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Hong Y, Zhao Y, Li H, Yang Y, Chen M, Wang X, Luo M, Wang K. Engineering the maturation of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1155052. [PMID: 37034258 PMCID: PMC10073467 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1155052] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The maturation of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hSC-CMs) has been a major challenge to further expand the scope of their application. Over the past years, several strategies have been proven to facilitate the structural and functional maturation of hSC-CMs, which include but are not limited to engineering the geometry or stiffness of substrates, providing favorable extracellular matrices, applying mechanical stretch, fluidic or electrical stimulation, co-culturing with niche cells, regulating biochemical cues such as hormones and transcription factors, engineering and redirecting metabolic patterns, developing 3D cardiac constructs such as cardiac organoid or engineered heart tissue, or culturing under in vivo implantation. In this review, we summarize these maturation strategies, especially the recent advancements, and discussed their advantages as well as the pressing problems that need to be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Hong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yunshu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Meining Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Wang, ; Mingyao Luo, ; Xi Wang,
| | - Mingyao Luo
- Center of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital, Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Wang, ; Mingyao Luo, ; Xi Wang,
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Wang, ; Mingyao Luo, ; Xi Wang,
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Dehghan-Baniani D, Mehrjou B, Chu PK, Lee WYW, Wu H. Recent Advances in "Functional Engineering of Articular Cartilage Zones by Polymeric Biomaterials Mediated with Physical, Mechanical, and Biological/Chemical Cues". Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 12:e2202581. [PMID: 36571465 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Articular cartilage (AC) plays an unquestionable role in joint movements but unfortunately the healing capacity is restricted due to its avascular and acellular nature. While cartilage tissue engineering has been lifesaving, it is very challenging to remodel the complex cartilage composition and architecture with gradient physio-mechanical properties vital to proper tissue functions. To address these issues, a better understanding of the intrinsic AC properties and how cells respond to stimuli from the external microenvironment must be better understood. This is essential in order to take one step closer to producing functional cartilaginous constructs for clinical use. Recently, biopolymers have aroused much attention due to their versatility, processability, and flexibility because the properties can be tailored to match the requirements of AC. This review highlights polymeric scaffolds developed in the past decade for reconstruction of zonal AC layers including the superficial zone, middle zone, and deep zone by means of exogenous stimuli such as physical, mechanical, and biological/chemical signals. The mimicked properties are reviewed in terms of the biochemical composition and organization, cell fate (morphology, orientation, and differentiation), as well as mechanical properties and finally, the challenges and potential ways to tackle them are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorsa Dehghan-Baniani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, SH Ho Scoliosis Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Babak Mehrjou
- Department of Physics, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul K Chu
- Department of Physics, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wayne Yuk Wai Lee
- Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, SH Ho Scoliosis Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, CUHK InnoHK Centres, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongkai Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Division of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Chemistry and the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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3
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Hang Y, Ma X, Liu C, Li S, Zhang S, Feng R, Shang Q, Liu Q, Ding Z, Zhang X, Yu L, Lu Q, Shao C, Chen H, Shi Y, He J, Kaplan DL. Blastocyst-Inspired Hydrogels to Maintain Undifferentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. ACS Nano 2021; 15:14162-14173. [PMID: 34516077 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stem cell fate is determined by specific niches that provide multiple physical, chemical, and biological cues. However, the hierarchy or cascade of impact of these cues remains elusive due to their spatiotemporal complexity. Here, anisotropic silk protein nanofiber-based hydrogels with suitable cell adhesion capacity are developed to mimic the physical microenvironment inside the blastocele. The hydrogels enable mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to maintain stemness in vitro in the absence of both leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), two critical factors in the standard protocol for mESC maintenance. The mESCs on hydrogels can achieve superior pluripotency, genetic stability, developmental capacity, and germline transmission to those cultured with the standard protocol. Such biomaterials establish an improved dynamic niche through stimulating the secretion of autocrine factors and are sufficient to maintain the pluripotency and propagation of ESCs. The mESCs on hydrogels are distinct in their expression profiles and more resemble ESCs in vivo. The physical cues can thus initiate a self-sustaining stemness-maintaining program. In addition to providing a relatively simple and low-cost option for expansion and utility of ESCs in biological research and therapeutic applications, this biomimetic material helps gain more insights into the underpinnings of early mammalian embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Hang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoliang Ma
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Sixuan Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruyan Feng
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianwen Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Liu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaozhao Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyin Yu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Lu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Changshun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Radiation Protection, Institutes for Translational Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiuyang He
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Nanozyme, Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceutical, Institute Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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Hu Y, Li D, Wei H, Zhou S, Chen W, Yan X, Cai J, Chen X, Chen B, Liao M, Chai R, Tang M. Neurite Extension and Orientation of Spiral Ganglion Neurons Can Be Directed by Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in a Magnetic Field. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:4515-4526. [PMID: 34239302 PMCID: PMC8259836 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s313673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Neuroregeneration is a major challenge in neuroscience for treating degenerative diseases and for repairing injured nerves. Numerous studies have shown the importance of physical stimulation for neuronal growth and development, and here we report an approach for the physical guidance of neuron orientation and neurite growth using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and magnetic fields (MFs). Methods SPIO nanoparticles were synthesized by classic chemical co-precipitation methods and then characterized by transmission electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The cytotoxicity of the prepared SPIO nanoparticles and MF was determined using CCK-8 assay and LIVE/DEAD assay. The immunofluorescence images were captured by a laser scanning confocal microscopy. Cell migration was evaluated using the wound healing assay. Results The prepared SPIO nanoparticles showed a narrow size distribution, low cytotoxicity, and superparamagnetism. SPIO nanoparticles coated with poly-L-lysine could be internalized by spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations less than 300 µg/mL. The neurite extension of SGNs was promoted after internalizing SPIO nanoparticles with or without an external MF, and this might be due to the promotion of growth cone development. It was also confirmed that SPIO can regulate cell migration and can direct neurite outgrowth in SGNs preferentially along the direction imposed by an external MF. Conclusion Our results provide a fundamental understanding of the regulation of cell behaviors under physical cues and suggest alternative treatments for sensorineural hearing loss caused by the degeneration of SGNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangnan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Li
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Wei
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Drum Tower Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqian Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Jaiying Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Chen
- Materials Science and Devices Institute, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, People's Republic of China
| | - Menghui Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China
| | - Renjie Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingliang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, People's Republic of China
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5
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Liu Z, Wang L, Xu H, Du Q, Li L, Wang L, Zhang ES, Chen G, Wang Y. Heterogeneous Responses to Mechanical Force of Prostate Cancer Cells Inducing Different Metastasis Patterns. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2020; 7:1903583. [PMID: 32775149 PMCID: PMC7404165 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201903583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The physical cues in the extracellular environment play important roles in cancer cell metastasis. However, how metastatic cancer cells respond to the diverse mechanical environments of metastatic sites is not fully understood. Here, substrates with different mechanical properties are prepared to simulate the extracellular mechanical environment of various human tissues. The prostate cancer (PC) cells derived from different cancer metastasis sites show heterogeneity in mechanical response. This heterogeneity mediates two distinct metastasis patterns. High stiffness promotes individual cell migration and proliferation by inducing Yes-associated protein and tafazzin (YAP/TAZ) nuclear localization in bone metastasis-derived cells, whereas low stiffness promotes cell migration and proliferation by inducing lymphatic metastasis-derived cells to form clusters characterized by high expression of CD44. The different metastasis patterns induced by the mechanical properties of the extracellular environment are crucial in the development of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiao Liu
- Research Center of Developmental BiologyDepartment of Histology and EmbryologyCollege of Basic MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
- Department of UrologyShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Liujun Wang
- Research Center of Developmental BiologyDepartment of Histology and EmbryologyCollege of Basic MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Huan Xu
- Department of UrologyChanghai Hospital of ShanghaiSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
- Department of PathologyDuke University School of MedicineDurhamNC27710USA
| | - Qiqige Du
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular ScienceFudan UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Li Li
- Research Center of Developmental BiologyDepartment of Histology and EmbryologyCollege of Basic MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Ling Wang
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Medicine InstituteResearch Center of Translational MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell EngineeringSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - En Song Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular ScienceFudan UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Guosong Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers and Department of Macromolecular ScienceFudan UniversityShanghai200433China
| | - Yue Wang
- Research Center of Developmental BiologyDepartment of Histology and EmbryologyCollege of Basic MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Medicine InstituteResearch Center of Translational MedicineSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell EngineeringSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200433China
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Dijker AJM, DeLuster R, Peeters N, de Vries NK. Seeing overweight adults as babies: Physical cues and implications for stigmatization. Br J Psychol 2017; 108:757-782. [PMID: 28230235 PMCID: PMC5655698 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Human babies not only are reliable triggers of tender feelings and protective tendencies, they also happen to be exceptionally fat compared to the newborns of most other species. These two facts are used to formulate a hypothesis predicting that overweight males, due to their great physical resemblance to babies, not only are perceived as cute, but also are associated with negatively evaluated traits (e.g., immaturity, lack of willpower) that are saliently inconsistent with traits required for adults. In this study, a great many physical features of adult males varying widely in weight were measured and correlated with subjective judgements. Providing preliminary support for the hypothesis, it was found that the features that were correlated with objective and perceived fatness (e.g., circularity of body parts, relatively large head, short and thick neck) also correlated with perceived babyishness. Perceived fatness and babyishness had curvilinear influences on the positive and prosocial appraisal of cuteness, but were primarily negatively related to perceived willpower and beauty. Results are used to formulate an alternative evolutionary perspective on social responses to overweight and obese individuals, emphasizing the uniquely human adaptive value of fatness and the misfiring of the underlying response mechanism under modern conditions of living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton J. M. Dijker
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesCAPHRIMaastricht UniversityThe Netherlands
| | - Rutger DeLuster
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesCAPHRIMaastricht UniversityThe Netherlands
| | - Nicolas Peeters
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesCAPHRIMaastricht UniversityThe Netherlands
| | - Nanne K. de Vries
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life SciencesCAPHRIMaastricht UniversityThe Netherlands
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Xie J, Bao M, Bruekers SC, Huck WTS. Collagen Gels with Different Fibrillar Microarchitectures Elicit Different Cellular Responses. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2017; 9:19630-19637. [PMID: 28537381 PMCID: PMC5473018 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b03883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [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: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix consists of a complex mixture of fibrillar proteins, in which the architecture and mechanical properties of the protein fibrils vary considerably in various tissues. Here, we systematically polymerized collagen gels at different temperatures, providing substrates with tunable mechanics and defined local microarchitecture. We studied the dependence of spreading dynamics, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on the fibrillar properties as compared to the bulk properties of the matrix. We found that high fiber stiffness, together with shorter fiber lengths, limited the transfer of cellular traction forces to nearby fibers. As a result, cells were not able to build up sufficient tension, which suppressed cell spreading, proliferation, and migration. Cells on such fibers also showed limited focal adhesion formation and different lineage selection preferences. In contrast, cell spreading, proliferation, and migration was always associated with fiber recruitment, long-range deformations in the collagen gel networks and an increase in collagen density around cells. Typically, cells on such substrates had a preference for osteogenic differentiation and showed higher levels of focal adhesions formation. These results contribute to a further understanding of the mechanotransduction process and to the design criteria for future biomimetic materials for tissue-engineering applications.
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