| 1. |
- Kozhevnikov, Evgeny, et al.
(författare)
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A dual-transduction-integrated biosensing system to examine the 3D cell-culture for bone regeneration
- 2019
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Ingår i: Biosensors & bioelectronics. - : ELSEVIER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY. - 0956-5663 .- 1873-4235. ; 141
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures developed with living cells and scaffolds have demonstrated outstanding potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, no suitable tools are available to monitor dynamically variable cell behavior in such a complex microenvironment. In particular, simultaneously assessing cell behavior, cell secretion, and the general state of a 3D culture system is of a really challenging task. This paper presents our development of a dual-transduction-integrated biosensing system that assesses electrical impedance in conjunction with imaging techniques to simultaneously investigate the 3D cell-culture for bone regeneration. First, we created models to mimic the dynamic deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in 3D culture, which underwent osteogenesis by incorporating different amounts of bone-ECM components (collagen, hydroxyapatite [HAp], and hyaluronic acid [HA]) into alginate-based hydrogels. The formed models were investigated by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), with the results showing that the impedances increased linearly with collagen and hyaluronan, but changed in a more complex manner with HAp. Thereafter, we created two models that consisted of primary osteoblast cells (OBs), which expressed the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and 4T1 cells, which secreted the EGFP-HA, in the alginate hydrogel. We found the capacitance (associated with impedance and measured by EIS) increased with the increases in initial embedded OBs, and also confirmed the cell proliferation over 3 days with the EGFP signal as monitored by the fluorescent imaging component in our system. Interestingly, the change in capacitance is found to be associated with OB migration following stimulation. Also, we show higher capacitance in 4T1 cells that secret HA when compared to control 4T1 cells after a 3-day culture. Taken together, we demonstrate that our biosensing system is able to investigate the dynamic process of 3D culture in a non-invasive and real-time manner.
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| 2. |
- Schimpf, Ulrike, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of Oligo-Chitosan Biocompatibility toward Human Spermatozoa
- 2019
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Ingår i: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 1944-8244 .- 1944-8252. ; 11:50, s. 46572-46584
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The many interesting properties of chitosan polysaccharides have prompted their extensive use as biomaterial building blocks, for instance as antimicrobial coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery vehicles. The translation of these chitosan-based systems to the clinic still requires a deeper understanding of their safety profiles. For instance, the widespread claim that chitosans are spermicidal is supported by little to no data. Herein, we thoroughly investigate whether chitosan oligomer (CO) molecules can impact the functional and structural features of human spermatozoa. By using a large number of primary sperm cell samples and by isolating the effect of chitosan from the effect of sperm dissolution buffer, we provide the first realistic and complete picture of the effect of chitosans on sperms. We found that CO binds to cell surfaces or/and is internalized by cells and affected the average path velocity of the spermatozoa, in a dose-dependent manner. However, CO did not affect the progressive motility, motility, or sperm morphology, nor did it cause loss of plasma membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species production, or DNA damage. A decrease in spermatozoa adenosine triphosphate levels, which was especially significant at higher CO concentrations, points to possible interference of CO with mitochondrial functions or the glycolysis processes. With this first complete and in-depth look at the spermicidal activities of chitosans, we complement the complex picture of the safety profile of chitosans and inform on further use of chitosans in biomedical applications.
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| 3. |
- Yan, Hongji, et al.
(författare)
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Chondroitin Sulfate-Coated DNA-Nanoplexes Enhance Transfection Efficiency by Controlling Plasmid Release from Endosomes : A New Insight into Modulating Nonviral Gene Transfection
- 2015
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Ingår i: Advanced Functional Materials. - : Wiley. - 1616-301X .- 1616-3028. ; 25:25, s. 3907-3915
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Degradation of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in the endosome compartment and its release to the cytosol are the major hurdles for efficient gene transfection. This is generally addressed by using transfection reagents that can overcome these limitations. In this article, the first report is presented which suggests that controlling the release of pDNA from endosome is the key for achieving efficient transfection. In this study, chondroitin sulfate (CS)-coated DNA-nanoplexes are developed using a modular approach where CS is coated post-pDNA/PEI nanoplex formation. To ensure good stability of the nanoplexes, imine/enamine chemistry is exploited by reacting aldehyde-modified chondroitin sulfate (CS-CHO) with free amines of pDNA/PEI complex. This supramolecular nanocarrier system displays efficient cellular uptake, and controlled endosomal pDNA release without eliciting any cytotoxicity. On the contrary, burst release of pDNA from endosome (using chloroqine) results in significant reduction in gene expression. Unlike pDNA/PEI-based transfection, the nanoparticle design presented here shows exceptional stability and gene transfection efficiency in different cell lines such as human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116), human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293), and mouse skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using luciferase protein as a reporter gene. This new insight will be valuable in designing next generation of transfection reagents.
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| 4. |
- Yan, Hongji, et al.
(författare)
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Immune-Informed Mucin Hydrogels Evade Fibrotic Foreign Body Response In Vivo
- 2019
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Ingår i: Advanced Functional Materials. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1616-301X .- 1616-3028.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The immune-mediated foreign body response to biomaterial implants can trigger the formation of insulating fibrotic capsules that can compromise implant function. To address this challenge, the intrinsic bioactivity of the mucin biopolymer, a heavily glycosylated protein that forms the protective mucus gel covering mucosal epithelia, is leveraged. By using a bioorthogonal inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction, mucins are crosslinked into implantable hydrogels. It is shown that mucin hydrogels (Muc-gels) modulate the immune response driving biomaterial-induced fibrosis. Muc-gels do not elicit fibrosis 21 days after implantation in the peritoneal cavity of C57Bl/6 mice, whereas medical-grade alginate hydrogels are covered by fibrous tissues. Further, Muc-gels dampen the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells to the gel and trigger a pattern of very mild activation marked by a noticeably low expression of the fibrosis-stimulating transforming growth factor beta 1 cytokine. Macrophages recruited to Muc-gels upregulate the gene expression of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT 1 (PIAS1) and SH2-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) cytokine regulatory proteins, which likely contributes to their low cytokine expression profiles. With this advance in mucin materials, an essential tool is provided to better understand mucin bioactivities and to initiate the development of new mucin-based and mucin-inspired "immune-informed" materials for implantable devices subject to fibrotic encapsulation.
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| 5. |
- Yan, Hongji, 1986-
(författare)
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New insights into principles of scaffolds design for bone application
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis presents deeper insights into bone applicable biomaterials’ design. Poor affinity of BMP-2 towards scaffolds required supra-physiological dose administration. Though molecules containing sulfate could sustain BMP-2 release, side effects occurred due to BMP-2 supra-dose, or these sulfate-containing biomolecules.Improved affinity between BMP-2 and scaffolds was first witnessed by using an acidic carrier (paper I). Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrazone derived hydrogels having a pH of 4.5-loaded BMP-2 showed sustained release of bioactive BMP-2 in vitro and enhanced bone formation in vivo, while pH 7 HA hydrogels showed Fickian behavior and less bone formation in vivo. Computational evaluation revealed stronger electrostatic interactions between BMP-2, and HA were predominant at pH 4.5, whereas, weaker Van der Waals interactions played a key role at pH 7.During the pre-bone formation phase, endogenous cell responses to pH 4.5 and 7 with or without BMP-2 were investigated. HA hydrogels exhibited extraordinary biocompatibility and recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and stromal cells regardless of hydrogels’ pH and BMP-2 presence. The different inflammatory responses to HA hydrogels were observed (Appendix).Thiol derivatives can cleave the disulfide bond of BMP-2 to generate inactive monomeric BMP-2. In paper II, thiol-acrylate chemistry-based HA hydrogels (HA-SH) were compared to hydrazone-based HA hydrogels as BMP-2 carriers. Thiol modified HA disrupted BMP-2 integrity and bioactivity. HA-SH hydrogels with BMP-2 exhibited less bioactive BMP-2 release in vitro and induced less bone formation in vivo.Accumulated evidence has shown great osteogenic potential of lithium ions (Li). In paper III, we coordinated Li onto HA-PVA hydrazone hydrogels (Li-gel); Li-gel enhanced 3D cultured hMSCs osteogenic differentiation and induced higher bone formation in CAM defect model.Instead of BMP-2 protein, delivery of BMP-2-coding-plasmid can produce BMP-2 over a long term at a closer physiological level. Yet, efficient gene delivery reagents are needed. In paper IV, two novel gene delivery nanoplexes were developed by post coating DNA-nanoplexes with chondroitin sulfate (CS). To ensure the stability, aldehyde-modified CS (CS-CHO) reacted with free amines of pDNA/PEI complexes. We provided first evidence that CS-CHO coated nanoplexes controlled the release from endosomes, which is essential for higher transfection efficiency.
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| 6. |
- Yan, Hongji, et al.
(författare)
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Reversible Condensation of Mucins into Nanoparticles
- 2018
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 34:45, s. 13615-13625
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mucins are high molar mass glycoproteins that assume an extended conformation and can assemble into mucus hydrogels that protect our mucosal epithelium. In nature, the challenging task of generating a mucus layer, several hundreds of micrometers in thickness, from micrometer-sized cells is elegantly solved by the condensation of mucins inside vesicles and their on-demand release from the cells where they suddenly expand to form the extracellular mucus hydrogel. We aimed to recreate and control the process of compaction for mucins, the first step toward a better understanding of the process and creating biomimetic in vivo delivery strategies of macromolecules. We found that by adding glycerol to the aqueous solvent, we could induce drastic condensation of purified mucin molecules, reducing their size by an order of magnitude down to tens of nanometers in diameter. The condensation effect of glycerol was fully reversible and could be further enhanced and partially stabilized by cationic cross-linkers such as calcium and polylysine. The change of structure of mucins from extended molecules to nano-sized particles in the presence of glycerol translated into macroscopic rheological changes, as illustrated by a dampened shear-thinning effect with increasing glycerol concentration. This work provides new insight into mucin condensation, which could lead to new delivery strategies mimicking cell release of macromolecules condensed in vesicles such as mucins and heparin.
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| 7. |
- Yan, Hongji, et al.
(författare)
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Synthetic design of growth factor sequestering extracellular matrix mimetic hydrogel for promoting in vivo bone formation
- 2018
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Ingår i: Biomaterials. - : Elsevier. - 0142-9612 .- 1878-5905. ; 161, s. 190-202
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Synthetic scaffolds that possess an intrinsic capability to protect and sequester sensitive growth factors is a primary requisite for developing successful tissue engineering strategies. Growth factors such as recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is highly susceptible to premature degradation and to provide a meaningful clinical outcome require high doses that can cause serious side effects. We discovered a unique strategy to stabilize and sequester rhBMP-2 by enhancing its molecular interactions with hyaluronic acid (HA), an extracellular matrix (ECM) component. We found that by tuning the initial protonation state of carboxylic acid residues of HA in a covalently crosslinked hydrogel modulate BMP-2 release at physiological pH by minimizing the electrostatic repulsion and maximizing the Van der Waals interactions. At neutral pH, BMP-2 release is primarily governed by Fickian diffusion, whereas at acidic pH both diffusion and electrostatic interactions between HA and BMP-2 become important as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. Our results were also validated in an in vivo rat ectopic model with rhBMP-2 loaded hydrogels, which demonstrated superior bone formation with acidic hydrogel as compared to the neutral counterpart. We believe this study provides new insight on growth factor stabilization and highlights the therapeutic potential of engineered matrices for rhBMP-2 delivery and may help to curtail the adverse side effects associated with the high dose of the growth factor.
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| 8. |
- Zhao, Yufang, et al.
(författare)
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Bioengineered tumor microenvironments with naked mole rats high-molecular-weight hyaluronan induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells
- 2019
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Ingår i: Oncogene. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0950-9232 .- 1476-5594. ; 38:22, s. 4297-4309
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The naked mole rat (nmr) is cancer resistant due to the abundant production of extremely high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (EHMW-HA). However, whether EHMW-HA has similar anti-cancer effects in mice and humans remains to be determined. The present study used breast cancer cells to clarify the effect of EHMW-HA on breast cancer. First, the overexpression of nmrHas2 in 4T1 and BT549 cell lines in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models to mimic tumor microenvironment was established. The 4T1/BT549-nmrHas2 cells could secrete EHMW-HA (with a molecular weight of up to 6 MDa), which was similar to that found in the naked mole rat. Second, EHMW-HA altering tumor microenvironment in both 2D monolayers and 3D spheroids significantly enhanced apoptosis, inhibiting the proliferation of 4T1 and BT549 cells. The prominent anticancer effects of EHMW-HA on the cancer-cell apoptosis phenotype were further confirmed by inhibiting tumor formation in nude mice. Finally, EHMW-HA significantly induced higher p53 protein expression, which enhanced pro-apoptotic proteins p21 and Bax in breast cancer cells; this is in contrast with the triggering of hypersensitivity of the naked mole rat cells to early contact inhibition (ECI). These results have important implications for the design of therapeutic approaches based on the application of EHMW-HA.
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| 9. |
- Zhao, Yufang, et al.
(författare)
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Hydrogels bearing bioengineered mimetic embryonic microenvironments for tumor reversion
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of materials chemistry. B. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-750X .- 2050-7518. ; 4:37, s. 6183-6191
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Embryonic microenvironments can reverse the metastatic phenotype of aggressive tumors by inhibiting the Nodal signaling pathway. Here, we hypothesize that embryonic microenvironments can be transplanted for the purpose of oncotherapy. We report the development of an injectable bioactive hydrogel system containing the key antagonists of Nodal signaling-Cripto-1 receptor antibodies (2B11)-for the creation of embryonic microenvironments and the examination of their effect on tumor reversion treatment using a mouse model. Our in vitro results show that the hydrogel system can reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, promote cell apoptosis, and reduce the invasive ability of cells. Our in vivo results illustrate that the hydrogel system can significantly inhibit tumor growth in both breast cancer and melanoma tumor-bearing mouse models, as well as transform the cell morphology of melanoma B16 cells to melanin-like cells. Furthermore, the results of the up-regulation of tumor suppressor genes and the down-regulation of oncogenes by high-throughput sequencing confirm that the developed system can also selectively turn on some tumor suppressor genes and turn off certain oncogenes so as to prompt the benign reversion of the tumor phenotype. Taken together, our results demonstrate the injectable biomaterial system is able to create an effective microenvironment for melanoma and breast tumor therapy.
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