scholarly journals Homemade Bread: Repurposing an Ancient Technology for Low Cost in vitro Tissue Engineering

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica T. Holmes ◽  
Ziba Jaberansari ◽  
William Collins ◽  
Maxime Leblanc Latour ◽  
Daniel J. Modulevsky ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCellular function is well known to be influenced by the physical cues and architecture of their three dimensional (3D) microenvironment. As such, numerous synthetic and naturally-occurring biomaterials have been developed to provide such architectures to support the proliferation of mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. In recent years, our group, and others, have shown that scaffolds derived from plants can be utilized for tissue engineering applications in biomedicine and in the burgeoning cultured meat industry. Such scaffolds are straightforward to prepare, allowing researchers to take advantage of their intrinsic 3D microarchitectures. During the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic many people around the world began to rediscover the joy of preparing bread at home and as a research group, our members participated in this trend. Having observed the high porosity of the crumb (the internal portion of the bread) we were inspired to investigate whether it might support the proliferation of mammalian cells in vitro. Here, we develop and validate a yeast-free “soda bread” that maintains its mechanical stability over two weeks in culture conditions. The scaffolding is highly porous, allowing the 3D proliferation of multiple cell types relevant to both biomedical tissue engineering and the development of novel future foods. Bread derived scaffolds are highly scalable and represent a surprising new alternative to synthetic or animal-derived scaffolds for addressing a diverse variety of tissue engineering challenges.

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-264
Author(s):  
A V Kosulin ◽  
L N Beldiman ◽  
S V Kromsky ◽  
A A Kokorina ◽  
E V Mikhailova ◽  
...  

Short bowel syndrome is an important clinical problem characterized by a high incidence of serious complications, deaths and socioeconomic consequences. Parenteral nutrition provides only a temporary solution without reducing the risk of complications. This applies equally to surgical treatment, in particular to small intestine transplantation and related concomitant interventions, which only facilitate the adaptation of the intestine to new conditions. Potential approaches have been analyzed in the treatment of the syndrome of the small intestine, which can be offered by dynamically developing tissue engineering. Various types of carriers and cell types that are used in experiments for obtaining tissue engineering designs of the intestine are discussed. A wide range of variants of such constructions is analyzed that can lead to obtaining an organ prosthesis with a cellular organization and mechanical stability similar to those of the native small intestine, which will ensure the necessary biocompatibility. It is established that one of the optimal carriers for today are extracellular matrices obtained by decellularization of the native small intestine. This process allows to preserve the microarchitecture of the small intestine, which greatly facilitates the process of filling the matrix with cells both in vitro and in vivo. It has also been established that mesenchymal stromal multipotent cells and organoid units obtained from the tissue of the native small intestine are particularly prominent among the most promising participants in the cellular ensemble.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2146
Author(s):  
Jian Guan ◽  
Fu-zhen Yuan ◽  
Zi-mu Mao ◽  
Hai-lin Zhu ◽  
Lin Lin ◽  
...  

The limited self-healing ability of cartilage necessitates the application of alternative tissue engineering strategies for repairing the damaged tissue and restoring its normal function. Compared to conventional tissue engineering strategies, three-dimensional (3D) printing offers a greater potential for developing tissue-engineered scaffolds. Herein, we prepared a novel photocrosslinked printable cartilage ink comprising of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and chondroitin sulfate methacrylate (CSMA). The PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffolds possessed favorable compressive elastic modulus and degradation rate. In vitro experiments showed good adhesion, proliferation, and F-actin and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the scaffolds. When the CSMA concentration was increased, the compressive elastic modulus, GAG production, and expression of F-actin and cartilage-specific genes (COL2, ACAN, SOX9, PRG4) were significantly improved while the osteogenic marker genes of COL1 and ALP were decreased. The findings of the study indicate that the 3D-printed PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffolds possessed not only adequate mechanical strength but also maintained a suitable 3D microenvironment for differentiation, proliferation, and extracellular matrix production of BMSCs, which suggested this customizable 3D-printed PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffold may have great potential for cartilage repair and regeneration in vivo.


Author(s):  
Jing Jing Yang ◽  
Jian Fang Liu ◽  
Takayuki Kurokawa ◽  
Nobuto Kitamura ◽  
Kazunori Yasuda ◽  
...  

Hydrogels are used as scaffolds for tissue engineering in vitro & in vivo because their three-dimensional network structure and viscoelasticity are similar to those of the macromolecular-based extracellular matrix (ECM) in living tissue. Especially, the synthetic hydrogels with controllable and reproducible properties were used as scaffolds to study the behaviors of cells in vitro and implanted test in vivo. In this review, two different structurally designed hydrogels, single-network (SN) hydrogels and double-network (DN) hydrogels, were used as scaffolds. The behavior of two cell types, anchorage-dependent cells and anchorage-independent cells, and the differentiation behaviors of embryoid bodies (EBs) were investigated on these hydrogels. Furthermore, the behavior of chondrocytes on DN hydrogels in vitro and the spontaneous cartilage regeneration induced by DN hydrogels in vivo was examined.


2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. Stanbridge ◽  
Vincent Dussupt ◽  
Norman J. Maitland

Current curative strategies for prostate cancer are restricted to the primary tumour, and the effect of treatments to control metastatic disease is not sustained. Therefore, the application of gene therapy to prostate cancer is an attractive alternative. Baculoviruses are highly restricted insect viruses, which can enter, but not replicate in mammalian cells. Baculoviruses can incorporate large amounts of extra genetic material, and will express transgenes in mammalian cells when under the control of a mammalian or strong viral promoter. Successful gene delivery has been achieved both in vitro and in vivo and into both dividing and nondividing cells, which is important since prostate cancers divide relatively slowly. In addition, the envelope protein gp64 is sufficiently mutable to allow targeted transduction of particular cell types. In this review, the advantages of using baculoviruses for prostate cancer gene therapy are explored, and the mechanisms of viral entry and transgene expression are described.


Gels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Bhaumik Patel ◽  
Ravi Manne ◽  
Devang B. Patel ◽  
Shashank Gorityala ◽  
Arunkumar Palaniappan ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality across the globe, and transplant surgeries are not always successful since it is not always possible to replace most of the damaged heart tissues, for example in myocardial infarction. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide, is an important biomaterial for many biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Based on the origin, degree of deacetylation, structure, and biological functions, chitosan has emerged for vital tissue engineering applications. Recent studies reported that chitosan coupled with innovative technologies helped to load or deliver drugs or stem cells to repair the damaged heart tissue not just in a myocardial infarction but even in other cardiac therapies. Herein, we outlined the latest advances in cardiac tissue engineering mediated by chitosan overcoming the barriers in cardiac diseases. We reviewed in vitro and in vivo data reported dealing with drug delivery systems, scaffolds, or carriers fabricated using chitosan for stem cell therapy essential in cardiac tissue engineering. This comprehensive review also summarizes the properties of chitosan as a biomaterial substrate having sufficient mechanical stability that can stimulate the native collagen fibril structure for differentiating pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes for cardiac tissue engineering.


2006 ◽  
Vol 87 (8) ◽  
pp. 2263-2268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis J. Pierro ◽  
Ma Isabel Salazar ◽  
Barry J. Beaty ◽  
Ken E. Olson

A full-length infectious cDNA clone (ic) was constructed from the genome of the dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) Jamaica83 1409 strain, pBAC1409ic, by using a bacterial artifical chromosome plasmid system. Infectious virus was generated and characterized for growth in cell culture and for infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. During construction, an isoleucine to methionine (Ile→Met) change was found at position 6 in the envelope glycoprotein sequence between low- and high-passage DENV-2 1409 strains. In vitro-transcribed genomic RNA of 1409ic with E6-Ile produced infectious virions following electroporation in mosquito cells, but not mammalian cells, while 1409ic RNA with an E6-Met mutation produced virus in both cell types. Moreover, DENV-2 1409 with the E6-Ile residue produced syncytia in C6/36 cell culture, whereas viruses with E6-Met did not. However, in vitro cell culture-derived growth-curve data and in vivo mosquito-infection rates revealed that none of the analysed DENV-2 strains differed from each other.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 453-456
Author(s):  
Ralf Kemkemer ◽  
Kerstin Frey ◽  
Alena Fischer ◽  
Rumen Krastev

AbstractSurface topographies are often discussed as an important parameter influencing basic cell behavior. Whereas most in-vitro studies deal with microstructures with sharp edges, smooth, curved microscale topographies might be more relevant concerning in-vivo situations. Addressing the lack of highly defined surfaces with varying curvature, we present a topography chip system with 3D curved features of varying spacing, curvature radii as well as varying overall dimensions of curved surfaces. The CurvChip is produced by low-cost photolithography with thermal reflow, subsequent (repetitive) PDMS molding and hot embossing. The platform facilitates the systematic invitro investigation of the impact of substrate curvature on cell types like epithelial, endothelial, smooth muscle cells, or stem cells. Such investigations will not only help to further understand the mechanism of curvature sensation but may also contribute to optimize cellmaterial interactions in the field of regenerative medicine.


2005 ◽  
Vol 392 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell M. Crawford ◽  
Kate J. Treharne ◽  
O. Giles Best ◽  
Richmond Muimo ◽  
Claudia E. Riemen ◽  
...  

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK, NM23/awd) belongs to a multifunctional family of highly conserved proteins (∼16–20 kDa) containing two well-characterized isoforms (NM23-H1 and -H2; also known as NDPK A and B). NDPK catalyses the conversion of nucleoside diphosphates into nucleoside triphosphates, regulates a diverse array of cellular events and can act as a protein histidine kinase. AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a heterotrimeric protein complex that responds to cellular energy status by switching off ATP-consuming pathways and switching on ATP-generating pathways when ATP is limiting. AMPK was first discovered as an activity that inhibited preparations of ACC1 (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), a regulator of cellular fatty acid synthesis. We report that NM23-H1/NDPK A and AMPK α1 are associated in cytosol from two different tissue sources: rat liver and a human lung cell line (Calu-3). Co-immunoprecipitation and binding assay data from both cell types show that the H1/A (but not H2/B) isoform of NDPK is associated with AMPK complexes containing the α1 (but not α2) catalytic subunit. Manipulation of NM23-H1/NDPK A nucleotide transphosphorylation activity to generate ATP (but not GTP) enhances the activity of AMPK towards its specific peptide substrate in vitro and also regulates the phosphorylation of ACC1, an in vivo target for AMPK. Thus novel NM23-H1/NDPK A-dependent regulation of AMPK α1-mediated phosphorylation is present in mammalian cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Tecla Ciociola ◽  
Thelma A. Pertinhez ◽  
Tiziano De Simone ◽  
Walter Magliani ◽  
Elena Ferrari ◽  
...  

The previously described decapeptide AKVTMTCSAS (killer peptide, KP), derived from the variable region of a recombinant yeast killer toxin-like anti-idiotypic antibody, proved to exert a variety of antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. It also showed a peculiar self-assembly ability, likely responsible for the therapeutic effect in animal models of systemic and mucosal candidiasis. The present study analyzed the biological and structural properties of peptides derived from KP by substitution or deletion of the first residue, leaving unchanged the remaining amino acids. The investigated peptides proved to exert differential in vitro and/or in vivo anti-Candida activity without showing toxic effects on mammalian cells. The change of the first residue in KP amino acidic sequence affected the conformation of the resulting peptides in solution, as assessed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. KP-derivatives, except one, were able to induce apoptosis in yeast cells, like KP itself. ROS production and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential were also observed. Confocal and transmission electron microscopy studies allowed to establish that selected peptides could penetrate within C. albicans cells and cause gross morphological alterations. Overall, the physical and chemical properties of the first residue were found to be important for peptide conformation, candidacidal activity and possible mechanism of action. Small antimicrobial peptides could be exploited for the development of a new generation of antifungal drugs, given their relative low cost and ease of production as well as the possibility of devising novel delivery systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (11) ◽  
pp. 5861-5872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten F. E. Schroer ◽  
Lucia Baldauf ◽  
Lennard van Buren ◽  
Tsjerk A. Wassenaar ◽  
Manuel N. Melo ◽  
...  

The cytoskeletal protein actin polymerizes into filaments that are essential for the mechanical stability of mammalian cells. In vitro experiments showed that direct interactions between actin filaments and lipid bilayers are possible and that the net charge of the bilayer as well as the presence of divalent ions in the buffer play an important role. In vivo, colocalization of actin filaments and divalent ions are suppressed, and cells rely on linker proteins to connect the plasma membrane to the actin network. Little is known, however, about why this is the case and what microscopic interactions are important. A deeper understanding is highly beneficial, first, to obtain understanding in the biological design of cells and, second, as a possible basis for the building of artificial cortices for the stabilization of synthetic cells. Here, we report the results of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of monomeric and filamentous actin in the vicinity of differently charged lipid bilayers. We observe that charges on the lipid head groups strongly determine the ability of actin to adsorb to the bilayer. The inclusion of divalent ions leads to a reversal of the binding affinity. Our in silico results are validated experimentally by reconstitution assays with actin on lipid bilayer membranes and provide a molecular-level understanding of the actin–membrane interaction.


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