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Orthopaedic Surgery Dec 2023Cartilage regeneration remains difficult due to a lack of blood vessels. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) causes cartilage defects, and the ECM provides the... (Review)
Review
Cartilage regeneration remains difficult due to a lack of blood vessels. Degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) causes cartilage defects, and the ECM provides the natural environment and nutrition for cartilage regeneration. Until now, collagen hydrogels are considered to be excellent material for cartilage regeneration due to the similar structure to ECM and good biocompatibility. However, collagen hydrogels also have several drawbacks, such as low mechanical strength, limited ability to induce stem cell differentiation, and rapid degradation. Thus, there is a demanding need to optimize collagen hydrogels for cartilage regeneration. In this review, we will first briefly introduce the structure of articular cartilage and cartilage defect classification and collagen, then provide an overview of the progress made in research on collagen hydrogels with chondrocytes or stem cells, comprehensively expound the research progress and clinical applications of collagen-based hydrogels that integrate inorganic or organic materials, and finally present challenges for further clinical translation.
Topics: Humans; Hydrogels; Chondrocytes; Collagen; Cartilage, Articular; Regeneration; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 37942509
DOI: 10.1111/os.13884 -
Science Advances Aug 2023Vascularization is driven by morphogen signals and mechanical cues that coordinately regulate cellular force generation, migration, and shape change to sculpt the...
Vascularization is driven by morphogen signals and mechanical cues that coordinately regulate cellular force generation, migration, and shape change to sculpt the developing vascular network. However, it remains unclear whether developing vasculature actively regulates its own mechanical properties to achieve effective vascularization. We engineered tissue constructs containing endothelial cells and fibroblasts to investigate the mechanics of vascularization. Tissue stiffness increases during vascular morphogenesis resulting from emergent interactions between endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and ECM and correlates with enhanced vascular function. Contractile cellular forces are key to emergent tissue stiffening and synergize with ECM mechanical properties to modulate the mechanics of vascularization. Emergent tissue stiffening and vascular function rely on mechanotransduction signaling within fibroblasts, mediated by YAP1. Mouse embryos lacking YAP1 in fibroblasts exhibit both reduced tissue stiffness and develop lethal vascular defects. Translating our findings through biology-inspired vascular tissue engineering approaches will have substantial implications in regenerative medicine.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Endothelial Cells; Tissue Engineering; Morphogenesis; Cell Differentiation; Extracellular Matrix
PubMed: 37566656
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9781 -
International Dental Journal Feb 2024Regenerative dentistry is a rapidly evolving field in dentistry, which has been driven by advancements in biomedical engineering research and the rising treatment... (Review)
Review
Regenerative dentistry is a rapidly evolving field in dentistry, which has been driven by advancements in biomedical engineering research and the rising treatment expectations and demands that exceed the scope of conventional approaches. Tissue engineering, the foundation of regenerative dentistry, mainly focuses on 3 key components: stem cells, bioactive molecules, and scaffolds. Dental tissue-derived stem cells are especially significant in this regard due to their remarkable properties. Regenerative techniques have provided novel approaches to many conventional treatment strategies in various disciplines of dentistry. For instance, regenerative endodontic procedures such as pulp revascularisation have provided an alternative approach to conventional root canal treatment. In addition, conventional surgical and nonsurgical periodontal treatment is being taken over by modified approaches of guided tissue regeneration with the aid of 3-dimensional bioprinting and computer-aided design, which has revolutionised oral and maxillofacial tissue engineering. This review presents a concise overview of the latest treatment strategies that have emerged into clinical practice, potential future technologies, and the role of dental tissue-derived stem cells in regenerative dentistry.
Topics: Humans; Tissue Engineering; Stem Cells; Dental Pulp; Dentistry
PubMed: 37541918
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.07.008 -
Nature Communications Jul 2023The biofabrication of three-dimensional (3D) tissues that recapitulate organ-specific architecture and function would benefit from temporal and spatial control of...
The biofabrication of three-dimensional (3D) tissues that recapitulate organ-specific architecture and function would benefit from temporal and spatial control of cell-cell interactions. Bioprinting, while potentially capable of achieving such control, is poorly suited to organoids with conserved cytoarchitectures that are susceptible to plastic deformation. Here, we develop a platform, termed Spatially Patterned Organoid Transfer (SPOT), consisting of an iron-oxide nanoparticle laden hydrogel and magnetized 3D printer to enable the controlled lifting, transport, and deposition of organoids. We identify cellulose nanofibers as both an ideal biomaterial for encasing organoids with magnetic nanoparticles and a shear-thinning, self-healing support hydrogel for maintaining the spatial positioning of organoids to facilitate the generation of assembloids. We leverage SPOT to create precisely arranged assembloids composed of human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural organoids and patient-derived glioma organoids. In doing so, we demonstrate the potential for the SPOT platform to construct assembloids which recapitulate key developmental processes and disease etiologies.
Topics: Humans; Organoids; Bioprinting; Hydrogels; Pluripotent Stem Cells; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 37468483
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40006-5 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Hydrogels made from proteins are attractive materials for diverse medical applications, as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and amenable to chemical and biological... (Review)
Review
Hydrogels made from proteins are attractive materials for diverse medical applications, as they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and amenable to chemical and biological modifications. Recent advances in protein engineering, synthetic biology, and material science have enabled the fine-tuning of protein sequences, hydrogel structures, and hydrogel mechanical properties, allowing for a broad range of biomedical applications using protein hydrogels. This article reviews recent progresses on protein hydrogels with special focus on those made of microbially produced proteins. We discuss different hydrogel formation strategies and their associated hydrogel properties. We also review various biomedical applications, categorized by the origin of protein sequences. Lastly, current challenges and future opportunities in engineering protein-based hydrogels are discussed. We hope this review will inspire new ideas in material innovation, leading to advanced protein hydrogels with desirable properties for a wide range of biomedical applications.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Hydrogels; Proteins; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 37446650
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28134988 -
Biotechnology Advances Nov 2023Synthetic biology transforms the way we perceive biological systems. Emerging technologies in this field affect many disciplines of science and engineering.... (Review)
Review
Synthetic biology transforms the way we perceive biological systems. Emerging technologies in this field affect many disciplines of science and engineering. Traditionally, synthetic biology approaches were commonly aimed at developing cost-effective microbial cell factories to produce chemicals from renewable sources. Based on this, the immediate beneficial impact of synthetic biology on the environment came from reducing our oil dependency. However, synthetic biology is starting to play a more direct role in environmental protection. Toxic chemicals released by industries and agriculture endanger the environment, disrupting ecosystem balance and biodiversity loss. This review highlights synthetic biology approaches that can help environmental protection by providing remediation systems capable of sensing and responding to specific pollutants. Remediation strategies based on genetically engineered microbes and plants are discussed. Further, an overview of computational approaches that facilitate the design and application of synthetic biology tools in environmental protection is presented.
Topics: Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Synthetic Biology; Agriculture; Biodiversity
PubMed: 37619824
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108239 -
Advanced Science (Weinheim,... Sep 2023Nanofibers are long, wire-like materials with nanoscale diameters and specific length diameter ratios. Nanofibers have porous reticular networks with remarkably high... (Review)
Review
Nanofibers are long, wire-like materials with nanoscale diameters and specific length diameter ratios. Nanofibers have porous reticular networks with remarkably high specific surface areas and significant interconnectivity between pores, allowing for the chemical modification and loading of drugs. Metallized nanofibers are novel materials that enhance the performance of attributes of conventional nanofibers by combining metals with nanofibers through electrostatic spinning doping, chemical modification, and loading approaches. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, metallized nanofibers are diverse, rapidly developed materials in the fields of physical chemistry, materials science, and battery preparation. To date, with improvement in advanced preparation techniques and biocompatibility levels for materials, metallized nanofiber applications are gradually expanding into the biomedical field due to their excellent thermal and electrical conductivities and unique metal properties. In this review, the applications of metallized nanofibers in biomedicine are summarized. It is suggested to prepare metallized multifunctional nanofibers for tissue engineering, drug delivery, tumor treatment, wound healing, and biosensing applications by taking safety and stability as the main material selection guidelines. Finally, the development of nanofibers for biomedical applications is summarized and discussed.
Topics: Nanofibers; Tissue Engineering; Drug Delivery Systems; Porosity; Wound Healing
PubMed: 37532670
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302044 -
Regenerative Medicine Aug 2023New developments in additive manufacturing and regenerative medicine have the potential to radically disrupt the traditional pipelines of therapy development and medical... (Review)
Review
New developments in additive manufacturing and regenerative medicine have the potential to radically disrupt the traditional pipelines of therapy development and medical device manufacture. These technologies present a challenge for regulators because traditional regulatory frameworks are designed for mass manufactured therapies, rather than bespoke solutions. 3D bioprinting technologies present another dimension of complexity through the inclusion of living cells in the fabrication process. Herein we overview the challenge of regulating 3D bioprinting in comparison to existing cell therapy products as well as custom-made 3D printed medical devices. We consider a range of specific challenges pertaining to 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine, including classification, risk, standardization and quality control, as well as technical issues related to the manufacturing process and the incorporated materials and cells.
Topics: Tissue Engineering; Bioprinting; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Regenerative Medicine; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Tissue Scaffolds
PubMed: 37403962
DOI: 10.2217/rme-2022-0194 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2023This review article presents past and current alginate-based materials in each application, showing the widest range of alginate's usage and development in the past and... (Review)
Review
This review article presents past and current alginate-based materials in each application, showing the widest range of alginate's usage and development in the past and in recent years. The first segment emphasizes the unique characteristics of alginates and their origin. The second segment sets alginates according to their application based on their features and limitations. Alginate is a polysaccharide and generally occurs as water-soluble sodium alginate. It constitutes hydrophilic and anionic polysaccharides originally extracted from natural brown algae and bacteria. Due to its promising properties, such as gelling, moisture retention, and film-forming, it can be used in environmental protection, cosmetics, medicine, tissue engineering, and the food industry. The comparison of publications with alginate-based products in the field of environmental protection, medicine, food, and cosmetics in scientific articles showed that the greatest number was assigned to the environmental field (30,767) and medicine (24,279), whereas fewer publications were available in cosmetic (5692) and food industries (24,334). Data are provided from the Google Scholar database (including abstract, title, and keywords), accessed in May 2023. In this review, various materials based on alginate are described, showing detailed information on modified composites and their possible usage. Alginate's application in water remediation and its significant value are highlighted. In this study, existing knowledge is compared, and this paper concludes with its future prospects.
Topics: Alginates; Polysaccharides; Tissue Engineering; Water; Biocompatible Materials
PubMed: 37367678
DOI: 10.3390/md21060353 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Dec 2023: Regenerative dentistry aims to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex and restore those of its functions that have become compromised by pulp injury and/or inflammation.... (Review)
Review
: Regenerative dentistry aims to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex and restore those of its functions that have become compromised by pulp injury and/or inflammation. Scaffold-based techniques are a regeneration strategy that replicate a biological environment by utilizing a suitable scaffold, which is considered crucial for the successful regeneration of dental pulp. The aim of the present review is to address the main characteristics of the different scaffolds, as well as their application in dentin-pulp complex regeneration. : A narrative review was conducted by two independent reviewers to answer the research question: What type of scaffolds can be used in dentin-pulp complex regeneration? An electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases was undertaken. Keywords including "pulp-dentin regeneration scaffold" and "pulp-dentin complex regeneration" were used. To locate additional reports, reference mining of the identified papers was undertaken. : A wide variety of biomaterials is already available for tissue engineering and can be broadly categorized into two groups: (i) natural, and (ii) synthetic, scaffolds. Natural scaffolds often contain bioactive molecules, growth factors, and signaling cues that can positively influence cell behavior. These signaling molecules can promote specific cellular responses, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, crucial for effective tissue regeneration. Synthetic scaffolds offer flexibility in design and can be tailored to meet specific requirements, such as size, shape, and mechanical properties. Moreover, they can be functionalized with bioactive molecules, growth factors, or signaling cues to enhance their biological properties and the manufacturing process can be standardized, ensuring consistent quality for widespread clinical use. : There is still a lack of evidence to determine the optimal scaffold composition that meets the specific requirements and complexities needed for effectively promoting dental pulp tissue engineering and achieving successful clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Tissue Scaffolds; Dentin; Tissue Engineering; Biocompatible Materials; Wound Healing; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Dental Pulp
PubMed: 38276040
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010007