Sterilization techniques for biodegradable scaffolds in tissue engineering applications
Biodegradable scaffolds have been extensively studied due to their wide applications in biomaterials and tissue engineering. However, infections associated with in vivo use of these scaffolds by different microbiological contaminants remain to be a significant challenge. This review focuses on different sterilization techniques including heat, chemical, irradiation, and other novel sterilization techniques for various biodegradable scaffolds. Comparisons of these techniques, including their sterilization mechanisms, post-sterilization effects, and sterilization efficiencies, are discussed. (Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering)
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - May 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Dai, Z., Ronholm, J., Tian, Y., Sethi, B., Cao, X. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Administration of cells with thermosensitive hydrogel enhances the functional recovery in ischemic rat heart
The lack of cell retention clearly represents a potentially serious limitation for therapeutic efficacy of stem cells. To enhance the efficacy, we developed a novel hydrogel that is thermosensitive and biodegradable and possesses desirable stiffness in a solid form. Immediately after induction of myocardial infarction of male rat, cardiac outgrowth cells embedded in hydrogel (HG) or saline (CO) were injected directly into the peri-infarct area. Left ventricular ejection fraction, cell retention rate, and a spectrum of biochemical markers were measured to evaluate the effect of the treatment. Left ventricular ejection fract...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - May 3, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Matsushita, S., Forrester, J. S., Li, C., Sato, M., Li, Z., Guo, X., Guan, J., Amano, A. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Three-dimensional printed polymeric system to encapsulate human mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into islet-like insulin-producing aggregates for diabetes treatment
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent, costly, and debilitating diseases in the world. Pancreas and islet transplants have shown success in re-establishing glucose control and reversing diabetic complications. However, both are limited by donor availability, need for continuous immunosuppression, loss of transplanted tissue due to dispersion, and lack of vascularization. To overcome the limitations of poor islet availability, here, we investigate the potential of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into islet-like insulin-producing aggregates. Islet-like insulin-producing aggregates, characteriz...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - April 21, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Sabek, O. M., Farina, M., Fraga, D. W., Afshar, S., Ballerini, A., Filgueira, C. S., Thekkedath, U. R., Grattoni, A., Gaber, A. O. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Impact of mechanical stretch on the cell behaviors of bone and surrounding tissues
Mechanical loading is recognized to play an important role in regulating the behaviors of cells in bone and surrounding tissues in vivo. Many in vitro studies have been conducted to determine the effects of mechanical loading on individual cell types of the tissues. In this review, we focus specifically on the use of the Flexercell system as a tool for studying cellular responses to mechanical stretch. We assess the literature describing the impact of mechanical stretch on different cell types from bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, and cartilage, describing individual cell phenotype responses. In addition, we review evidence...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 18, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Yu, H.-S., Kim, J.-J., Kim, H.-W., Lewis, M. P., Wall, I. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Antibody-mediated inhibition of Nogo-A signaling promotes neurite growth in PC-12 cells
In this study, we developed and validated a novel cell-based approach to facilitate the biological quantification of a Nogo-A antibody using PC-12 cells as an in vitro neuronal cell model. Changes in the mRNA levels of the neuronal differentiation markers, growth-associated protein 43 and neurofilament light-polypeptide, suggest that activation of the Nogo-A pathway suppresses axonal growth and dendrite formation in the tested cell line. We found that application of anti-Nogo-A monoclonal antibody can significantly enhance the neuronal maturity of PC-12 cells by blocking the Nogo-A inhibitory effects, providing enhanced ef...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Yazdi, I. K., Taghipour, N., Hmaidan, S., Palomba, R., Scaria, S., Munoz, A., Boone, T. B., Tasciotti, E. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Design of barrier coatings on kink-resistant peripheral nerve conduits
This study indicates that braiding is a promising method of fabrication to improve the mechanical properties of peripheral nerve conduits and demonstrates the need to control the porosity of the conduit wall to optimize functional nerve recovery. (Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering)
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Clements, B. A., Bushman, J., Murthy, N. S., Ezra, M., Pastore, C. M., Kohn, J. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Therapeutic transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts into endothelial cells using forced expression of lineage-specific transcription factors
Transdifferentiation is the direct conversion from one somatic cell type into another desired somatic cell type. This reprogramming method offers an attractive approach for regenerative medicine. Here, we demonstrate that neonatal fibroblasts can be transdifferentiated into endothelial cells using only four endothelial transcription factors, namely, ETV2, FLI1, GATA2, and KLF4. We observed a significant up-regulation of endothelial genes including KDR, CD31, CD144, and vWF in human neonatal foreskin (BJ) fibroblasts infected with the lentiviral construct encoding the open reading frame of the four transcription factors. We...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Wong, W. T., Cooke, J. P. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Porcine acellular lung matrix for wound healing and abdominal wall reconstruction: A pilot study
In this study, we evaluate the capacity of porcine acellular lung matrix to sustain cellularization and neovascularization in a rat model of subcutaneous implantation and chronic hernia repair. We hypothesize that, compared to human acellular dermal matrix, porcine acellular lung matrix would promote greater cell infiltration and vessel formation. Following pneumonectomy, porcine lungs were processed and characterized histologically and by scanning electron microscopy to demonstrate efficacy of the decellularization. Using a rat model of subcutaneou implantation, porcine acellular lung matrices (n = 8) and human acellular ...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Fernandez-Moure, J. S., Van Eps, J. L., Rhudy, J. R., Cabrera, F. J., Acharya, G. S., Tasciotti, E., Sakamoto, J., Nichols, J. E. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Composite microsphere-functionalized scaffold for the controlled release of small molecules in tissue engineering
Current tissue engineering strategies focus on restoring damaged tissue architectures using biologically active scaffolds. The ideal scaffold would mimic the extracellular matrix of any tissue of interest, promoting cell proliferation and de novo extracellular matrix deposition. A plethora of techniques have been evaluated to engineer scaffolds for the controlled and targeted release of bioactive molecules to provide a functional structure for tissue growth and remodeling, as well as enhance recruitment and proliferation of autologous cells within the implant. Recently, novel approaches using small molecules, instead of gr...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Pandolfi, L., Minardi, S., Taraballi, F., Liu, X., Ferrari, M., Tasciotti, E. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Biomimetic collagenous scaffold to tune inflammation by targeting macrophages
The inflammatory response following implantation of a biomaterial is one of the major regulatory aspects of the overall regenerative process. The progress of inflammation determines whether functional tissue is restored or if nonfunctional fibrotic tissue is formed. This delicate balance is directed by the activity of different cells. Among these, macrophages and their different phenotypes, the inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2, are considered key players in the process. Recent approaches exploit macrophage’s regenerative potential in tissue engineering. Here, we propose a collagen scaffold functionalized with ...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - February 16, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Taraballi, F., Corradetti, B., Minardi, S., Powel, S., Cabrera, F., Van Eps, J. L., Weiner, B. K., Tasciotti, E. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Impact of mechanical stretch on the cell behaviors of bone and surrounding tissues
Mechanical loading is recognized to play an important role in regulating the behaviors of cells in bone and surrounding tissues in vivo. Many in vitro studies have been conducted to determine the effects of mechanical loading on individual cell types of the tissues. In this review, we focus specifically on the use of the Flexercell system as a tool for studying cellular responses to mechanical stretch. We assess the literature describing the impact of mechanical stretch on different cell types from bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, and cartilage, describing individual cell phenotype responses. In addition, we review evidence...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - January 13, 2016 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Yu, H.-S., Kim, J.-J., Kim, H.-W., Lewis, M. P., Wall, I. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
AAV vector encoding human VEGF165-transduced pectineus muscular flaps increase the formation of new tissue through induction of angiogenesis in an in vivo chamber for tissue engineering: A technique to enhance tissue and vessels in microsurgically engineered tissue
In conclusion, our present findings combine three different research fields such as microsurgery, tissue engineering and gene therapy, suggesting and showing the feasibility of a mixed approach for regenerative medicine. (Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering)
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - December 9, 2015 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Moimas, S., Manasseri, B., Cuccia, G., Stagno dAlcontres, F., Geuna, S., Pattarini, L., Zentilin, L., Giacca, M., Colonna, M. R. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Titanium phosphate glass microcarriers induce enhanced osteogenic cell proliferation and human mesenchymal stem cell protein expression
In this study, we have developed 50- to 100-µm-sized titanium phosphate glass microcarriers (denoted as Ti5) that show enhanced proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells and MG63 osteosarcoma cells, as well as enhanced human mesenchymal stem cell expression of bone differentiation markers, in comparison with commercially available glass microspheres at all time points. We also demonstrate that these microcarriers provide superior human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation with conventional Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle medium than with a specially developed commercial stem cell medium. The microcarrier prolifera...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - December 3, 2015 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Lakhkar, N. J., M Day, R., Kim, H.-W., Ludka, K., Mordan, N. J., Salih, V., Knowles, J. C. Tags: Article Source Type: research
Pulsed low-intensity ultrasound increases proliferation and extracelluar matrix production by human dermal fibroblasts in three-dimensional culture
This study evaluated the effect of pulsed low-intensity ultrasound on cell proliferation, collagen production and glycosaminoglycan deposition by human dermal fibroblasts encapsulated in alginate. Hoechst 33258 assay for cell number, hydroxyproline assay for collagen content, dimethylmethylene blue assay for glycosaminoglycan content and scanning electron microscopy were performed on the encapsulated cells treated with pulsed low-intensity ultrasound and a control group that remained untreated. Pulsed low-intensity ultrasound showed a significant effect on cell proliferation and collagen deposition but no consistent patter...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - December 3, 2015 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Bohari, S. P., Grover, L. M., Hukins, D. W. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
Bisphosphonate-adsorbed ceramic nanoparticles increase bone formation in an injectable carrier for bone tissue engineering
Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) is a sugar-based carrier. We have previously applied SAIB as a minimally invasive system for the co-delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and found synergy when co-delivering zoledronic acid (ZA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles. Alternative bioceramics were investigated in a murine SAIB/rhBMP-2 injection model. Neither beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) nor Bioglass (BG) 45S5 had a significant effect on bone volume (BV) alone or in combination with the ZA. 14C-labelled ZA binding assays showed particle size and ceramic composition affected binding with na...
Source: Journal of Tissue Engineering - October 27, 2015 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Cheng, T. L., Murphy, C. M., Ravarian, R., Dehghani, F., Little, D. G., Schindeler, A. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
