Comparative Study of Basement-membrane Matrices for Human Stem Cell Maintenance and Intestinal Organoid Generation.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a critical role in cell behavior and development. Organoids generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are in the spotlight of many research areas. However, the lack of physiological cues in classical cell culture materials hinders efficient iPSC differentiation. Incorporating commercially available ECM into stem cell culture provides physical and chemical cues beneficial for cell maintenance. Animal-derived commercially available basement membrane products are composed of ECM proteins and growth factors that support cell maintenance. Since the ECM holds tissue-specific properties that can modulate cell fate, xeno-free matrices are used to stream up translation to clinical studies. While commercially available matrices are widely used in hiPSC and organoid work, the equivalency of these matrices has not been evaluated yet. Here, a comparative study of hiPSC maintenance and human intestinal organoids (hIO) generation in four different matrices: Matrigel (Matrix 1-AB), Geltrex (Matrix 2-AB), Cultrex (Matrix 3-AB), and VitroGel (Matrix 4-XF) was conducted. Although the colonies lacked a perfectly round shape, there was minimal spontaneous differentiation, with over 85% of the cells expressing the stem cell marker SSEA-4. Matrix 4-XF led to the formation of 3D round clumps. Also, increasing the concentration of supplement and growth factors in the media used to make the Matrix 4-XF hydrogel solution improved hiPSC expression of SSEA-4 by 1.3-fold. Differentiation of Matrix 2-AB -maintained hiPSC led to fewer spheroid releases during the mid-/hindgut stage compared to the other animal-derived basement membranes. Compared to others, the xeno-free organoid matrix (Matrix 4-O3) leads to larger and more mature hIO, suggesting that the physical properties of xeno-free hydrogels can be harnessed to optimize organoid generation. Altogether, the results suggest that variations in the composition of different matrices affect stages of IO differentiation. This study raises awareness about the differences in commercially available matrices and provides a guide for matrix optimization during iPSC and IO work.

Chitin whisker/chitosan liquid crystal hydrogel assisted scaffolds with bone-like ECM microenvironment for bone regeneration.

Natural bone exhibits a complex anisotropic and micro-nano hierarchical structure, more importantly, bone extracellular matrix (ECM) presents liquid crystal (LC) phase and viscoelastic characteristics, providing a unique microenvironment for guiding cell behavior and regulating osteogenesis. However, in bone tissue engineering scaffolds, the construction of bone-like ECM microenvironment with exquisite microstructure is still a great challenge. Here, we developed a novel polysaccharide LC hydrogel supported 3D printed poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) scaffold with bone-like ECM microenvironment and micro-nano aligned structure. First, we prepared a chitin whisker/chitosan polysaccharide LC precursor, and then infuse it into the pores of 3D printed PLLA scaffold, which was previously surface modified with a polydopamine layer. Next, the LC precursor was chemical cross-linked by genipin to form a hydrogel network with bone-like ECM viscoelasticity and LC phase in the scaffold. Subsequently, we performed directional freeze-casting on the composite scaffold to create oriented channels in the LC hydrogel. Finally, we soaked the composite scaffold in phytic acid to further physical cross-link the LC hydrogel through electrostatic interactions and impart antibacterial effects to the scaffold. The resultant biomimetic scaffold displays osteogenic activity, vascularization ability and antibacterial effect, and is expected to be a promising candidate for bone repair.

Spatial cell fate manipulation of human pluripotent stem cells by controlling the microenvironment using photocurable hydrogel.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) dynamically respond to their chemical and physical microenvironment, dictating their behavior. However, conventional in vitro studies predominantly employ plastic culture wares, which offer a simplified representation of the in vivo microenvironment. Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of mechanical and topological cues in hPSC differentiation and maintenance. In this study, we cultured hPSCs on hydrogel substrates with spatially controlled stiffness. The use of culture substrates that enable precise manipulation of spatial mechanical properties holds promise for better mimicking in vivo conditions and advancing tissue engineering techniques. We designed a photocurable polyethylene glycol-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-PEG) hydrogel, allowing the spatial control of surface stiffness and geometry at a micrometer scale. This versatile hydrogel can be functionalized with various extracellular matrix proteins. Laminin 511-functionalized PVA-PEG gel effectively supports the growth and differentiation of hPSCs. Moreover, by spatially modulating the stiffness of the patterned gel, we achieved spatially selective cell differentiation, resulting in the generation of intricate patterned structures.

Development, characterization and Lactobacillus plantarum encapsulating ability of novel C-phycocyanin-pectin-polyphenol based hydrogels.

In this study, it was found that the enhancement in the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum under gastrointestinal conditions by encapsulating them within novel C-Phycocyanin-pectin based hydrogels (from 5.7 to 7.1 log/CFU). The hardness, the strength and the stability of the hydrogels increased when the protein concentration was increased. In addition, the addition of resveratrol (RES), and tannic acid (TA) could improve the hardness (from 595.4 to 608.3 and 637.0 g) and WHC (from 93.9 to 94.2 and 94.8 %) of the hydrogels. The addition of gallic acid (GA) enhanced the hardness (675.0 g) of the hydrogels, but the WHC (86.2 %) was decreased. During simulated gastrointestinal conditions and refrigerated storage, the addition of TA enhanced the viable bacteria counts (from 6.8 and 8.0 to 7.5 and 8.5 log/CFU) of Lactobacillus plantarum. Furthermore, TA and GA are completely encased by the protein-pectin gel as an amorphous state, while RA is only partially encased.

Recent advances on biomedical applications of gellan gum: A review.

Gellan gum (GG) has attracted considerable attention as a versatile biopolymer with numerous potential biological applications, especially in the fields of tissue engineering, wound healing, and cargo delivery. Due to its distinctive characteristics like biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, and gel-forming ability, GG is well-suited for these applications. This review focuses on recent research on GG-based hydrogels and biocomposites and their biomedical applications. It discusses the incorporation of GG into hydrogels for controlled drug release, its role in promoting wound healing processes, and its potential in tissue engineering for various tissues including bone, retina, cartilage, vascular, adipose, and cardiac tissue. It provides an in-depth analysis of the latest findings and advancements in these areas, making it a valuable resource for researchers and professionals in these fields.

Local thiamet-G delivery by a thermosensitive hydrogel confers ischemic cardiac repair via myeloid M2-like activation in a STAT6 O-GlcNAcylation-dependent manner.

Infarct healing requires a dynamic and orchestrated inflammatory reaction following myocardial infarction (MI). While an uncontrolled excessive inflammatory response exaggerates ischemic injury post-MI, M2-like reparative macrophages may facilitate inflammation regression and promote myocardial healing. However, how protein post-translational modification regulates post-MI cardiac repair and dynamic myeloid activation remains unknown. Here we show that M2-like reparative, but not M1-like inflammatory activation, is enhanced by pharmacologically-induced hyper-O-GlcNAcylation. Mechanistically, myeloid knockdown of O-GlcNAc hydrolase O-GlcNAcase (Oga), which also results in hyper-O-GlcNAcylation, positively regulates M2-like activation in a STAT6-dependent fashion, which is controlled by O-GlcNAcylation of STAT6. Of note, both systemic and local supplementation of thiamet-G (TMG), an Oga inhibitor, effectively facilitates cardiac recovery in mice by elevating the accumulation of M2-like macrophages in infarcted hearts. Our study provides a novel clue for monocyte/macrophage modulating therapies aimed at reducing post-MI hyperinflammation in ischemic myocardium.

Multipatterned Chondrocytes' Scaffolds by FL-MOPL with a BSA-GMA Hydrogel to Regulate Chondrocytes' Morphology.

Repairing articular cartilage damage is challenging due to its low regenerative capacity. In vitro, cartilage regeneration is a potential strategy for the functional reconstruction of cartilage defects. A hydrogel is an advanced material for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) due to its hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, which is known as an ideal scaffold for cartilage regeneration. However, chondrocyte culture in vitro tends to dedifferentiate, leading to fibrosis and reduced mechanical properties of the newly formed cartilage tissue. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of modulating the chondrocytes' morphology. In this study, we synthesize photo-cross-linkable bovine serum albumin-glycidyl methacrylate (BSA-GMA) with 65% methacrylation. The scaffolds are found to be suitable for chondrocyte growth, which are fabricated by homemade femtosecond laser maskless optical projection lithography (FL-MOPL). The large-area chondrocyte scaffolds have holes with interior angles of triangle (T), quadrilateral (Q), pentagon (P), hexagonal (H), and round (R). The FL-MOPL polymerization mechanism, swelling, degradation, and biocompatibility of the BSA-GMA hydrogel have been investigated. Furthermore, cytoskeleton and nucleus staining reveals that the R-scaffold with larger interior angle is more effective in maintaining chondrocyte morphology and preventing dedifferentiation. The scaffold's ability to maintain the chondrocytes' morphology improves as its shape matches that of the chondrocytes. These results suggest that the BSA-GMA scaffold is a suitable candidate for preventing chondrocyte differentiation and supporting cartilage tissue repair and regeneration. The proposed method for chondrocyte in vitro culture by developing biocompatible materials and flexible fabrication techniques would broaden the potential application of chondrocyte transplants as a viable treatment for cartilage-related diseases.

Modulation of Stiffness-Dependent Macrophage Inflammatory Responses by Collagen Deposition.

Macrophages are innate immune cells that interact with complex extracellular matrix environments, which have varied stiffness, composition, and structure, and such interactions can lead to the modulation of cellular activity. Collagen is often used in the culture of immune cells, but the effects of substrate functionalization conditions are not typically considered. Here, we show that the solvent system used to attach collagen onto a hydrogel surface affects its surface distribution and organization, and this can modulate the responses of macrophages subsequently cultured on these surfaces in terms of their inflammatory activation and expression of adhesion and mechanosensitive molecules. Collagen was solubilized in either acetic acid (Col-AA) or N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) (Col-HEP) solutions and conjugated onto soft and stiff polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogel surfaces. Bone marrow-derived macrophages cultured under standard conditions (pH 7.4) on the Col-HEP-derived surfaces exhibited stiffness-dependent inflammatory activation; in contrast, the macrophages cultured on Col-AA-derived surfaces expressed high levels of inflammatory cytokines and genes, irrespective of the hydrogel stiffness. Among the collagen receptors that were examined, leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) was the most highly expressed, and knockdown of the Lair-1 gene enhanced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. We found that the collagen distribution was more homogeneous on Col-AA surfaces but formed aggregates on Col-HEP surfaces. The macrophages cultured on Col-AA PA hydrogels were more evenly spread, expressed higher levels of vinculin, and exerted higher traction forces compared to those of cells on Col-HEP. These macrophages on Col-AA also had higher nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios of yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), key molecules that control inflammation and sense substrate stiffness. Our results highlight that seemingly slight variations in substrate deposition for immunobiology studies can alter critical immune responses, and this is important to elucidate in the broader context of immunomodulatory biomaterial design.

Remodelers of the vascular microenvironment: The effect of biopolymeric hydrogels on vascular diseases.

Vascular disease is the leading health problem worldwide. Vascular microenvironment encompasses diverse cell types, including those within the vascular wall, blood cells, stromal cells, and immune cells. Initiation of the inflammatory state of the vascular microenvironment and changes in its mechanics can profoundly affect vascular homeostasis. Biomedical materials play a crucial role in modern medicine, hydrogels, characterized by their high-water content, have been increasingly utilized as a three-dimensional interaction network. In recent times, the remarkable progress in utilizing hydrogels and understanding vascular microenvironment have enabled the treatment of vascular diseases. In this review, we give an emphasis on the utilization of hydrogels and their advantages in the various vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, aneurysm, vascular ulcers of the lower limbs and myocardial infarction. Further, we highlight the importance and advantages of hydrogels as artificial microenvironments.

Osteoinductive Dental Pulp Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicle-Loaded Multifunctional Hydrogel for Bone Regeneration.

Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) show great potential for promoting bone tissue regeneration. However, normal EVs (Nor-EVs) have a limited ability to direct tissue-specific regeneration. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the osteogenic capacity of EV-based systems for repairing extensive bone defects. Herein, we show that hydrogels loaded with osteoinductive dental pulp stem cell-derived EVs (Ost-EVs) enhanced bone tissue remodeling, resulting in a 2.23 ± 0.25-fold increase in the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) compared to the hydrogel control group. Moreover, Ost-EVs led to a higher expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (1.88 ± 0.16 of Ost-EVs relative to Nor-EVs) and the formation of orange-red calcium nodules (1.38 ± 0.10 of Ost-EVs relative to Nor-EVs) in vitro. RNA sequencing revealed that Ost-EVs showed significantly high miR-1246 expression. An ideal hydrogel implant should also adhere to surrounding moist tissues. In this study, we were drawn to mussel-inspired adhesive modification, where the hydrogel carrier was crafted from hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyethylene glycol derivatives, showcasing impressive tissue adhesion, self-healing capabilities, and the ability to promote bone growth. The modified HA (mHA) hydrogel was also responsive to environmental stimuli, making it an effective carrier for delivering EVs. In an ectopic osteogenesis animal model, the Ost-EV/hydrogel system effectively alleviated inflammation, accelerated revascularization, and promoted tissue mineralization. We further used a rat femoral condyle defect model to evaluate the in situ osteogenic ability of the Ost-EVs/hydrogel system. Collectively, our results suggest that Ost-EVs combined with biomaterial-based hydrogels hold promising potential for treating bone defects.

[Extracellular Matrix Stiffness Induces Mitochondrial Morphological Heterogeneity via AMPK Activation]. / 细胞外基质硬度通过AMPK调控干细胞线粒体的形态异质性.

Objective: To investigate the mechanical responses of mitochondrial morphology to extracellular matrix stiffness in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of mitochondrial mechanoresponses. Methods: Two polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels, a soft one with a Young's modulus of 1 kPa and a stiff one of 20 kPa, were prepared by changing the monomer concentrations of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide. Then, hMSCs were cultured on the soft and stiff PAAm hydrogels and changes in mitochondrial morphology were observed using a laser confocal microscope. Western blot was performed to determine the expression and activation of AMPK, a protein associated with mitochondrial homeostasis. Furthermore, the activation of AMPK was regulated on the soft and stiff matrixes by AMPK activator A-769662 and the inhibitor Compound C, respectively, to observe the morphological changes of mitochondria. Results: The morphology of the mitochondria in hMSCs showed heterogeneity when there was a change in gel stiffness. On the 1 kPa soft matrix, 74% mitochondria exhibited a dense, elongated filamentous network structure, while on the 20 kPa stiff matrix, up to 63.3% mitochondria were fragmented or punctate and were sparsely distributed. Western blot results revealed that the phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK)/AMPK ratio on the stiff matrix was 1.6 times as high as that on the soft one. Immunofluorescence assay results revealed that the expression of p-AMPK was elevated on the hard matrix and showed nuclear localization, which indicated that the activation of intracellular AMPK increased continuously along with the increase in extracellular matrix stiffness. When the hMSCs on the soft matrix were treated with A-769662, an AMPK activator, the mitochondria transitioned from a filamentous network morphology to a fragmented morphology, with the ratio of filamentous network decreasing from 74% to 9.5%. Additionally, AMPK inhibition with Compound C promoted mitochondrial fusion on the stiff matrix and significantly reduced the generation of punctate mitochondria. Conclusion: Extracellular matrix stiffness regulates mitochondrial morphology in hMSCs through the activation of AMPK. Stiff matrix promotes the AMPK activation, resulting in mitochondrial fission and the subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. The impact of matrix stiffness on mitochondrial morphology can be reversed by altering the level of AMPK phosphorylation.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide based hyaluronic acid methacryloyl hybrid hydrogel regulating stem cells fate for bone regeneration via SIRT1/RUNX2 signaling.

Efficient bone reconstruction, especially of the critical size after bone damage, remains a challenge in the clinic. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) osteogenic differentiation is considered as a promising strategy for bone repair. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) regulating BMSC fate and cellular function enhance osteogenesis, but is hardly delivered and lack of targeting. Herein, a novel and biocompatible scaffold was fabricated to locally deliver a precursor of NAD+, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) to the bone defect site, and its bone repair capability and healing mechanism were clarified. NMN-based hyaluronic acid methacryloyl hybrid hydrogel scaffold (denoted as NMN/HAMA) was prepared via photopolymerization. In vitro RT-qPCR analysis, western blotting, Elisa and alizarin red S staining assays demonstrated that the NMN/HAMA hybrid hydrogel regulated BMSCs cellular function in favour of osteogenic differentiation and mineralization by upregulating the mRNA and proteins expression of the osteogenic genes type I pro-collagen (Col-1), bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) via the SIRT1 pathway. Implantation of such hybrid hydrogels significantly enhanced bone regeneration in rodent critical calvarial defect models. Furthermore, restoration of the bone defect with NMN administration was inhibited in Prx1 Cre+; SIRT1flox/flox mice, confirming that the NMN/HAMA hybrid hydrogel scaffold promoted bone regeneration via the SIRT1-RUNX2 pathway. These results imply that NMN-based scaffold may be a promising and economic strategy for the treatment of bone defects.

Chitosan Hydrogel Dressing Loaded with Adipose Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Promotes Skin Full-Thickness Wound Repair.

Cutaneous trauma repair is still a challenge in the clinic due to the scar formation and slow healing rate, especially for diabetic patients. Various drug-loading wound dressings have been explored to solve this problem. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes have been considered as a potential cell-free drug because of their anti-inflammation function and tissue repair property that are comparable to that of MSCs. Herein, a composite wound dressing (Exo/Gel) consisting of the chitosan hydrogel and adipose MSC-derived exosome (ADMSC-Exo) was designed and fabricated by a physical mixing method to promote the skin full-thickness wound repair. The exosomes were slowly released from the Exo/Gel dressing with the degradation of the chitosan hydrogel. The Exo/Gel displayed enhanced cell migration and angiogenic properties in vitro. And the results in the rat skin wound model showed that the Exo/Gel could promote the regular collagen deposition, angiogenesis, and hair follicle mosaicism regeneration. These results proved that the hydrogel dressing with ADMSCs-derived exosomes can accelerate skin wound healing, which is a strategy for developing wound dressings.

3D culture of alginate-hyaluronic acid hydrogel supports the stemness of human mesenchymal stem cells.

The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system is being employed more frequently to investigate cell engineering and tissue repair due to its close mimicry of in vivo microenvironments. In this study, we developed natural biomaterials, including hyaluronic acid, alginate, and gelatin, to mimic the creation of a 3D human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) extracellular environment and selected hydrogels with high proliferation capacity for 3D MSC culture. Human mesenchymal stem cells were encapsulated within hydrogels, and an investigation was conducted into the effects on cell viability and proliferation, stemness properties, and telomere activity compared to the 2D monolayer culture. Hydrogel characterization, cell proliferation, Live/Dead cell viability assay, gene expression, telomere relative length, and MSC stemness-related proteins by immunofluorescence staining were examined. The results showed that 3D alginate-hyaluronic acid (AL-HA) hydrogels increased cell proliferation, and the cells were grown as cellular spheroids within hydrogels and presented a high survival rate of 77.36% during the culture period of 14 days. Furthermore, the 3D alginate-hyaluronic acid (AL-HA) hydrogels increased the expression of stemness-related genes (OCT-4, NANOG, SOX2, and SIRT1), tissue growth and development genes (YAP and TAZ), and cell proliferation gene (Ki67) after culture for 14 days. Moreover, the telomere activity of the 3D MSCs was enhanced, as indicated by the upregulation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (hTERT) and the relative telomere length (T/S ratio) compared to the 2D monolayer culture. Altogether, these data suggest that the 3D alginate-hyaluronic acid (AL-HA) hydrogels could serve as a promising material for maintaining stem cell properties and might be a suitable carrier for tissue engineering proposals.

Exploration of the Delivery of Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus by Gelatin Methacryloyl Microneedles.

Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus is a new type of cancer immunotherapy drug. This paper proposes a scheme for delivering oncolytic viruses using hydrogel microneedles. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) was synthesized by chemical grafting, and GelMA microneedles encapsulating oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were prepared by micro-molding and photocrosslinking. The release and expression of NDV were tested by immunofluorescence and hemagglutination experiments. The experiments proved that GelMA was successfully synthesized and had hydrogel characteristics. NDV was evenly dispersed in the allantoic fluid without agglomeration, showing a characteristic virus morphology. NDV particle size was 257.4 ± 1.4 nm, zeta potential was -13.8 ± 0.5 mV, virus titer TCID50 was 107.5/mL, and PFU was 2 × 107/mL, which had a selective killing effect on human liver cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The NDV@GelMA microneedles were arranged in an orderly cone array, with uniform height and complete needle shape. The distribution of virus-like particles was observed on the surface. GelMA microneedles could successfully penetrate 5% agarose gel and nude mouse skin. Optimal preparation conditions were freeze-drying. We successfully prepared GelMA hydrogel microneedles containing NDV, which could effectively encapsulate NDV but did not detect the release of NDV.

Injectable Tissue-Specific Hydrogel System for Pulp-Dentin Regeneration.

The quest for finding a suitable scaffold system that supports cell survival and function and, ultimately, the regeneration of the pulp-dentin complex remains challenging. Herein, we hypothesized that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) encapsulated in a collagen-based hydrogel with varying stiffness would regenerate functional dental pulp and dentin when concentrically injected into the tooth slices. Collagen hydrogels with concentrations of 3 mg/mL (Col3) and 10 mg/mL (Col10) were prepared, and their stiffness and microstructure were assessed using a rheometer and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. DPSCs were then encapsulated in the hydrogels, and their viability and differentiation capacity toward endothelial and odontogenic lineages were evaluated using live/dead assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. For in vivo experiments, DPSC-encapsulated collagen hydrogels with different stiffness, with or without growth factors, were injected into pulp chambers of dentin tooth slices and implanted subcutaneously in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Specifically, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF [50 ng/mL]) was loaded into Col3 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP2 [50 ng/mL]) into Col10. Pulp-dentin regeneration was evaluated by histological and immunofluorescence staining. Data were analyzed using 1-way or 2-way analysis of variance accordingly (α = 0.05). Rheology and microscopy data revealed that Col10 had a stiffness of 8,142 Pa with a more condensed and less porous structure, whereas Col3 had a stiffness of 735 Pa with a loose microstructure. Furthermore, both Col3 and Col10 supported DPSCs' survival. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed Col3 promoted significantly higher von Willebrand factor (VWF) and CD31 expression after 7 and 14 d under endothelial differentiation conditions (P < 0.05), whereas Col10 enhanced the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and collagen 1 (Col1) after 7, 14, and 21 d of odontogenic differentiation (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence (CD31 and vWF) staining revealed Col10+Col3+DPSCs+GFs enhanced pulp-dentin tissue regeneration. In conclusion, the collagen-based concentric construct modified by growth factors guided the specific lineage differentiation of DPSCs and promoted pulp-dentin tissue regeneration in vivo.

A Combination of Heavy Metals and Intracellular Pathway Modulators Induces Alzheimer Disease-like Pathologies in Organotypic Brain Slices.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid-beta (Aß) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Modelling aspects of AD is challenging due to its complex multifactorial etiology and pathology. The present study aims to establish a cost-effective and rapid method to model the two primary pathologies in organotypic brain slices. Coronal hippocampal brain slices (150 µm) were generated from postnatal (day 8-10) C57BL6 wild-type mice and cultured for 9 weeks. Collagen hydrogels containing either an empty load or a mixture of human Aß42 and P301S aggregated tau were applied to the slices. The media was further supplemented with various intracellular pathway modulators or heavy metals to augment the appearance of Aß plaques and tau NFTs, as assessed by immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity for Aß and tau was significantly increased in the ventral areas in slices with a mixture of human Aß42 and P301S aggregated tau compared to slices with empty hydrogels. Aß plaque- and tau NFT-like pathologies could be induced independently in slices. Heavy metals (aluminum, lead, cadmium) potently augmented Aß plaque-like pathology, which developed intracellularly prior to cell death. Intracellular pathway modulators (scopolamine, wortmannin, MHY1485) significantly boosted tau NFT-like pathologies. A combination of nanomolar concentrations of scopolamine, wortmannin, MHY1485, lead, and cadmium in the media strongly increased Aß plaque- and tau NFT-like immunoreactivity in ventral areas compared to the slices with non-supplemented media. The results highlight that we could harness the potential of the collagen hydrogel-based spreading of human Aß42 and P301S aggregated tau, along with pharmacological manipulation, to produce pathologies relevant to AD. The results offer a novel ex vivo organotypic slice model to investigate AD pathologies with potential applications for screening drugs or therapies in the future.

Multi-domain automated patterning of DNA-functionalized hydrogels.

DNA-functionalized hydrogels are capable of sensing oligonucleotides, proteins, and small molecules, and specific DNA sequences sensed in the hydrogels' environment can induce changes in these hydrogels' shape and fluorescence. Fabricating DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures with multiple domains could make it possible to sense multiple molecules and undergo more complicated macroscopic changes, such as changing fluorescence or changing the shapes of regions of the hydrogel architecture. However, automatically fabricating multi-domain DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures, capable of enabling the construction of hydrogel architectures with tens to hundreds of different domains, presents a significant challenge. We describe a platform for fabricating multi-domain DNA-functionalized hydrogels automatically at the micron scale, where reaction and diffusion processes can be coupled to program material behavior. Using this platform, the hydrogels' material properties, such as shape and fluorescence, can be programmed, and the fabricated hydrogels can sense their environment. DNA-functionalized hydrogel architectures with domain sizes as small as 10 microns and with up to 4 different types of domains can be automatically fabricated using ink volumes as low as 50 µL. We also demonstrate that hydrogels fabricated using this platform exhibit responses similar to those of DNA-functionalized hydrogels fabricated using other methods by demonstrating that DNA sequences can hybridize within them and that they can undergo DNA sequence-induced shape change.

Controlling placental spheroid growth and phenotype using engineered synthetic hydrogel matrices.

The human placenta is a complex organ comprised of multiple trophoblast subtypes, and inadequate models to study the human placenta in vitro limit the current understanding of human placental behavior and development. Common in vitro placental models rely on two-dimensional culture of cell lines and primary cells, which do not replicate the native tissue microenvironment, or poorly defined three-dimensional hydrogel matrices such as Matrigel™ that provide limited environmental control and suffer from high batch-to-batch variability. Here, we employ a highly defined, synthetic poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel system with tunable degradability and presentation of extracellular matrix-derived adhesive ligands native to the placenta microenvironment to generate placental spheroids. We evaluate the capacity of a hydrogel library to support the viability, function, and phenotypic protein expression of three human trophoblast cell lines modeling varied trophoblast phenotypes and find that degradable synthetic hydrogels support the greatest degree of placental spheroid viability, proliferation, and function relative to standard Matrigel controls. Finally, we show that trophoblast culture conditions modulate cell functional phenotype as measured by proteomics analysis and functional secretion assays. Engineering precise control of placental spheroid development in vitro may provide an important new tool for the study of early placental behavior and development.

Effectiveness of chitosan nanohydrogel mediated encapsulation of EcR dsRNA against the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Asia-I (Gennedius) (Hemiptera: Aleyordidae).

Bemisia tabaci is a global invasive pest causing substantial loss on several economically important crops and has developed a very high level of resistance to insecticides making current management practices ineffective. Thus, the novel pest management strategy like RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a potential molecular tool in the management of insect pests particularly B. tabaci. The present study investigated RNAi mediated silencing of the Ecdysone Receptor (EcR) gene in B. tabaci Asia-I using biodegradable Chitosan Nanoparticles (CNPs) hydrogel containing EcR dsRNA. The formation of nanohydrogel and dsRNA loading were characterized by gel retardation assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM); transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR). The stability of CNPs/dsRNA was assessed by exposure to direct sunlight and UV light for different time periods. The CNPs/dsRNA exhibited increased stability over the untreated control and further confirmed by bioassay studies which yielded mortality over 80% and effectively down regulated the expression of the EcR gene as confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. These investigations provide potential avenues for advancing innovative pest management strategies using biopolymer CNPs hydrogel, which can enhance the efficiency of dsRNA as a safe and targeted solution in the management of whiteflies.