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Charron PN, Tahir I, Foley C, White G, Floreani RA. Whey Protein Isolate Composites as Potential Scaffolds for Cultivated Meat. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:2153-2163. [PMID: 38502811 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00944] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Modern food technology has given rise to numerous alternative protein sources in response to a growing human population and the negative environmental impacts of current food systems. To aid in achieving global food security, one such form of alternative protein being investigated is cultivated meat, which applies the principles of mechanical and tissue engineering to produce animal proteins and meat products from animal cells. Herein, nonmodified and methacrylated whey protein formed hydrogels with methacrylated alginate as potential tissue engineering scaffolds for cultivated meat. Whey protein is a byproduct of dairy processing and was selected because it is an approved food additive and cytocompatible and has shown efficacy in other biomaterial applications. Whey protein and alginate scaffolds were formed via visible light cross-linking in aqueous solutions under ambient conditions. The characteristics of the precursor solution and the physical-mechanical properties of the scaffolds were quantified; while gelation occurred within the homo- and copolymer hydrogels, the integrity of the network was significantly altered with varying components. Qualitatively, the scaffolds exhibited a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous network. Whey protein isolate (WPI)-based scaffolds were noncytotoxic and supported in vitro myoblast adhesion and proliferation. The data presented support the hypothesis that the composition of the hydrogel plays a significant role in the scaffold's performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Charron
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Irfan Tahir
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Christopher Foley
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Gabriella White
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Rachael A Floreani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
- Materials Science Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
- Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, United States
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Charron PN, Tahir I, McConnell S, Sedler D, Floreani RA. Physico-mechanical and ex vivo analysis of aloe-alginate hydrogels for cervical cancer treatment. J BIOACT COMPAT POL 2023. [DOI: 10.1177/08839115221149723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
A leading cancer diagnosis in women worldwide is cervical cancer, with current treatments all posing a risk of serious side effects. Less toxic, but effective treatments are sought after. Aloe vera ( barbadensis miller), known for its beneficial properties, has been studied for cancer treatment. While aloe gel has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity, it cannot form a hydrogel alone. Therefore, an interpenetrating network comprising alginate blended with aloe was examined as a cervical cancer treatment. We hypothesized the antioxidant properties of aloe gel would decrease cancer cell viability while the alginate hydrogel would improve mucoadhesion. We further hypothesized the antioxidant activity of aloe gel would induce cancer cell death at levels similar to common chemotherapeutics, and aimed to determine if these chemotherapeutic behaviors are constructive or destructive. Material and adhesive properties, drug encapsulation, and cancer cell viability were investigated and validated. The effect of aloe-alginate hydrogels on cervical cancer cell viability was not significantly different compared to aloe-blends containing doxorubicin (DOX), indicating that the aloe alone decreased cancer cell viability rendering the additional cytotoxic therapeutic not impactful as an adjuvant therapy. This study provides insight into the potential of natural biopolymers for treating cervical cancer without systemic toxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Charron
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Irfan Tahir
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Sierra McConnell
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Danielle Sedler
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Rachael A Floreani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Materials Science Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Vermont Cancer Center, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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Charron PN, Garcia LM, Tahir I, Floreani RA. Bio-inspired green light crosslinked alginate-heparin hydrogels support HUVEC tube formation. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2022; 125:104932. [PMID: 34736027 PMCID: PMC8665038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Alginate is a polysaccharide which forms hydrogels via ionic and/or covalent crosslinking. The goal was to develop a material with suitable, physiologically relevant mechanical properties and biological impact for use in wound treatment. To determine if the novel material can initiate tube formation on its own, without the dependance on the addition of growth factors, heparin and/or arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) was covalently conjugated onto the alginate backbone. Herein, cell adhesion motifs and bioactive functional groups were incorporated covalently within alginate hydrogels to study the: 1) impact of crosslinked heparin on tubular network formation, 2) impact of RGD conjugation, and the 3) biological effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) loading on cellular response. We investigated the structure-properties-function relationship and determined the viscoelastic and burst properties of the hydrogels most applicable for use as a healing cell and tissue adhesive material. Methacrylation of alginate and heparin hydroxyl groups respectively enabled free-radical covalent inter- and intra-molecular photo-crosslinking when exposed to visible green light in the presence of photo-initiators; the shear moduli indicate mechanical properties comparable to clinical standards. RGD was conjugated via carbodiimide chemistry at the alginate carboxyl groups. The adhesive and mechanical properties of alginate and alginate-heparin hydrogels were determined via burst pressure testing and rheology. Higher burst pressure and material failure at rupture imply physical tissue adhesion, advantageous for a tissue sealant healing material. After hydrogel formation, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded onto the alginate-based hydrogels; cytotoxicity, total protein content, and tubular network formation were assessed. Burst pressure results indicate that the cell responsive hydrogels adhere to collagen substrates and exhibit increased strength under high pressures. Furthermore, the results show that the green light crosslinked alginate-heparin maintained cell adhesion and promoted tubular formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis M Garcia
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Irfan Tahir
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Rachael A Floreani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Burlington, VT, USA; Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Burlington, VT, USA; Materials Science Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
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Charron PN, Jacobs JI, Yao SX, Oldinski RA. Effects of cryo-processing on the mechanical and biological properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)-gelatin theta-gels. Biointerphases 2020; 15:051004. [PMID: 32962353 PMCID: PMC7511238 DOI: 10.1116/6.0000381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), a synthetic, nontoxic polymer, is widely studied for use as a biomedical hydrogel due to its structural and physicomechanical properties. Depending on the synthesis method, PVA hydrogels can exhibit a range of selected characteristics-strength, creep resistance, energy dissipation, degree of crystallinity, and porosity. While the structural integrity and behavior of the hydrogel can be fine-tuned, common processing techniques result in a brittle, linear elastic material. In addition, PVA lacks functionality to engage and participate in cell adhesion, which can be a limitation for integrating PVA materials with tissue in situ. Thus, there is a need to further engineer PVA hydrogels to optimize its physicomechanical properties while enhancing cell adhesion and bioactivity. While the inclusion of gelatin into PVA hydrogels has been shown to impart cell-adhesive properties, the optimization of the mechanical properties of PVA-gelatin blends has not been studied in the context of traditional PVA hydrogel processing techniques. The incorporation of poly(ethylene glycol) with PVA prior to solidification forms an organized, cell instructive hydrogel with improved stiffness. The effect of cryo-processing, i.e., freeze-thaw (FT) cycling was elucidated by comparing 1 FT and 8 FT theta-cryo-gels and cryo-gels. To confirm the viability of the gels, human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) protein and sulfated glycosaminoglycan assays were performed to verify the nontoxicity and influence on hMSC differentiation. We have devised an elastic PVA-gelatin hydrogel utilizing the theta-gel and cryo-gel processing techniques, resulting in a stronger, more elastic material with greater potential as a scaffold for complex tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Charron
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Jaime I Jacobs
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Selina X Yao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Rachael A Oldinski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
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Charron PN, Braddish TA, Oldinski RA. PVA-gelatin hydrogels formed using combined theta-gel and cryo-gel fabrication techniques. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2019; 92:90-96. [PMID: 30665114 PMCID: PMC6387851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a synthetic, biocompatible polymer that has been widely studied for use in bioengineered tissue scaffolds due to its relatively high strength, creep resistance, water retention, and porous structure. However, PVA hydrogels traditionally exhibit low percent elongation and energy dissipation. PVA material and mechanical properties can be fine-tuned by controlling the physical, non-covalent crosslinks during hydrogel formation through various techniques; PVA scaffolds were modified with gelatin, a natural collagen derivative also capable of forming reversible hydrogen bonds. Blending in gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with PVA prior to solidification formed a highly organized hydrogel with improved toughness and dynamic elasticity. Theta-gels were formed from the solidification of warm solutions and the phase separation of high molecular weight gelatin and PVA from a low molecular PEG porogen upon cooling. While PVA-gelatin hydrogels can be synthesized in this manner, the hydrogels exhibited low toughness with increased elasticity. Thus, theta-gels were additionally processed using cryo-gel fabrication techniques, which involved freezing theta-gels, lyophilizing and re-hydrating. The result was a stronger, more resilient material. We hypothesized that the increased formation of physical hydrogen bonds between the PVA and gelatin allowed for the combination of a stiffer material with energy dissipation characteristics. Rheological data suggested significant changes in the storage moduli of the new PVA-gelatin theta-cryo-gels. Elastic modulus, strain to failure, hysteresis and resilience were studied through uniaxial tension and dynamic mechanical analysis in compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Charron
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Tess A Braddish
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Rachael A Oldinski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Materials Science Program, Graduate College, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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Abstract
Injury to the connective tissue that lines the lung, the pleura, or the lung itself can occur from many causes including trauma or surgery, as well as lung diseases or cancers. To address current limitations for patching lung injuries, to stop air or fluid leaks, an adherent hydrogel sealant patch system was developed, based on methacrylated alginate (AMA) and AMA dialdehyde (AMA-DA) blends, which is capable of sealing damaged tissues and sustaining physiological pressures. Methacrylation of alginate hydroxyl groups rendered the polysaccharide capable of photo-cross-linking when mixed with an eosin Y-based photoinitiator system and exposed to visible green light. Oxidation of alginate yields functional aldehyde groups capable of imine bond formation with proteins found in many tissues. The alginate-based patch system was rigorously tested on a custom burst pressure testing device. Blending of nonoxidized material with oxidized (aldehyde modified) alginates yielded patches with improved burst pressure performance and decreased delamination as compared with pure AMA. Human mesothelial cell (MeT-5A) viability and cytotoxicity were retained when cultured with the hydrogel patches. The release and bioactivity of doxorubicin-encapsulated submicrospheres enabled the fabrication of drug-eluting adhesive patches and were effective in decreasing human lung cancer cell (A549) viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer L. Fenn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155
- Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, and Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
| | - Patrick N. Charron
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
| | - Rachael A. Oldinski
- Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, and Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405
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Charron PN, Fenn SL, Poniz A, Oldinski RA. Mechanical properties and failure analysis of visible light crosslinked alginate-based tissue sealants. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2016; 59:314-321. [PMID: 26897093 PMCID: PMC4860120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Moderate to weak mechanical properties limit the use of naturally-derived tissue sealants for dynamic medical applications, e.g., sealing a lung leak. To overcome these limitations, we developed visible-light crosslinked alginate-based hydrogels, as either non-adhesive methacrylated alginate (Alg-MA) hydrogel controls, or oxidized Alg-MA (Alg-MA-Ox) tissue adhesive tissue sealants, which form covalent bonds with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Our study investigated the potential for visible-light crosslinked Alg-MA-Ox hydrogels to serve as effective surgical tissue sealants for dynamic in vivo systems. The Alg-MA-Ox hydrogels were designed to be an injectable system, curable in situ. Burst pressure experiments were conducted on a custom-fabricated burst pressure device using constant air flow; burst pressure properties and adhesion characteristics correlated with the degrees of methacrylation and oxidation. In summary, visible light crosslinked Alg-MA-Ox hydrogel tissue sealants form effective seals over critically-sized defects, and maintain pressures up to 50mm Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Charron
- Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Spencer L Fenn
- Bioengineering Program, School of Engineering and College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Alex Poniz
- Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, USA
| | - Rachael A Oldinski
- Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, USA; Bioengineering Program, School of Engineering and College of Medicine, University of Vermont, USA; Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
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Miao T, Fenn SL, Charron PN, Oldinski RA. Self-Healing and Thermoresponsive Dual-Cross-Linked Alginate Hydrogels Based on Supramolecular Inclusion Complexes. Biomacromolecules 2015; 16:3740-50. [PMID: 26509214 PMCID: PMC4679680 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD), with a lipophilic inner cavity and hydrophilic outer surface, interacts with a large variety of nonpolar guest molecules to form noncovalent inclusion complexes. Conjugation of β-CD onto biomacromolecules can form physically cross-linked hydrogel networks upon mixing with a guest molecule. Herein, the development and characterization of self-healing, thermoresponsive hydrogels, based on host-guest inclusion complexes between alginate-graft-β-CD and Pluronic F108 (poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propylene glycol)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)), are described. The mechanics, flow characteristics, and thermal response were contingent on the polymer concentration and the host-guest molar ratio. Transient and reversible physical cross-linking between host and guest polymers governed self-assembly, allowing flow to occur under shear stress and facilitating complete recovery of the material's properties within a few seconds of unloading. The mechanical properties of the dual-cross-linked, multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels were tuned as high as 30 kPa at body temperature and are advantageous for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxin Miao
- Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Spencer L. Fenn
- Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Patrick N. Charron
- Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Rachael A. Oldinski
- Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Mechanical Engineering Program, College of Engineering and Mathematical Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
- Materials Science Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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