An Innovative Ex Vivo Vascular Bioreactor as Comprehensive Tool to Study the Behavior of Native Blood Vessels Under Physiologically Relevant Conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Vanerio ◽  
Marco Stijnen ◽  
Bas A. J. M. de Mol ◽  
Linda M. Kock
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Vessel Diameter ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
In Vivo Models

Abstract Ex vivo systems represent important models to study vascular biology and to test medical devices, combining the advantages of in vitro and in vivo models such as controllability of parameters and the presence of biological response, respectively. The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive ex vivo vascular bioreactor to long-term culture and study the behavior of native blood vessels under physiologically relevant conditions. The system was designed to allow for physiological mechanical loading in terms of pulsatile hemodynamics, shear stress, and longitudinal prestretch and ultrasound imaging for vessel diameter and morphology evaluation. In this first experience, porcine carotid arteries (n = 4) from slaughterhouse animals were cultured in the platform for 10 days at physiological temperature, CO2 and humidity using medium with blood-mimicking viscosity, components, and stability of composition. As expected, a significant increase in vessel diameter was observed during culture. Flow rate was adjusted according to diameter values to reproduce and maintain physiological shear stress, while pressure was kept physiological. Ultrasound imaging showed that the morphology and structure of cultured arteries were comparable to in vivo. Histological analyses showed preserved endothelium and extracellular matrix and neointimal tissue growth over 10 days of culture. In conclusion, we have developed a comprehensive pulsatile system in which a native blood vessel can be cultured under physiological conditions. The present model represents a significant step toward ex vivo testing of vascular therapies, devices, drug interaction, and as basis for further model developments.

scholarly journals A Tumbling Magnetic Microrobot System for Biomedical Applications

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 861
Author(s):  
Elizabeth E. Niedert ◽  
Chenghao Bi ◽  
Georges Adam ◽  
Elly Lambert ◽  
Luis Solorio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Circular Path ◽  
Rotational Axis ◽  
Significant Difference

A microrobot system comprising an untethered tumbling magnetic microrobot, a two-degree-of-freedom rotating permanent magnet, and an ultrasound imaging system has been developed for in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications. The microrobot tumbles end-over-end in a net forward motion due to applied magnetic torque from the rotating magnet. By turning the rotational axis of the magnet, two-dimensional directional control is possible and the microrobot was steered along various trajectories, including a circular path and P-shaped path. The microrobot is capable of moving over the unstructured terrain within a murine colon in in vitro, in situ, and in vivo conditions, as well as a porcine colon in ex vivo conditions. High-frequency ultrasound imaging allows for real-time determination of the microrobot’s position while it is optically occluded by animal tissue. When coated with a fluorescein payload, the microrobot was shown to release the majority of the payload over a 1-h time period in phosphate-buffered saline. Cytotoxicity tests demonstrated that the microrobot’s constituent materials, SU-8 and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), did not show a statistically significant difference in toxicity to murine fibroblasts from the negative control, even when the materials were doped with magnetic neodymium microparticles. The microrobot system’s capabilities make it promising for targeted drug delivery and other in vivo biomedical applications.

scholarly journals Effect of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α on intestinal riboflavin uptake: inhibition mediated via transcriptional mechanism(s)

2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (5) ◽  
pp. C653-C663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasin Yadunandam Anandam ◽  
Omar A. Alwan ◽  
Veedamali S. Subramanian ◽  
Padmanabhan Srinivasan ◽  
Rubina Kapadia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Uptake Inhibition ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Vitro Model ◽  
Factor Α

Riboflavin (RF), is essential for normal cellular metabolism/function. Intestinal RF absorption occurs via a specific carrier-mediated process that involves the apical transporter RFVT-3 ( SLC52A3) and the basolateral RFVT-1 (SLC52A1). Previously, we characterized different cellular/molecular aspects of the intestinal RF uptake process, but nothing is known about the effect of proinflammatory cytokines on the uptake event. We addressed this issue using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models. First, we determined the level of mRNA expression of the human (h)RFVT-3 and hRFVT-1 in intestinal tissue of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and observed a markedly lower level compared with controls. In the in vitro model, exposing Caco-2 cells to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) led to a significant inhibition in RF uptake, an effect that was abrogated upon knocking down TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). The inhibition in RF uptake was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of hRFVT-3 and -1 protein and mRNA levels, as well as in the activity of the SLC52A3 and SLC52A1 promoters. The latter effects appear to involve Sp1 and NF-κB sites in these promoters. Similarly, exposure of mouse small intestinal enteroids and wild-type mice to TNF-α led to a significant inhibition in physiological and molecular parameters of intestinal RF uptake. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to TNF-α leads to inhibition in RF uptake and that this effect is mediated, at least in part, via transcriptional mechanism(s). These findings may explain the significantly low RF levels observed in patients with IBD.

Pre-Clinical Biocompatibility Testing of Peritoneal Dialysis Solutions

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Hierarchical Level ◽  
Clinical Phase ◽  
Biocompatibility Testing

Pre-clinical biocompatibility testing of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions has become an integral part of new solution development. The construction of a pre-clinical screening program for solution biocompatibility should take a hierarchical approach, starting with in vitro cell viability and function assays. The selection of cell types and assay systems for the in vitro studies should be broad enough to permit a balanced interpretation. Whenever possible, animal models are recommended for the next hierarchical level of testing, followed by human ex vivo study designs. Designs of the latter sort provide evidence that a new solution formulation is exerting an altered biological response in vivo; the response is not purely an in vitro artifact or restricted to a given animal species. This article discusses the various approaches available for biocompatibility testing during the pre-clinical phase of solution development, with an emphasis on the advantages and drawbacks of each method.

scholarly journals An Ex Vivo Vessel Injury Model to Study Remodeling

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1375-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet H. Kural ◽  
Guohao Dai ◽  
Laura E. Niklason ◽  
Liqiong Gui
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Intimal Hyperplasia ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Vessel Injury ◽  
Injury Model ◽  
Human Arteries

Objective: Invasive coronary interventions can fail due to intimal hyperplasia and restenosis. Endothelial cell (EC) seeding to the vessel lumen, accelerating re-endothelialization, or local release of mTOR pathway inhibitors have helped reduce intimal hyperplasia after vessel injury. While animal models are powerful tools, they are complex and expensive, and not always reflective of human physiology. Therefore, we developed an in vitro 3D vascular model validating previous in vivo animal models and utilizing isolated human arteries to study vascular remodeling after injury. Approach: We utilized a bioreactor that enables the control of intramural pressure and shear stress in vessel conduits to investigate the vascular response in both rat and human arteries to intraluminal injury. Results: Culturing rat aorta segments in vitro, we show that vigorous removal of luminal ECs results in vessel injury, causing medial proliferation by Day-4 and neointima formation, with the observation of SCA1+ cells (stem cell antigen-1) in the intima by Day-7, in the absence of flow. Conversely, when endothelial-denuded rat aortae and human umbilical arteries were subjected to arterial shear stress, pre-seeding with human umbilical ECs decreased the number and proliferation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) significantly in the media of both rat and human vessels. Conclusion: Our bioreactor system provides a novel platform for correlating ex vivo findings with vascular outcomes in vivo. The present in vitro human arterial injury model can be helpful in the study of EC-SMC interactions and vascular remodeling, by allowing for the separation of mechanical, cellular, and soluble factors.

scholarly journals How Can Biomolecules Improve Mucoadhesion of Oral Insulin? A Comprehensive Insight using Ex-Vivo, In Silico, and In Vivo Models

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Amaral ◽  
Ana Sofia Martins ◽  
José Catarino ◽  
Pedro Faísca ◽  
Pradeep Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Polymeric Nanoparticles ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Diabetic Rats ◽  
Laser Scattering ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Mean Size

Currently, insulin can only be administered through the subcutaneous route. Due to the flaws associated with this route, it is of interest to orally deliver this drug. However, insulin delivered orally has several barriers to overcome as it is degraded by the stomach’s low pH, enzymatic content, and poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Polymers with marine source like chitosan are commonly used in nanotechnology and drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and special features. This work focuses on the preparation and characterization of mucoadhesive insulin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles. Results showed a suitable mean size for oral administration (<600 nm by dynamic laser scattering), spherical shape, encapsulation efficiency (59.8%), and high recovery yield (80.6%). Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated that protein retained its secondary structure after encapsulation. Moreover, the mucoadhesive potential of the nanoparticles was assessed in silico and the results, corroborated with ex-vivo experiments, showed that using chitosan strongly increases mucoadhesion. Besides, in vitro and in vivo safety assessment of the final formulation were performed, showing no toxicity. Lastly, the insulin-loaded nanoparticles were effective in reducing diabetic rats’ glycemia. Overall, the coating of insulin-loaded nanoparticles with chitosan represents a potentially safe and promising approach to protect insulin and enhance peroral delivery.

scholarly journals Impact of Bicarbonate-β-Lactam Exposures on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Gene Expression in Bicarbonate-β-Lactam-Responsive vs. Non-Responsive Strains

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650
Author(s):  
Selvi C. Ersoy ◽  
Blake M. Hanson ◽  
Richard A. Proctor ◽  
Cesar A. Arias ◽  
Truc T. Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Genetic Perturbations ◽  
Functional Relevance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections represent a difficult clinical treatment issue. Recently, a novel phenotype was discovered amongst selected MRSA which exhibited enhanced β-lactam susceptibility in vitro in the presence of NaHCO3 (termed ‘NaHCO3-responsiveness’). This increased β-lactam susceptibility phenotype has been verified in both ex vivo and in vivo models. Mechanistic studies to-date have implicated NaHCO3-mediated repression of genes involved in the production, as well as maturation, of the alternative penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2a, a necessary component of MRSA β-lactam resistance. Herein, we utilized RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify genes that were differentially expressed in NaHCO3-responsive (MRSA 11/11) vs. non-responsive (COL) strains, in the presence vs. absence of NaHCO3-β-lactam co-exposures. These investigations revealed that NaHCO3 selectively repressed the expression of a cadre of genes in strain 11/11 known to be a part of the sigB-sarA-agr regulon, as well as a number of genes involved in the anchoring of cell wall proteins in MRSA. Moreover, several genes related to autolysis, cell division, and cell wall biosynthesis/remodeling, were also selectively impacted by NaHCO3-OXA exposure in the NaHCO3-responsive strain MRSA 11/11. These outcomes provide an important framework for further studies to mechanistically verify the functional relevance of these genetic perturbations to the NaHCO3-responsiveness phenotype in MRSA.

Autonomous Effects of Shear Stress and Cyclic Circumferential Stretch Regarding Endothelial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress: An Ex Vivo Arterial Model

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Thacher ◽  
Rafaela da Silva ◽  
Paolo Silacci ◽  
Nikos Stergiopulos
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Cyclic Stretch ◽  
Arterial Model ◽  
Individual Contributions ◽  
Independent Effects ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Within the vasculature endothelial cells are constantly exposed to dynamic mechanical forces generated by pulsatile blood flow. Two stimuli known to modulate endothelial function are shear stress and cyclic circumferential strain. Yet, in most studies these two stimuli are simultaneously coupled in-vivo, making it very difficult to understand their individual contributions to vascular disease. Some attempts have been made to de-couple stretch and shear stress in-vitro by using different cell lines in a variety of stretch systems and flow chambers, straying from reality and making it hard to draw definitive conclusions. In this study we wish to find a compromise between the in-vivo and in-vitro work of the past by studying the independent effects of shear stress and cyclic stretch and how they contribute to endothelial dysfunction.

scholarly journals The SMAC mimetic LCL-161 displays antitumor activity in preclinical models of rituximab-resistant B-cell lymphoma

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (23) ◽  
pp. 3516-3525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Runckel ◽  
Matthew J. Barth ◽  
Cory Mavis ◽  
Juan J. Gu ◽  
Francisco J. Hernandez-Ilizaliturri
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Antitumor Effect ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Sensitive Cell ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Synergistic Enhancement

Abstract Clinical observations suggest the existence of shared resistance pathways between rituximab and chemotherapy agents. To explore the mechanisms of rituximab resistance, our group created rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCLs), which display altered expression of several inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family proteins. Here, we provide evidence to support pharmacologically targeting IAPs in lymphoma with LCL-161, a small molecule mimetic of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC). The antitumor effect of LCL-161 was determined using luminescent adenosine triphosphate assays, flow cytometry, SCID mouse xenografts, and ex vivo patient biopsy sample studies. In vitro exposure to LCL-161 also resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in IAP levels, along with synergistic enhancement of the antitumor effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy, in rituximab-sensitive cell lines and RRCLs. In addition, LCL-161 increased the cytotoxic effect of the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib in ex vivo lymphoma patient samples. The combination of LCL-161 with the chemotherapy regimen rituximab, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine (RGV) improved in vivo survival compared with RGV alone in severe combined immunodeficient mice implanted with RRCLs but not in animals implanted with rituximab-sensitive cell lines. In summary, LCL-161 exhibits synergistic antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of resistant lymphoma. Our data support further preclinical investigation of LCL-161 as a novel antilymphoma agent.

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