the sol-gel transition of the material. We have also explored a process to modulate the mechanical properties of silk fibroin hydrogel within the physiological range by controlling the amount of metal ions present in the protein structure. Nanostructured silk fibroin hydrogels are biocompatible and allow for attachment and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts without any biochemical functionalization. In addition, seeding of human cornea epithelial cells (HCECs) on the hydrogel surface results in the formation of an epithelium, which does not alter the gels' transparency and shows biological properties that challenge the performances of HCECs seeded in collagen hydrogels, the current standard material for the engineering of corneal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Mitropoulos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and §Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Chiara E Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Matthew B Applegate
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Benjamin P Partlow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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34
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Tao H, Marelli B, Yang M, An B, Onses MS, Rogers JA, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Inkjet Printing of Regenerated Silk Fibroin: From Printable Forms to Printable Functions. Adv Mater 2015; 27:4273-4279. [PMID: 26079217 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201501425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A formulation of regenerated silk fibroin solution that can be easily functionalized and inkjet printed on numerous surfaces is developed. As an example, the inks can be printed on laboratory gloves that change color when exposed to bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Tao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, CAS, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Miaomiao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Bo An
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - M Serdar Onses
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - John A Rogers
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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35
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Marelli B, Le Nihouannen D, Hacking SA, Tran S, Li J, Murshed M, Doillon CJ, Ghezzi CE, Zhang YL, Nazhat SN, Barralet JE. Newly identified interfibrillar collagen crosslinking suppresses cell proliferation and remodelling. Biomaterials 2015; 54:126-35. [PMID: 25907046 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Copper is becoming recognised as a key cation in a variety of biological processes. Copper chelation has been studied as a potential anti-angiogenic strategy for arresting tumour growth. Conversely the delivery of copper ions and complexes in vivo can elicit a pro-angiogenic effect. Previously we unexpectedly found that copper-stimulated intraperitoneal angiogenesis was accompanied by collagen deposition. Here, in hard tissue, not only was healing accelerated by copper, but again enhanced deposition of collagen was detected at 2 weeks. Experiments with reconstituted collagen showed that addition of copper ions post-fibrillogenesis rendered plastically-compressed gels resistant to collagenases, enhanced their mechanical properties and increased the denaturation temperature of the protein. Unexpectedly, this apparently interfibrillar crosslinking was not affected by addition of glucose or ascorbic acid, which are required for crosslinking by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Fibroblasts cultured on copper-crosslinked gels did not proliferate, whereas those cultured with an equivalent quantity of copper on either tissue culture plastic or collagen showed no effect compared with controls. Although non-proliferative, fibroblasts grown on copper-cross-linked collagen could migrate, remained metabolically active for at least 14 days and displayed a 6-fold increase in Mmps 1 and 3 mRNA expression compared with copper-free controls. The ability of copper ions to crosslink collagen fibrils during densification and independently of AGEs or Fenton type reactions is previously unreported. The effect on MMP susceptibility of collagen and the dramatic change in cell behaviour on this crosslinked ECM may contribute to shedding some light on unexplained phenomena as the apparent benefit of copper complexation in fibrotic disorders or the enhanced collagen deposition in response to localised copper delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Damien Le Nihouannen
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - S Adam Hacking
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Simon Tran
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Jingjing Li
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Monzur Murshed
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Charles J Doillon
- CHUL's Research Center (T2-50), CHUQ, 2705, Boul. Laurier, and Department of Surgery, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Chiara E Ghezzi
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Yu Ling Zhang
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Showan N Nazhat
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - Jake E Barralet
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 3640 University St., Montréal, QC, H3A 2B2, Canada; Department of Surgery, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, 1650 Cedar Ave, Montreal, H3G 1A4, Canada.
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Marelli B, Ghezzi CE, James-Bhasin M, Nazhat SN. Fabrication of injectable, cellular, anisotropic collagen tissue equivalents with modular fibrillar densities. Biomaterials 2015; 37:183-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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37
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Partlow BP, Hanna CW, Rnjak-Kovacina J, Moreau JE, Applegate MB, Burke KA, Marelli B, Mitropoulos AN, Omenetto FG, Kaplan DL. Highly tunable elastomeric silk biomaterials. Adv Funct Mater 2014; 24:4615-4624. [PMID: 25395921 PMCID: PMC4225629 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201400526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 278] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Elastomeric, fully degradable and biocompatible biomaterials are rare, with current options presenting significant limitations in terms of ease of functionalization and tunable mechanical and degradation properties. We report a new method for covalently crosslinking tyrosine residues in silk proteins, via horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, to generate highly elastic hydrogels with tunable properties. The tunable mechanical properties, gelation kinetics and swelling properties of these new protein polymers, in addition to their ability to withstand shear strains on the order of 100%, compressive strains greater than 70% and display stiffness between 200 - 10,000 Pa, covering a significant portion of the properties of native soft tissues. Molecular weight and solvent composition allowed control of material mechanical properties over several orders of magnitude while maintaining high resilience and resistance to fatigue. Encapsulation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) showed long term survival and exhibited cell-matrix interactions reflective of both silk concentration and gelation conditions. Further biocompatibility of these materials were demonstrated with in vivo evaluation. These new protein-based elastomeric and degradable hydrogels represent an exciting new biomaterials option, with a unique combination of properties, for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin P. Partlow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Craig W. Hanna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Jelena Rnjak-Kovacina
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Jodie E. Moreau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Matthew B. Applegate
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Kelly A. Burke
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | | | - Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
| | - David L. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St. Medford, MA 02155 (USA)
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38
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Ghadimi E, Eimar H, Song J, Marelli B, Ciobanu O, Abdallah MN, Stähli C, Nazhat SN, Vali H, Tamimi F. Regulated fracture in tooth enamel: A nanotechnological strategy from nature. J Biomech 2014; 47:2444-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2013] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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39
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Marelli B, Ghezzi CE, Alessandrino A, Freddi G, Nazhat SN. Anionic fibroin-derived polypeptides accelerate MSC osteoblastic differentiation in a three-dimensional osteoid-like dense collagen niche. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:5339-5343. [DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00477a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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40
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Bressner JE, Marelli B, Qin G, Klinker LE, Zhang Y, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Rapid fabrication of silk films with controlled architectures via electrogelation. J Mater Chem B 2014; 2:4983-4987. [DOI: 10.1039/c4tb00833b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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41
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42
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Ghezzi CE, Marelli B, Donelli I, Alessandrino A, Freddi G, Nazhat SN. The role of physiological mechanical cues on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation in an airway tract-like dense collagen-silk fibroin construct. Biomaterials 2014; 35:6236-47. [PMID: 24818890 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Airway tracts serve as a conduit of transport in the respiratory system. Architecturally, these are composed of cartilage rings that offer flexibility and prevent collapse during normal breathing. To this end, the successful regeneration of an airway tract requires the presence of differentiated chondrocytes and airway smooth muscle cells. This study investigated the role of physiological dynamic mechanical stimulation, in vitro, on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), three-dimensionally seeded within a tubular dense collagen matrix construct-reinforced with rings of electrospun silk fibroin mat (TDC-SFC). In particular, the role of either shear stress supplied by laminar fluid flow or cyclic shear stress in combination with circumferential strain, provided by pulsatile flow, on the chondrogenic differentiation, and contractile lineage of MSCs, and their effects on TDC-SFC morphology and mechanical properties were analysed. Chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs was observed in the presence of chondrogenic supplements under both static and laminar flow cultures. In contrast, physiological pulsatile flow resulted in preferential cellular orientation within TDC-SFC, as dictated by dynamic circumferential strain, and induced MSC contractile phenotype expression. In addition, pulsatile flow decreased MSC-mediated collagen matrix remodelling and increased construct circumferential strength. Therefore, TDC-SFC demonstrated the central role of a matrix in the delivery of mechanical stimuli over chemical factors, by providing an in vitro niche to control MSC differentiation, alignment and its capacity to remodel the matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara E Ghezzi
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2
| | - Ilaria Donelli
- Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Alessandrino
- Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliano Freddi
- Innovhub - Stazioni Sperimentali per l'Industria, Div. Stazione Sperimentale per la Seta, Milan, Italy
| | - Showan N Nazhat
- Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2.
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43
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Kim S, Marelli B, Brenckle MA, Mitropoulos AN, Gil ES, Tsioris K, Tao H, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. All-water-based electron-beam lithography using silk as a resist. Nat Nanotechnol 2014; 9:306-10. [PMID: 24658173 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Traditional nanofabrication techniques often require complex lithographic steps and the use of toxic chemicals. To move from the laboratory scale to large scales, nanofabrication should be carried out using alternative procedures that are simple, inexpensive and use non-toxic solvents. Recent efforts have focused on nanoimprinting and the use of organic resists (such as quantum dot-polymer hybrids, DNA and poly(ethylene glycol)), which still require, for the most part, noxious chemicals for processing. Significant advances have been achieved using 'green' resists that can be developed with water, but so far these approaches have suffered from low electron sensitivity, line edge roughness and scalability constraints. Here, we present the use of silk as a natural and biofunctional resist for electron-beam lithography. The process is entirely water-based, starting with the silk aqueous solution and ending with simple development of the exposed silk film in water. Because of its polymorphic crystalline structure, silk can be used either as a positive or negative resist through interactions with an electron beam. Moreover, silk can be easily modified, thereby enabling a variety of 'functional resists', including biologically active versions. As a proof of principle of the viability of all-water-based silk electron-beam lithography (EBL), we fabricate nanoscale photonic lattices using both neat silk and silk doped with quantum dots, green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunghwan Kim
- 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA [2] [3]
| | - Benedetto Marelli
- 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA [2]
| | - Mark A Brenckle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Alexander N Mitropoulos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Eun-Seok Gil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Konstantinos Tsioris
- 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA [2]
| | - Hu Tao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- 1] Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA [2] Department of Physics, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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44
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Mitropoulos AN, Perotto G, Kim S, Marelli B, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Synthesis of silk fibroin micro- and submicron spheres using a co-flow capillary device. Adv Mater 2014; 26:1105-1110. [PMID: 24339048 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201304244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A custom-made co-flow capillary device is used to synthesize monodisperse silk fibroin micro- and submicron-spheres with diameters tunable over a wide range of sizes. A model drug release is examined and control of degradation kinetics is obtained by changing sphere diameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Mitropoulos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby St., Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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45
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Applegate MB, Marelli B, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Determination of multiphoton absorption of silk fibroin using the Z-scan technique. Opt Express 2013; 21:29637-29642. [PMID: 24514515 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.029637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The multiphoton absorption of silk fibroin at 810 nm was determined by open-aperture Z-scan. Three-photon absorption was confirmed at this wavelength and the three-photon cross section of silk fibroin was measured. Silk fibroin of varying molecular weight was tested and the cross section was found to increase exponentially with increasing molecular weight. The confirmation of a relatively large three-photon absorption cross section in silk will help lay the groundwork for future investigation of direct laser writing of three-dimensional structures within a silk matrix.
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46
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Ghadimi E, Eimar H, Marelli B, Nazhat SN, Asgharian M, Vali H, Tamimi F. Trace elements can influence the physical properties of tooth enamel. Springerplus 2013; 2:499. [PMID: 24133648 PMCID: PMC3795877 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In previous studies, we showed that the size of apatite nanocrystals in tooth enamel can influence its physical properties. This important discovery raised a new question; which factors are regulating the size of these nanocrystals? Trace elements can affect crystallographic properties of synthetic apatite, therefore this study was designed to investigate how trace elements influence enamel's crystallographic properties and ultimately its physical properties. The concentration of trace elements in tooth enamel was determined for 38 extracted human teeth using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The following trace elements were detected: Al, K, Mg, S, Na, Zn, Si, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se and Ti. Simple and stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the correlations between trace elements concentration in enamel and its crystallographic structure, hardness, resistance to crack propagation, shade lightness and carbonate content. The presence of some trace elements in enamel was correlated with the size (Pb, Ti, Mn) and lattice parameters (Se, Cr, Ni) of apatite nanocrystals. Some trace elements such as Ti was significantly correlated with tooth crystallographic structure and consequently with hardness and shade lightness. We conclude that the presence of trace elements in enamel could influence its physical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elnaz Ghadimi
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
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47
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Ghezzi CE, Risse PA, Marelli B, Muja N, Barralet JE, Martin JG, Nazhat SN. An airway smooth muscle cell niche under physiological pulsatile flow culture using a tubular dense collagen construct. Biomaterials 2013; 34:1954-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 11/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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48
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Hoppe A, Meszaros R, Stähli C, Romeis S, Schmidt J, Peukert W, Marelli B, Nazhat SN, Wondraczek L, Lao J, Jallot E, Boccaccini AR. In vitro reactivity of Cu doped 45S5 Bioglass® derived scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. J Mater Chem B 2013; 1:5659-5674. [DOI: 10.1039/c3tb21007c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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49
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Marelli B, Achilli M, Alessandrino A, Freddi G, Tanzi MC, Farè S, Mantovani D. Collagen-reinforced electrospun silk fibroin tubular construct as small calibre vascular graft. Macromol Biosci 2012; 12:1566-74. [PMID: 23060093 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201200195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Revised: 08/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
None of the replacements proposed in the literature for small-calibre blood vessels (SCBV) fully satisfies the stringent requirements that these grafts have to fulfil. Here, an electrospun silk fibroin tubular construct is hybridized with type I collagen gel to produce a biomimetic SCBV graft with physiologically relevant compliance and burst pressure and optimal cytocompatibility. The hybridization of the two polymers results in the formation of a nanofibrillar hydrated matrix, where the collagen gel enhances the mechanical properties of the SF tubular construct and improves the early response of the material to in vitro cell adhesion and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Marelli
- BioMatLab, Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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50
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Eimar H, Ghadimi E, Marelli B, Vali H, Nazhat SN, Amin WM, Torres J, Ciobanu O, Albuquerque Junior RF, Tamimi F. Regulation of enamel hardness by its crystallographic dimensions. Acta Biomater 2012; 8:3400-10. [PMID: 22684114 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2012.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2012] [Revised: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Enamel is a composite biomaterial comprising a minor organic matrix (~2%) and a hierarchically organized inorganic ultrastructure (~96-98%). Surprisingly, to date there is no available information in the literature regarding the possible role of the enamel ultrastructure on the nanoscale level in tooth macroscopic properties. Understanding this relationship is of special interest for restorative purposes in dentistry. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate how enamel nanocrystals regulate its hardness. We performed microindentation analysis on 100 extracted human teeth. The tooth enamel hardness was quantified and correlated with changes in enamel chemical composition and crystallographic dimensions obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. Enamel hardness was not related to the variability in organic content, but was associated with the size of apatite crystals along the c-axis. This association followed the Hall-Petch model for polycrystalline materials, indicating that the optimal size of apatite nanocrystals (larger than the critical size) provides enamel with the greatest hardness, which enables teeth to survive the heavy wear over a human lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazem Eimar
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 0C7
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