Construction of double-layer bone-on-a-chip containing bone matrix / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To construct a double-layer bone-on-a-chip containing bone matrix, with which the process of osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in vitro is stimulated, aiming to provide a new platform for the development of osteoporosis medications. Methods:Software WorkSoild was used to design the double-layer and double-channel bone-on-a-chip and the template was fabricated by photolithography. With polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the raw material, the main body of the chip was prepared by mold fabrication. The inlets and outlets of the four channels of the culture room were separated with bovine cortex bones and sealed with liquid storage columns. In the chip verification experiment, chips were divided into osteogenic and osteoclastic induction groups and osteogenic and osteoclastic control groups. In the osteogenic and osteoclastic induction groups, precursor cells of mouse embryonic osteoblast, MC3T3-E1 and mouse macrophage RAW264.7 were inoculated on the chip separately. Osteogenic induction lasted 14 days and osteoclastic induction 7 days. MC3T3-E1 cells and RAW264.7 cells were not induced in the osteogenic and osteoclastic control groups. The following indicators were observed (1) Appearance and sealing performance of the chip After the chip was prepared, photos were taken to observe its appearance and sealing tests were conducted to observe its sealing performance. (2) Biocompatibility At 3 days after MC3T3-E1 cells were inoculated onto the chip and cultured and at 1, 3 and 5 days after RAW264.7 cells were inoculated onto the chip and cultured, the cell survival was observed with calcein acetoxymethyl ester/propidium iodide (AM/PI) staining and Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8). (3) Osteogenic differentiation Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining were performed on the cells in the osteogenic induction group to observe the osteogenic induction. RNA was collected from the osteogenic induction group and the osteogenic control group, the expression of osteoblast marker Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN) and type I collagen (COL1A1) was detected by real-time florescent quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the differentiation degree and osteogenic ability of osteoblasts were observed. (4) Osteoclast differentiation tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed on cells in the osteoclastic induction group to observe osteoclast differentiation. RNA was extracted from the osteoclastic induction group and the osteoclastic control group for qPCR of osteoclast differentiation-related genes, and the expression levels of the osteoclast marker gene TRAP, cathepsin K (CTSK) and dendritic cell specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) were detected.Results:The double-layer bone-on-a-chip containing bone matrix was 3 cm×3 cm in size and transparent as a whole. The structure of the system on the chip system was compact and had no seepage. It was shown by calcein AM/PI staining that at 3 days after MC3T3-E1 cells and RAW264.7 cells were cultured, very few red fluorescent dead cells were found. CCK-8 test showed that within 5 days after being cultured, the cell viability was all above 90%, indicating that the biocompatibility of the chip was good and the cells could survive and proliferate normally. The results of ALP and alizarin red staining showed that MC3T3-E1 cells successfully differentiated into osteoblasts and produced calcified nodules in the osteogenic induction group at 14 days after the induction. The qPCR results showed that the relative expression level of RUNX2 in MC3T3-E1 cells in the osteogenic induction group was 4.98±0.74, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.99±0.03) ( P<0.01). The relative expression level of OCN in MC3T3-E1 cells was 7.98±0.76, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.00±0.06) ( P<0.01). The relative expression level of COL1A1 in MC3T3-E1 cells was 7.07±0.56, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.97±0.03) ( P<0.01). The TRAP staining results showed that the RAW264.7 cells in the osteoclastic induction group differentiated to giant multinucleated osteoclasts, and TRAP protein was expressed in large quantity in the osteoclasts. The results of qPCR showed that the relative expression level of TRAP in RAW264.7 cells in the osteoclastic induction group was 3.35±0.37, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.01±0.06) ( P<0.01). The relative expression level of CTSK in RAW264.7 cells was 3.46±0.79, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (1.01±0.05) ( P<0.01). The relative expression level of DC-STAMP in RAW264.7 cells was 1.92±0.12, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.98±0.08) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The double-layer bone-on-a-chip containing bone matrix is compact in structure, can be cultured in vitro for a long time, has good biocompatibility and can be used for inducing osteogenic and osteoclast differentiation. Therefore, it is expected to provide a new research platform for exploring the mechanism of osteoporosis and medication screening.