Name: stepwise cell seeding on tessellated scaffolds to study sprouting blood vessels
Uploaded: 2021-01-14T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Stepwise Cell Seeding on Tessellated Scaffolds to Study Sprouting Blood Vessels at JoVE.com

This research was supported by funding from the University of Michigan - Israel Partnership for Research. The authors would like to thank Uri Merdler, Lior Debbi&#160;and Galia Ben David for their great assistance and support, Nadine Wang, Ph.D. and Pilar Herrera-Fierro, Ph.D. of the Lurie Nanofabrication Facility at the University of Michigan, as well as Luis Solorio, Ph.D. for enlightening discussions of photolithography techniques.

1. Tessellated scaffold fabrication
NOTE: Photolithography is a widespread technique that requires specialized equipment typically housed within a nanofabrication facility/laboratory. The method laid out in this protocol was generalized as much as possible for the audience; however, slight changes to procedures may be necessary depending on equipment available to the reader. We recommend performing these procedures in a clean room at a nanofabrication facility&#160;to ensure the highest process ...

<ol>
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The need for a rich vasculature within embedded in engineered tissues is critical for construct survival and proper function1. Although engineering the vascular system has been the focus of a vast amount of research, much is left to investigate and understand24. In particular, when recreating a specific tissue, the microvasculature should behave and organize accordingly12. The most common approach for microvessels generation is co-seeding endothelial...

The field of tissue engineering is rapidly progressing towards the fabrication of engineered constructs to replace missing or damaged organs and tissues1. However, fully functional constructs have yet to be achieved, in part, since generating operational vascular networks for tissue nourishment remains an outstanding challenge. Without proper vascularization, engineered tissues are limited to a passive diffusion transport of oxygen and nutrients, constraining the maximum viable tissue thickness to the diffusion limit, approximately 200 &#181;m2. Such thicknesses are not suitable to repair large tissue defects or for full organ fabrication, which renders the presence of functional vascular network a mandatory characteristic for functional and implantable tissues3.
The vascular system is comprised of a wide variety of blood vessels, with different sizes, phenotypes, and organization, tightly related to the host tissue. Understanding the behavior, response and migration decisions made by the developing and sprouting vessels can instruct their integration in engineered tissues4. Currently, the most common approach for creating in vitro vascular networks is combining endothelial cells (ECs) with support cells (SCs, with the capability to differentiate into mural cells), seeded within a three-dimensional micro-environment. This environment provides chemical and physical cues to allow the cells to attach, proliferate and self-assemble into vessel networks2,5,6,7,8. When co-cultured, SCs secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins while providing mechanical support to the ECs, which form the tubular structures. Furthermore, a cross-interaction between both cell types promote tubulogenesis, vessel sprouting and migration, in addition to the SCs maturation and differentiation into &#945;-smooth muscle actin-expressing (&#945;SMA) mural cells4. Vessel network development is most commonly studied in 3D environments created using hydrogels, porous polymeric scaffolds, or a combination thereof. The latter option equally provides a cell-friendly environment and the required mechanical support for both the cells and the ECM9.
A great amount of work has been carried out to study vascular development, including co-culturing the cells on hydrogels10, hydrogels-scaffold combinations11,12, 2D platforms, and microfluidic devices13. However, hydrogels can be easily deformed by the cell-exerted forces14, while 2D and microfluidics systems fail to recreate a closer-to-nature environment to obtain a more extrapolatable response15,16. Understanding how forming vessels react to their surrounding environment can provide critical insight that might allow for the fabrication of engineered environments with the capability of guiding the vessel development in a predictable manner. Understanding vascular formation phenomena is especially critical to keep pace with the rapid emergence of submicron-to-micron scale fabrication techniques, such as stereolithography, digital projection lithography, continuous liquid interface production, 3D melt-electro jetwriting, solution based 3D electro jet writing, and emerging bioprinting techniques17,18,19,20,21. Aligning the control of these micromanufacturing techniques with a deepened understanding of vascular biology is key to the creation of an appropriate engineered vasculature for a target tissue.
Here, we present a 3D system to study the response of new forming and sprouting vessels to the surrounding scaffold geometry, observing their sprout origin and subsequent migration22. By utilizing 3D scaffolds with tessellated compartment geometries, and a two-step seeding technique, we succeeded to create highly organized vascular networks in a clear and easy to analyze fashion. The tessellated geometries provide a high throughput system with individual units containing vessels that respond to their local environment. Using multicolored ECs, we tracked sprout formation origins and subsequent migration patterns, correlated to the compartment geometry and the SCs location22.
Although the proposed protocol has been prepared to analyze the effects of geometrical cues on vascularization behavior, this approach can be expanded and applied to a variety of new applications. The tessellated scaffold and the easily imageable networks allow for the straightforward analysis of different ECs and SCs interaction, the addition of specific organ cells and their interaction with the vascular networks, drug effect on vascular networks, and more. Our suggested system results very versatile and of simple fabrication and processing.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Angiotool freeware</td>
			<td>NIH-CCR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Free download at https://ccrod.cancer.gov/confluence/display/ROB2/Home</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine albumin serum Probumin</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>82-045-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dental pulp stem cells</td>
			<td>Lonza</td>
			<td>PT-5025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECM media + bullet kit</td>
			<td>Sciencell</td>
			<td>#1001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol 96%</td>
			<td>Gadot-Group</td>
			<td>64-17-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Evicel fibrin sealant</td>
			<td>Johnson&#38;Johnson</td>
			<td>EVB05IL</td>
			<td>Provides both thrombin and fibrinogen (BAC2) solutions</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-mouse Cy3 antibody</td>
			<td>Jackson</td>
			<td>115-166-072</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-rabbit Alexa-Fluor 488</td>
			<td>Thermo- Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A11034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human adipose microvascular cells</td>
			<td>Sciencell</td>
			<td>#7200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human fibronectin</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F0895-5MG</td>
			<td>Stock concentration: 1 mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ</td>
			<td>NIH</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Free download at https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isopropyl alcohol</td>
			<td>Gadot-Group</td>
			<td>67-63-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lift-off reagent</td>
			<td>Kayaku Advanced Materials, Inc</td>
			<td>G112850</td>
			<td>Commercial name Omnicoat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Low-glucose DMEM</td>
			<td>Biological Industries</td>
			<td>01-050-1A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-SMA antibody</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>M0851</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NEAA</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11140068</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde solution 4% in PBS</td>
			<td>ChemCruz</td>
			<td>SC-281692</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin-Nystatin Solution</td>
			<td>Biological Industries</td>
			<td>03-032-1B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phospate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P5368-10PAK</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-vWF antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab9378</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Silicon wafer</td>
			<td>Silicon Valley Microelectronics (SVM)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Wafers 4&#34;, Type N-1-10, 500-550 microns thick</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SU-8 2050 photoresist</td>
			<td>Kayaku Advanced Materials, Inc</td>
			<td>Y11058</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SU-8 developer</td>
			<td>Kayaku Advanced Materials, Inc</td>
			<td>Y020100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryton-X 100</td>
			<td>BioLab LTD</td>
			<td>57836</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

stepwise cell seeding on tessellated scaffolds to study sprouting blood vessels

The cardiovascular system is a key player in human physiology, providing nourishment to most tissues in the body; vessels are present in different sizes, structures, phenotypes, and performance depending on each specific perfused tissue. The field of tissue engineering, which aims to repair or replace damaged or missing body tissues, relies on controlled angiogenesis to create a proper vascularization within the engineered tissues. Without a vascular system, thick engineered constructs cannot be sufficiently nourished, which may result in cell death, poor engraftment, and ultimately failure. Thus, understanding and controlling the behavior of engineered blood vessels is an outstanding challenge in the field. This work presents a high-throughput system that allows for the creation of organized and repeatable vessel networks for studying vessel behavior in a 3D scaffold environment. This two-step seeding protocol shows that vessels within the system react to the scaffold topography, presenting distinctive sprouting behaviors depending on the compartment geometry in which the vessels reside. The obtained results and understanding from this high throughput system can be applied in order to inform better 3D bioprinted scaffold construct designs, wherein fabrication of various 3D geometries cannot be rapidly assessed when using 3D printing as the basis for cellularized biological environments. Furthermore, the understanding from this high throughput system may be utilized for the improvement of rapid drug screening, the rapid development of co-cultures models, and the investigation of mechanical stimuli on blood vessel formation to deepen the knowledge of the vascular system.

The presented protocol, using stereolithography techniques, allows for the fabrication of tessellated scaffolds made of SU-8 photoresist. Scaffolds with distinct compartment geometries (squares, hexagons, and circles), and highly accurate and repeatable features were obtained (Figure 1).
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/61995/61995fig01.jpg" /> 
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Stepwise Cell Seeding on Tessellated Scaffolds to Study Sprouting Blood Vessels

Engineered tissues heavily rely on proper vascular networks to provide vital nutrients and gases and remove metabolic waste. In this work, a stepwise seeding protocol of endothelial cells and support cells creates highly organized vascular networks in a high-throughput platform for studying developing vessel behavior in a controlled 3D environment.

The cardiovascular system is a key player in human physiology, providing nourishment to most tissues in the body; vessels are present in different sizes, ...

Our protocol allows researchers to study the vessel network formation process in a clear and easily trackable fashion, opening the doors to new studies and shedding light on blood vessel behavior. This technique presents the possibility of creating highly organized and repeatable vascular networks with respond to the surrounding environment. Endothelial cells from patients suffering from a vascular disease can be retrieved in using this system, making it possible to recreate the vascular disease and find an appropriate treatment.The proposed method can be extended for studying vascular network behavior when paired with different cell types, allowing to observe the interaction of developing vessels with a specific tissue type. Begin by submerging the scaffolds in 70%ethanol for a minimum of 15 minutes, then wash them twice in PBS. Mix 1.5 microliters of fibronectin stock solution with 28.5 microliters of PBS per scaffold to be seeded.Prepare one fibronectin dilution to be used for all scaffolds to avoid pipetting errors. Place the scaffolds sparsely on top of a hydrophobic surface and cover each scaffold with 30 microliters of the fibronectin dilution. Replace the plate's lid and put the fibronectin-covered scaffolds into an incubator set to 37 degrees Celsius and 100%humidity for a minimum of one hour.After incubation, lightly rinse the scaffolds in PBS to remove fibronectin remnants. The scaffolds can be kept in PBS at four degrees Celsius for up to a week. Prepare endothelial cell or EC medium by mixing the basal medium with the corresponding medium kit components, including an antibiotic solution, FBS, and endothelial cell growth supplements as indicated by the manufacturer.Make the human adipose microvascular endothelial cell suspension in EC medium with a concentration of four million cells per milliliter. Using forceps, place one fibronectin-coated scaffold per well in a non-TC 24-well plate. Cover each scaffold with 25 microliter droplets of the cell suspension, making sure not to let the suspension flow away from the scaffold.Put the lid on the plate and place it in an incubator at 37 degrees Celsius, 5%carbon dioxide and 100%humidity for 60 to 90 minutes. After the incubation, fill each well with 700 microliters of EC medium. Incubate the endothelialized scaffolds until EC confluence can be observed using fluorescent microscopy or for three days.Change the medium every other day. Prepare DPSC medium by mixing 500 milliliters of low glucose DMEM, 57.5 milliliters of FBS, 5.75 milliliters of non-essential amino acids, 5.75 milliliters of GlutaMAX, and 5.75 milliliters of penicillin-streptomycin-nystatin solution. Transfer the endothelialized scaffolds into a new non-TC 24-well plate.Discard all media from the current plate using a pipette or vacuum suction, taking care not to apply vacuum directly to the scaffold. Place one scaffold into the center of each well, then dry the surrounding area with light vacuum. Dilute thrombin and fibrinogen stock solutions with PBS to a final concentration of five units per milliliter and 15 milligrams per milliliter respectively.Prepare an eight million DPSC per milliliter suspension in the thrombin dilution and distribute 12.5 microliters of the suspension into individual microtubes per scaffold to be seeded. Set a five to 50 microliter pipette to 12.5 microliters and fill it with fibrinogen solution. Without removing the tip, set the pipette to 25 microliters.The material in the tip should rise and leave an empty volume. Slowly press the plunger button until the liquid reaches the tip opening, but does not leak out. Hold the plunger in this position and put the tip into one of the microcentrifuge tubes containing the cells in thrombin suspension, making sure the tip is in contact with the liquid.Gently release the plunger button and draw the cell suspension into the tip. Thoroughly mix both materials, avoiding bubble formation. Quickly dispense the mixed materials on top of an endothelialized scaffold.Repeat the previous steps for each scaffold, making sure to change tips between uses to avoid unexpected fibrin gel formation within the tip. Replace the plate lid and incubate the scaffolds at 37 degrees Celsius, 5%carbon dioxide and 100%humidity for 30 minutes. After incubation, fill each well with one milliliter of one-to-one DPSC and EC medium.Culture for one week, changing the medium every other day. At different time points during culture, remove the medium from the well and image the constructs using a confocal microscope to study the vascular development or any other parameter of interest. This protocol allows for the fabrication of tessellated scaffolds made of SU-8 photoresist.Scaffolds with distinct compartment geometries and highly accurate and repeatable features were obtained. With traditional simultaneous seeding of both endothelial cells and support cells, the cells were homogeneously distributed over the scaffold resulting in unpredictable and disorganized vascular networks. Contrarily, stepwise cell seeding resulted in highly organized vascular networks.When using fluorescent endothelial cells, the vessels can be imaged in real time. Red fluorescent protein expressing endothelial cells were cultured on hexagonal scaffolds and imaged. The support cells were added at day one and the vascular networks were imaged every other day to quantify vessel development.For each time point, wide images of the whole scaffold were taken. Vessel growth was quantified as total vessel length and area. A confocal imaging time-lapse was performed to allow single vessel tracking using multi-colored endothelial cells.The vessel path was generated from the time-lapse, making it possible to observe vessel migration. Vessel maturation was observed by the presence of smooth muscle actin and support cells. For the circular, hexagonal, and squared compartments, the cells multiply and organize into structures.By day seven, all shapes showed a rich and complex vascular network. Higher magnification images revealed a denser smooth muscle actin and support cell presence co-localized with formed vessels, evidencing support cell recruitment and differentiation surrounding vascular structures. This technique can be used to study the behavior of three-dimensional vascular networks when exposed to different conditions, such as specific cell inhibitors or in the presence of additional cell types.

stepwise-cell-seeding-on-tessellated-scaffolds-to-study-sprouting

Research

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Bioengineering

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, allows for unidirectional blood flow, preventing backflow into the ventricle. Aortic valve leaflets are composed of interstitial cells suspended within an extracellular matrix (ECM) and are lined with an endothelial cell monolayer. The valve withstands a harsh, dynamic environment and is constantly exposed to shear, flexion, tension, and compression. Research has shown calcific lesions in diseased valves occur in areas of high mechanical stress as a result of endothelial disruption or interstitial matrix damage1-3. Hence, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies have shown high blood pressure to be a leading risk factor in the onset of aortic valve disease4. 
The only treatment option currently available for valve disease is surgical replacement of the diseased valve with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve5. Improved understanding of valve biology in response to physical stresses would help elucidate the mechanisms of valve pathogenesis. In turn, this could help in the development of non-invasive therapies such as pharmaceutical intervention or prevention. Several bioreactors have been previously developed to study the mechanobiology of native or engineered heart valves6-9. Pulsatile bioreactors have also been developed to study a range of tissues including cartilage10, bone11 and bladder12. The aim of this work was to develop a cyclic pressure system that could be used to elucidate the biological response of aortic valve leaflets to increased pressure loads. 
The system consisted of an acrylic chamber in which to place samples and produce cyclic pressure, viton diaphragm solenoid valves to control the timing of the pressure cycle, and a computer to control electrical devices. The pressure was monitored using a pressure transducer, and the signal was conditioned using a load cell conditioner. A LabVIEW program regulated the pressure using an analog device to pump compressed air into the system at the appropriate rate. The system mimicked the dynamic transvalvular pressure levels associated with the aortic valve; a saw tooth wave produced a gradual increase in pressure, typical of the transvalvular pressure gradient that is present across the valve during diastole, followed by a sharp pressure drop depicting valve opening in systole. The LabVIEW program allowed users to control the magnitude and frequency of cyclic pressure. The system was able to subject tissue samples to physiological and pathological pressure conditions. This device can be used to increase our understanding of how heart valves respond to changes in the local mechanical environment.

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

A cyclic pressure bioreactor capable of subjecting heart valve tissue to physiological and pathological pressure conditions has been designed. A LabVIEW program allows users to control pressure magnitude, amplitude and frequency. This device can be used to study the mechanobiology of heart valve tissue or isolated cells.

The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, allows for unidirectional blood flow, preventing backflow into the ventricle. Aortic ...

Self-reporting Scaffolds for 3-Dimensional Cell Culture

Culturing cells in 3D on appropriate scaffolds is thought to better mimic the in vivo microenvironment and increase cell-cell interactions. The resulting 3D cellular construct can often be more relevant to studying the molecular events and cell-cell interactions than similar experiments studied in 2D. To create effective 3D cultures with high cell viability throughout the scaffold the culture conditions such as oxygen and pH need to be carefully controlled as gradients in analyte concentration can exist throughout the 3D construct. Here we describe the methods of preparing biocompatible pH responsive sol-gel nanosensors and their incorporation into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun scaffolds along with their subsequent preparation for the culture of mammalian cells. The pH responsive scaffolds can be used as tools to determine microenvironmental pH within a 3D cellular construct. Furthermore, we detail the delivery of pH responsive nanosensors to the intracellular environment of mammalian cells whose growth was supported by electrospun PLGA scaffolds. The cytoplasmic location of the pH responsive nanosensors can be utilized to monitor intracellular pH (pHi) during ongoing experimentation.

Biocompatible pH responsive sol-gel nanosensors can be incorporated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun scaffolds. The produced self-reporting scaffolds can be used for in&#160;situ monitoring of microenvironmental conditions whilst culturing cells upon the scaffold. This is beneficial as the 3D cellular construct can be monitored in real-time without disturbing the experiment.

Culturing cells in 3D on appropriate scaffolds is thought to better mimic the in vivo microenvironment and increase cell-cell interactions. The resulting ...

Helical Organization of Blood Coagulation Factor VIII on Lipid Nanotubes

Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM)1 is a powerful approach to investigate the functional structure of proteins and complexes in a hydrated state and membrane environment2.
Coagulation Factor VIII (FVIII)3 is a multi-domain blood plasma glycoprotein. Defect or deficiency of FVIII is the cause for Hemophilia type A&#160;-&#160;a severe bleeding disorder. Upon proteolytic activation, FVIII binds to the serine protease Factor IXa on the negatively charged platelet membrane, which is critical for normal blood clotting4. Despite the pivotal role FVIII plays in coagulation, structural information for its membrane-bound state is incomplete5. Recombinant FVIII concentrate is the most effective drug against Hemophilia type A and commercially available FVIII can be expressed as human or porcine, both forming functional complexes with human Factor IXa6,7.
In this study we present a combination of Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), lipid nanotechnology and structure analysis applied to resolve the membrane-bound structure of two highly homologous FVIII forms: human and porcine. The methodology developed in our laboratory to helically organize the two functional recombinant FVIII forms on negatively charged lipid nanotubes (LNT) is described.&#160;The representative results demonstrate that our approach is sufficiently sensitive to define the differences in the helical organization between the two highly homologous in sequence (86% sequence identity) proteins. Detailed protocols for the helical organization, Cryo-EM and electron tomography (ET) data acquisition are given. The two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) structure analysis applied to obtain the 3D reconstructions of human and porcine FVIII-LNT is discussed. The presented human and porcine FVIII-LNT structures show the potential of the proposed methodology to calculate the functional, membrane-bound organization of blood coagulation Factor VIII at high resolution.

We present a combination of Cryo-electron microscopy, lipid nanotechnology, and structure analysis applied to resolve the membrane-bound structure of two highly homologous FVIII forms: human and porcine. The methodology developed in our laboratory&#160;to helically organize the two functional recombinant FVIII forms on negatively charged lipid nanotubes (LNT) is described.

Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM)1 is a powerful approach to investigate the functional structure of proteins and complexes in a hydrated state and ...

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

The ability of cells to migrate is crucial in a wide variety of cell functions throughout life&#160;from embryonic development and wound healing&#160;to tumor and cancer metastasis. Despite intense research efforts, the basic biochemical and biophysical principles of cell migration are still not fully understood, especially in the physiologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments. Here, we describe an in vitro assay designed to allow quantitative examination of 3D cell migration behaviors. The method exploits the cell&#8217;s mechanosensing ability and propensity to migrate into previously unoccupied extracellular matrix (ECM). We use the invasion of highly invasive breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, in collagen gels as a model system. The spread of cell population and the migration dynamics of individual cells over weeks of culture can be monitored using live-cell imaging and analyzed to extract spatiotemporally-resolved data. Furthermore, the method is easily adaptable for diverse extracellular matrices, thus offering a simple yet powerful way to investigate the role of biophysical factors in the microenvironment on cell migration.

The mechanical properties and microstructure of the extracellular matrix strongly affect 3D migration of cells. An in vitro method to study the spatiotemporal cell migration behavior in biophysically variable environments, at both population and individual cell levels, is described.

The ability of cells to migrate is crucial in a wide variety of cell functions throughout life&#160;from embryonic development and wound healing&#160;to ...

Imaging Cell Viability on Non-transparent Scaffolds &#8212; Using the Example of a Novel Knitted Titanium Implant

Intervertebral disc degeneration and disc herniation is one of the major causes of lower back pain. Depletion of extracellular matrix, culminating in nucleus pulposus (NP) extrusion leads to intervertebral disc destruction. Currently available surgical treatments reduce the pain but do not restore the mechanical functionality of the spine. In order to preserve mechanical features of the spine, total disc or nucleus replacement thus became a wide interest. However, this arthroplasty era is still in an immature state, since none of the existing products have been clinically evaluated.
This study intends to test the biocompatibility of a novel nucleus implant made of knitted titanium wires. Despite all mechanical advantages, the material has its limits for conventional optical analysis as the resulting implant is non-transparent. Here we present a strategy that describes in vitro visualization, tracking and viability testing of osteochondro-progenitor cells on the scaffold. This protocol can be used to visualize the efficiency of the cleaning protocol as well as to investigate the biocompatibility of these and other non-transparent scaffolds. Furthermore, this protocol can be used to show adherence pattern of cells as well as cell viability and proliferation rates on/in the scaffold. This in vitro biocompatibility testing assay provides a propitious tool to analyze cell-material interaction in non-transparent and opaque scaffolds.

Imaging Cell Viability on Non-transparent Scaffolds &amp;#8212; Using the Example of a Novel Knitted Titanium Implant

Here we present a fluorophore based imaging technique to detect cell viability on a non-transparent titanium scaffold as well as to detect glimpses of the scaffold impurities. This protocol troubleshoots the drawback of imaging cell-cell or cell-metal interactions on non-transparent scaffolds.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and disc herniation is one of the major causes of lower back pain. Depletion of extracellular matrix, culminating in ...

Standardized and Scalable Assay to Study Perfused 3D Angiogenic Sprouting of iPSC-derived Endothelial Cells In Vitro

Pre-clinical drug research of vascular diseases requires in vitro models of vasculature that are amendable to high-throughput screening. However, current in vitro screening models that have sufficient throughput only have limited physiological relevance, which hinders the translation of findings from in vitro to in vivo. On the other hand, microfluidic cell culture platforms have shown unparalleled physiological relevancy in vitro, but often lack the required throughput, scalability and standardization. We demonstrate a robust platform to study angiogenesis of endothelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-ECs) in a physiological relevant cellular microenvironment, including perfusion and gradients. The iPSC-ECs are cultured as 40 perfused 3D microvessels against a patterned collagen-1 scaffold. Upon the application of a gradient of angiogenic factors, important hallmarks of angiogenesis can be studied, including the differentiation into tip- and stalk cell and the formation of perfusable lumen. Perfusion with fluorescent tracer dyes enables the study of permeability during and after anastomosis of the angiogenic sprouts. In conclusion, this method shows the feasibility of iPSC-derived ECs in a standardized and scalable 3D angiogenic assay that combines physiological relevant culture conditions in a platform that has the required robustness and scalability to be integrated within the drug screening infrastructure.

This method describes the culture of iPSC-derived endothelial cells as 40 perfused 3D microvessels in a standardized microfluidic platform. This platform enables the study of gradient-driven angiogenic sprouting in 3D, including anastomosis and stabilization of the angiogenic sprouts in a scalable and high-throughput manner.

Pre-clinical drug research of vascular diseases requires in vitro models of vasculature that are amendable to high-throughput screening. However, current ...

A Novel 3D Printed Bioreactor for Ex Vivo Culture of Blood Vessels in Perfusion

Ex Vivo Perfusion Culture of Large Blood Vessels in a 3D Printed Bioreactor

Vascular disease forms the basis of most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which remain the primary cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Efficacious surgical and pharmacological interventions to prevent and treat vascular disease are urgently needed. In part, the shortage of translational models limits the understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in vascular disease. Ex vivo perfusion culture bioreactors provide an ideal platform for the study of large animal vessels (including humans) in a controlled dynamic environment, combining the ease of in vitro culture and the complexity of the live tissue. Most bioreactors are, however, custom manufactured and therefore difficult to adopt, limiting the reproducibility of the results. This paper presents a 3D printed system that can be easily produced and applied in any biological lab, and provides a detailed protocol for its setup, enabling users&#39; operation. This innovative and reproducible ex vivo perfusion culture system enables the culture of blood vessels for up to 7 days in physiological conditions. We expect that adopting a standardized perfusion bioreactor will support a better understanding of physiological and pathological processes in large animal blood vessels and accelerate the discovery of new therapeutics.

Author Spotlight: EasyFlow - An Economical and Adaptable Perfusion Bioreactor for Large Blood Vessel Culture 

This protocol presents the setup and operation of a newly developed, 3D printed bioreactor for the ex vivo culture of blood vessels in perfusion. The system is designed to be easily adopted by other users, practical, affordable, and adaptable to different experimental applications, such as basic biology and pharmacological studies.

Vascular disease forms the basis of most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which remain the primary cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Efficacious ...

Perfusion Culture of Blood Vessels in the 3D-Printed Bioreactor

To prepare the sample for perfusion culture using the 3D-printed bioreactor. In a laminar flow cabinet, place the isolated porcine carotid artery samples in cold transport media. Using a scalpel blade, remove excess connective tissue and trim the ends of the tissue.Then wash the tissue twice in cold transport media. Next, place the tissue in transport media on an orbital shaker for a minimum of 30 minutes for a thorough final washing. After that, connect a non-branching segment of the washed artery to the fabricated bioreactor system using two barbed lure connections.And secure it using a vessel bond made of vascular silicone ties. Using a small syringe attached to the first lure connection, gently flow media through the artery to ensure its patency. After securing the artery to the fabricated insert, fill the reaction space with perfusion media.Next, carefully fill the luminal circulation loop with media, removing any remaining air from the system. Lastly, connect the reaction space to the assembled perfusion system, completing the circulation. To perform the perfusion culture, place the perfusion system in an incubator.After connecting it to a peristaltic pump, connect any additional acquisition systems, such as pressure sensors. Allow the system to equilibrate overnight with a low media flow rate of approximately 10 to 15 milliliters per minute. The following day, incrementally increase the flow until a final flow rate of 35 milliliters per minute is achieved.Every three days, replace 50%of the media by connecting one syringe with fresh media to the media exchange port closer to the pump and an empty syringe to the port closer to the reservoir to collect the spent medium. After the experiment, using sterile surgical scissors, harvest the tissue from the reaction chamber by trimming the tissue ends connected to the bioreactor. Confocal imaging using endothelial and smooth muscle-specific markers revealed that the normal structure of an artery was well preserved and maintained throughout, starting from the time of harvest, to cleaning and processing, and even after perfusion culture.However, incorrect handling during processing resulted in the loss of the endothelium ahead of the culture, and the application of non-physiological culture conditions like abrupt initiation of high flow showed luminal damage. Histological evaluation of the tissue using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining at the time of harvest and after seven days of perfusion culture revealed that the morphology and overall distribution of the cells in the vessel wall were maintained throughout.

Analyzing Cell-Seeded Decellularized Apple-Derived Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Decellularized Apple-Derived Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering In Vitro and In Vivo

Plant-derived&#160;cellulose biomaterials have been employed in various tissue engineering applications. In vivo studies have shown the remarkable biocompatibility of scaffolds made of cellulose derived from natural sources. Additionally, these scaffolds possess structural characteristics that are relevant for multiple tissues, and they promote the invasion and proliferation of mammalian cells. Recent research using decellularized apple hypanthium tissue has demonstrated the similarity of its pore size to that of trabecular bone as well as&#160;its ability to effectively support osteogenic differentiation. The present study further&#160;examined the potential of apple-derived cellulose scaffolds for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications and evaluated their in vitro and in vivo mechanical properties. MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were seeded in apple-derived cellulose scaffolds that were then&#160;assessed for their osteogenic potential and mechanical properties. Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining confirmed osteogenic differentiation in scaffolds cultured in differentiation medium. Histological examination demonstrated widespread cell invasion and mineralization across the scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed mineral aggregates on the surface of the scaffolds, and&#160;energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS)&#160;confirmed the presence of phosphate and calcium elements. However, despite a significant increase in the Young&#39;s modulus following cell differentiation, it remained lower than that of healthy bone tissue. In vivo studies showed cell infiltration and deposition of extracellular matrix within the decellularized apple-derived&#160;scaffolds after 8 weeks of implantation in rat calvaria. In addition, the force required to remove the scaffolds from the bone defect was similar to the previously reported fracture load of native calvarial bone. Overall, this study confirms that apple-derived cellulose is a promising candidate for BTE applications. However, the dissimilarity between its mechanical properties and those of healthy bone tissue may restrict its application to low load-bearing scenarios. Additional structural re-engineering and optimization may be necessary to enhance the mechanical properties of apple-derived cellulose scaffolds for load-bearing applications.

Author Spotlight: Insights into the Use of Apple-Derived Cellulose Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering 

In this study, we detail methods of decellularization, physical characterization, imaging, and in vivo implantation of plant-based biomaterials, as well as methods for cell seeding and differentiation in the scaffolds. The described methods allow the evaluation of plant-based biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications.