Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Oana Dobre, Mariana A. G. Oliva, Giuseppe Ciccone, Sara Trujillo, Aleixandre Rodrigo-Navarro, Douglas Cormac Venters, Virginia Llopis-Hernandez, Massimo Vassalli, Cristina Gonzalez-Garcia, Matthew J. Dalby, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Summary: Laminins are crucial structural proteins in the ECM that bind growth factors and play tissue-specific roles. A new LM-PEG hydrogel platform inspired by Matrigel offers controlled stiffness and degradability, enabling specific targeting of tissues through GFs presented at ultralow doses. This platform demonstrates the potential to induce stem cell differentiation and promote neural cell growth in a synthetic, reproducible 3D microenvironment mimicking the native ECM.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Andrew Chung, Burak Tavsanli, Elizabeth R. Gillies
Summary: Hydrogels have diverse applications, and OPF has attracted attention for its tunable degradation. By introducing protected amines into OPF, the degradation rate can be controlled by triggering the cleavage of the polymer backbone. This approach can be applied to other stimuli, providing a versatile method to control OPF degradation.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eva Mueller, Fei Xu, Todd Hoare
Summary: This study demonstrates the 3D printing of hydrazone-crosslinked POEGMA hydrogels using the FRESH technique and a low-cost extrusion bioprinter. The dynamic nature of the hydrazone cross-links allows for the reconfiguration of the gel structure and maintains the degradability of the scaffold. Moreover, the POEGMA hydrogels support cell adhesion and viability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ekkachai Martwong, Yvette Tran
Summary: The study reports on the synthesis and temperature-responsive properties of poly(PEGMA) hydrogel thin films. Surface-attached poly(PEGMA) hydrogel films were synthesized using a simple, versatile, and well-controlled thiol-ene click reaction method, with the transition temperature finely tunable by adjusting the number of PEG units. The LCST properties of the hydrogel films are not sensitive to salt, holding promise for applications in biology such as injectable hydrogels, drug delivery systems, microfluidic valves, and flow switches for biotechnologies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinyoung Hwang, Phuong Le Thi, Simin Lee, Eun-Hye Park, Eunmi Lee, Eunmin Kim, Kiyuk Chang, Ki Dong Park
Summary: Although numerous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based bioadhesives have been developed and commercialized, their biocompatibility and bioactivity performances are generally lacking. To address these issues, chemically crosslinked gelatin-PEG adhesive hydrogels (GP) were designed through the enzymatic crosslinking reaction of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The GP hydrogels exhibited adjustable mechanical and adhesive properties and effectively improved tissue adhesiveness and bioactivity. They also showed promising potential for hemostatic and wound healing treatments.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ionela Alice Podaru, Paul O. Stanescu, Raluca Ginghin, Stefania Stoleriu, Bogdan Tric, Raluca Somoghi, Mircea Teodorescu
Summary: This study investigates the synthesis and properties of nanocomposite hydrogels obtained by the aqueous solution free radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) in the presence of Laponite XLG (XLG) as a crosslinker, and compares them with hydrogels prepared using conventional crosslinking agents. The results show that XLG is a better crosslinking agent than the conventional agent, leading to larger gel fractions and more homogeneous network hydrogels. Adding XLG as a second crosslinker significantly enhances the material properties.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicole E. Friend, Atticus J. McCoy, Jan P. Stegemann, Andrew J. Putnam
Summary: The formation of functional capillary blood vessels in engineered tissues remains a challenge. In this study, researchers investigated the effects of matrix properties on vessel network formation using PEG hydrogels. By varying the crosslinking ratio and incorporating cleavage sites, they found that reducing crosslinking or increasing degradability promoted vascularization and cell-mediated stiffening. These findings highlight the importance of cell-mediated remodeling for rapid vessel formation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guodong Nian, Junsoo Kim, Xianyang Bao, Zhigang Suo
Summary: In this study, a novel method was developed to create hydrogels that are both swell-resistant and tough by densely entangling polymer chains at elevated temperatures and sparsely crosslinking them using UV light. This method is applicable to various synthetic and natural polymers and compatible with industrial processing technologies, opening doors to the development of sustainable and high-performance hydrogels.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nathan R. Richbourg, Nicholas A. Peppas
Summary: Synthetic hydrogels are commonly used as artificial 3D environments for studying cell-environment interactions, but their representation of physical properties of biological tissues is limited. This study successfully decoupled stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels by manipulating four structural parameters of multi-arm PEG hydrogel formulations. The results suggest that this approach is validated and applicable for decoupling stiffness and solute transport in hydrogels, enabling precise hydrogel design for investigating cell-environment interactions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawika Towongphaichayonte, Rangrong Yoksan
Summary: This study successfully fabricated polyelectrolyte complexes from mPEG-g-CTS and ALG, which could form fibrous network macrogels or spherical nanoparticles with different physicochemical properties depending on the mPEG chain length and weight ratios. These complexes have potential applications as carriers for functional food additives, drugs, and bioactive compounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathilde Grosjean, Edouard Girard, Audrey Bethry, Gregory Chagnon, Xavier Garric, Benjamin Nottelet
Summary: This study designed degradable bioadhesives based on PEG-PLA star-shaped hydrogels and investigated the performance of acrylate, methacrylate, and catechol functional copolymers as bioadhesive hydrogels. The results showed that these bioadhesives reached adhesion strength comparable to commercial glues and exhibited low cytotoxicity, indicating their potential as surgical adhesives.
Article
Polymer Science
Corina Logigan, Christelle Delaite, Crina-Elena Tiron, Cristian Peptu, Marcel Popa, Catalina Anisoara Peptu
Summary: Chitosan hydrogels were prepared by chemical modification and double crosslinking in a water/oil emulsion. The modified chitosan showed better control of dimensional properties and morphology compared to neat chitosan. In addition, the modified hydrogels exhibited pH-dependent behavior and demonstrated excellent capacity for drug loading and release, making them suitable for controlled release applications in biomedicine.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin R. Nelson, Bruce E. Kirkpatrick, Connor E. Miksch, Matthew D. Davidson, Nathaniel P. Skillin, Grace K. Hach, Alex Khang, Sydney N. Hummel, Benjamin D. Fairbanks, Jason A. Burdick, Christopher N. Bowman, Kristi S. Anseth
Summary: Researchers have developed a viscoelastic hydrogel with adaptable crosslinks to mimic time and position-dependent processes in tissues. By using 1,2-dithiolanes as dynamic covalent photocrosslinkers, the hydrogel can respond to multiple stimuli. Cell encapsulation is achieved through ligand-accelerated dithiolane ring-opening photopolymerization, enabling the study of 2D and 3D cell-material interactions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arn Mignon, Tom Gheysens, Sander Walraet, Pieter Tack, Petra Rigole, Tom Coenye, Laszlo Vincze, Sandra Van Vlierberghe, Peter Dubruel
Summary: Infections are still a major cause of morbidity in burn wounds. Complexing iodine in acrylate-endcapped urethane-based poly(ethylene glycol) (AUP) polymers with or without poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) leads to antimicrobial wound dressings with superior swelling and mechanical strength than commercial wound dressings, holding potential for future application in treating infected wounds.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Catarina Sousa, Sara Biscaia, Rui Alvites, Mariana Branquinho, Bruna Lopes, Patricia Sousa, Joana Valente, Margarida Franco, Jose Domingos Santos, Carla Mendonca, Luis Atayde, Nuno Alves, Ana Colette Mauricio
Summary: This study explores a new approach to produce synthetic bone grafts and successfully manufactures three different composition scaffolds. Through in vitro evaluation, it is demonstrated that these scaffolds, especially the one with PEGDA, show promising effects on bone regeneration, including higher cell viability and increased cell adhesion and proliferation.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Udesh Dhawan, Hussain Jaffery, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez, Matthew J. Dalby
Summary: This review discusses recent breakthroughs in understanding the complex interplay between cellular nanoenvironment and biomolecular signalling pathways, and the development of targeted osteogenic platforms. It also presents strategies and techniques for inducing osteogenesis, as well as overcoming the drawbacks of traditional osteogenic implants.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
R. Domingo-Roca, L. Asciak, J. F. C. Windmill, H. Mulvana, J. C. Jackson-Camargo
Summary: The determination of mechanical properties of materials usually requires destructive testing, which is time-consuming and costly. In this study, we propose a non-destructive method for evaluating the mechanical properties of 3D-printed materials using the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and laser Doppler vibrometry. By measuring the resonance frequency, we can accurately determine the elastic modulus of the printed components. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for assessing the mechanical properties of 3D-printed materials with varying Young's moduli.
JOURNAL OF NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giuseppe Ciccone, Mariana Azevedo Gonzalez Oliva, Nelda Antonovaite, Ines Luchtefeld, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez, Massimo Vassalli
Summary: Nanoindentation is an experimental technique used to quantify the local mechanical properties of soft biomaterials and cells. The most popular approach, using an atomic force microscope (AFM), is complex and limits routine measurements. Recently, nanoindentation devices based on optical fiber sensing technology have gained popularity for their ease of integration and ability to apply sub-nN forces with mu m spatial resolution.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Jiajun Luo, Matthew Walker, Yinbo Xiao, Hannah Donnelly, Matthew J. Dalby, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Summary: This review explores the effective physical approach of nanotopography in biomaterial cell manipulation and its interactions with protein adsorption. Advances in creating nanotopographical features to guide cell behaviors and the cellular mechanotransductive pathways initiated by nanotopography are summarized in this review.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michaela Petaroudi, Aleixandre Rodrigo-Navarro, Oana Dobre, Matthew J. Dalby, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Summary: Living interfaces are a novel class of active materials that allow precise control over cell behavior. This study presents a biointerface between engineered bacteria and mammalian cells, which successfully regulates the stemness markers of human mesenchymal stem cells.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Kirsty McWhinnie, Jeremy Gibson, Magnus Gislason, Elizabeth Tanner, James Windmill, RCraig Albertson, Kevin Parsons
Summary: Understanding the emergence of adaptive divergence requires examining the function of phenotypic traits along a continuum. Finite element modeling was used to explore mandible variation in African cichlids, revealing evidence of species and sex-based biomechanical variation that could be targeted by divergent selection.
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Caitlin McLean, Ben Tiller, Rolan Mansour, Kelly Brown, James Windmill, Lynn Dennany
Summary: Electrochemical based sensors, particularly those using carbon nanotube electrodes, have shown great potential for biomedical applications due to their low cost, high conductivity and sensitivity in detecting biomarkers. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using 3D printed carbon nanotube electrodes for the detection of pyocyanin, a diagnostic biomarker for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with comparable performance to traditional electrode systems.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Andrew Reid, James Windmill
Summary: Photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing in digital light processing requires exposing resin to UV light using a digital micromirror device or a digital mask. The resolution through the Z-axis and XY-axes determines the tolerances for a multilayer process, with the former dependent on the rate of UV light attenuation and the latter determined by the digital mask. The study introduces an alternative model based on a Lorentzian distribution, which accurately predicts small build areas.
3D PRINTING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Alvaro Sanchez-Rubio, Vineetha Jayawarna, Emily Maxwell, Matthew J. Dalby, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Summary: Tissue engineering aims to replicate tissues and organs for in vivo and in vitro applications. In vivo, artificial constructs using functional materials and cells are engineered to provide physiological form and function. In vitro, three-dimensional (3D) models are engineered to support drug discovery and enable understanding of fundamental biology. Recent advances in fabrication technologies have enabled compartmentalized structures with defined compositions and properties, which are crucial in creating 3D cell-laden multiphasic complex architectures. This review focuses on the advances in engineered multicompartment constructs that mimic tissue heterogeneity, highlighting the relevance of 3D bioprinting in the future of biological research and medicine.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Stylianos O. Sarrigiannidis, Oana Dobre, Alexandre Rodrigo Navarro, Matthew J. Dalby, Cristina Gonzalez-Garcia, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Summary: Researchers have developed a recombinant dual affinity protein fragment that can immobilize bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP-2) in collagen sponges, addressing the low affinity issue between BMP-2 and collagen. This technology enables osteogenesis with ultra-low doses of BMP-2 and enhances the biological activity of collagen, providing a potential pathway for clinical translation without complex chemistries or manufacturing changes.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Miranda Morata-Martinez, Mark R. Sprott, Carmen M. Antolinos-Turpin, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez, Gloria Gallego-Ferrer
Summary: Fibronectin (FN) plays a significant role in cell-material interactions for tissue repair. The spontaneous organization of FN in poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) and poly(buthyl acrylate) (PBA) substrates leads to exceptional bone regeneration and efficient cell differentiation. By synthesizing P(EA-co-BA) copolymers, researchers investigate the impact of intermediate surface mobility on cell differentiation. The results show that as the PBA content increases, FN mobility increases, cell adhesion strengthens, and cell differentiation decreases.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hannah Donnelly, Mark R. Sprott, Anup Poudel, Paul Campsie, Peter Childs, Stuart Reid, Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez, Manus Biggs, Matthew J. Dalby
Summary: There is a clinical demand for viable bone grafts, and tissue engineering strategies using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to create potential bone-graft materials can help fulfill this need. However, the long culture periods and cost associated with MSC osteogenesis in a clinical setting necessitate the investigation of strategies for optimizing cell production. In this study, a piezoelectric copolymer with a fibronectin network coating is used to enhance MSC adhesion and present growth factors, and electrical stimulation is applied to investigate the MSC response.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Lara Diaz-Garcia, Brendan Latham, Andrew Reid, James Windmill
Summary: This article explores the value of nature as a source of inspiration for novel, simple, and energy-efficient solutions to engineering problems, particularly in the field of acoustic sensors. Insects have served as a starting point for many bioinspired designs due to their diverse approaches to small-scale acoustic detection. The article reviews the mechanisms found in nature and the engineering solutions they have inspired, focusing on frequency discrimination, directionality, and detection of weak signals. Bioinspired systems may not always provide perfect performance, but they offer clever use of resources and minimal post-processing, making them serious contenders for the best alternative.
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
R. S. Harris, W. L. Ijomah, J. F. C. Windmill
Summary: This paper introduces the aims and purposes of the Damage Assessment Tracking Criteria, which is a series of evaluation tools for remanufacturing inspection operations. The model was evaluated multiple times, including an academic review and external industrial reviews. The results were positive and the value of the model was acknowledged by industry practitioners.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa Asciak, Lauren Gilmour, Jonathan A. Williams, Euan Foster, Lara Diaz-Garcia, Christopher McCormick, James F. C. Windmill, Helen E. Mulvana, Joseph C. Jackson-Camargo, Roger Domingo-Roca
Summary: To address the challenges in tumor medicine research, researchers have developed a multi-material tissue-mimicking platform using stereolithography three-dimensional printing technology to simulate the complexity of the neo-vasculature of solid tumors. The potential of these materials to replace animal testing in preclinical research is evaluated by studying various indicators such as cell morphology, actin expression, focal adhesions, and nitric oxide release. A model of the neo-vasculature of a solid tumor is printed using these materials, demonstrating the potential of the approach to replicate the complexity of solid tumors in vitro without animal testing.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lin-Lin Luo, Jie Xu, Bing-Qiao Wang, Chen Chen, Xi Chen, Qiu-Mei Hu, Yu-Qiu Wang, Wan-Yun Zhang, Wan-Xiang Jiang, Xin-Ting Li, Hu Zhou, Xiao Xiao, Kai Zhao, Sen Lin
Summary: A novel AAV serotype, AAVYC5, introduced in this study, showed more efficient transduction into multiple retinal layers compared to AAV2, and enabled successful delivery of anti-angiogenic molecules in mice and non-human primates.
