Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sachin Kumar, Yujen Wang, Mohammadhasan Hedayati, Frederik Fleissner, Manuel K. Rausch, Sapun H. Parekh
Summary: This study reveals that mechanical strain-induced structural changes in fibrin affect its biochemistry. Tensile deformation leads to molecular structural transitions of fibrin, reducing the binding ability of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and suppressing the biological activity of platelets on mechanically strained fibrin.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryan N. Konno, Nilima Nigam, James M. Wakeling
Summary: Skeletal muscle tissue has a complex structure at multiple length scales, with the simplest model being a one-dimensional nonlinear spring along muscle fibers. A more intermediate model is needed to capture the major contributions of muscle components to elastic response, apart from activation-related along-fiber responses. This model can help analyze the effects of neuro-muscular diseases like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophies.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Andrea Acuna, Julian M. Jimenez, Naomi Deneke, Sean M. Rothenberger, Sarah Libring, Luis Solorio, Vitaliy L. Rayz, Chelsea S. Davis, Sarah Calve
Summary: Characterizing the mechanical properties of tissues is crucial for biomaterials and regenerative therapies; understanding microenvironments can promote growth and remodeling; a micromanipulator and spring system was developed to mechanically test small, soft materials under tension.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Alberto Elosegui-Artola
Summary: The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix play a crucial role in regulating cell and tissue behavior. While much research has focused on the elasticity of the extracellular matrix, the influence of its viscosity on cell behavior remains relatively understudied. Recent findings have highlighted the importance of the extracellular matrix's viscoelasticity in cell and tissue dynamics.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. Muthukumar, M. S. Bobji, K. R. Y. Simha
Summary: Needle insertion into soft tissues is a common procedure in various surgeries. However, due to the heterogeneity and opaqueness of tissues, the experimental and numerical results lack consistency. Therefore, understanding the fracture behavior of soft tissues during needle insertion is crucial for minimally invasive surgeries and medical procedures.
Review
Cell Biology
Danielle Vahala, Yu Suk Choi
Summary: Breast cancer is a significant burden, and metastasis poses a challenge for patient survival. Disease progression involves remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The stiffness of breast cancer tissue increases due to collagen production by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which creates a favorable environment for tumor progression. Researchers have developed biomaterials to mimic in vivo tissue and explore how ECM remodeling and cell-ECM adhesions regulate tumor growth and cancer cell plasticity.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Qian Zhang, Zi-Yi An, Wen Jiang, Wei-Lin Jin, Xin-Yang He
Summary: “Collagen, a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays a crucial role in tumor progression within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent studies have shown that collagen deposition in the TME affects tumor progression and interacts with tumor cells in complex ways. These findings highlight the potential of collagen as a target for cancer therapy.”
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hui Li, Yue Zheng, Yu Long Han, Shengqiang Cai, Ming Guo
Summary: By conducting pressure-controlled inflation and deflation experiments, the study directly measured the nonlinear mechanics of basement membranes. It was found that basement membranes act as permeable, hyperelastic materials, exhibiting a remarkable nonlinear stiffening behavior to avoid structural softening and maintain sufficient confining stress to enclosed tissues.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Claudia Tanja Mierke
Summary: The viscoelastic response of biological materials, especially the extracellular matrix, is crucial in influencing cellular behavior and the overall shape and function of tissues. However, the impact of viscoelasticity on the functional phenotype of tumor extracellular matrices remains unclear, and ongoing research and development in biophysical technologies are needed to further explore this relationship.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Guanghui Jiang, Bulei Wang, Yuwen Wang, Haoyue Kong, Yufei Wang, Peng Gao, Minghao Guo, Wenna Li, Jian Zhang, Zhezhi Wang, Junfeng Niu
Summary: This study extracted and purified a new low molecular weight neutral polysaccharide (B. striata glucomannan, BSP) from Bletilla striata and evaluated its activities for alleviating liver fibrosis. BSP was found to attenuate liver fibrosis through the TLR2/TLR4-MyD88-NF-kappa B signaling pathway, providing theoretical foundations for its potential application as an antiliver fibrosis platform.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
M. R. Grobbel, L. C. Lee, S. W. Watts, G. D. Fink, S. Roccabianca
Summary: This study investigated the contributions of collagen fiber network and myocytes to myocardial residual stress/strain in hypertensive rats fed with high-fat diet. The results showed that hypertension leads to reduced residual stress/strain in male and female rats, with collagen remaining the largest contributor, and sex-specific remodeling features were identified in both hypertensive and normotensive animals.
EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Orestis G. Andriotis, Mathis Nalbach, Philipp J. Thurner
Summary: Collagen fibrils are the fundamental structural elements in vertebrate animals, providing mechanical support to load-bearing tissues. Extensive research has been conducted to understand the formation and mechanical function of these fibrils, resulting in a wealth of knowledge and new questions. This review examines the current understanding of the mechanical properties of existing fibrils, specifically focusing on their response to tension and the gaps in knowledge that remain to be explored.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Effie E. Bastounis, Prathima Radhakrishnan, Christopher K. Prinz, Julie A. Theriot
Summary: Understanding the interaction between host cells and bacterial pathogens is crucial for combating infectious diseases. Both chemical and mechanical signals play a role in this interaction. Bacterial pathogens have developed mechanisms to alter the mechanical properties of host cells to promote their own survival and dissemination, while host responses to infection rely on mechanical alterations to limit the spread of infection. Bioengineering tools and techniques can be used to measure host cell mechanics during infection and explore the modulation of infection by mechanical signals.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Benjamin R. Freedman, Kwasi Adu-Berchie, Carrie Barnum, George W. Fryhofer, Nabeel S. Salka, Snehal Shetye, Louis J. Soslowsky
Summary: This study investigates the effect of surgical repair on Achilles tendon healing and finds that repaired tendons have inferior mechanical properties and exhibit enriched inflammatory gene signatures, while non-repaired tendons show increased expression of markers associated with tissue development and mechano-activation.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Maria Rafaeva, Adina R. D. Jensen, Edward R. Horton, Kamilla W. Zornhagen, Jan E. Strobech, Lutz Fleischhauer, Alejandro E. Mayorca-Guiliani, Sebastian R. Nielsen, Dina S. Gronseth, Filip Kus, Erwin M. Schoof, Luis Arnes, Manuel Koch, Hauke Clausen-Schaumann, Valerio Izzi, Raphael Reuten, Janine T. Erler
Summary: The desmoplastic reaction observed in many cancers, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancer, is a significant indicator of disease progression and prognosis. Alterations in stromal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) within desmoplasia play a crucial role in driving cancer progression. Using fibroblast-derived matrices (FDMs), it was found that cancer cells have increased growth on cancer associated FDMs compared to FDMs derived from non-malignant tissue fibroblasts. Compositional, structural, and mechanical analyses revealed significant differences in ECM characteristics between normal and cancer-associated stroma at the primary tumor site.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Constancio Gonzalez-Obeso, Emily Jane Hartzell, Ryan Albert Scheel, David L. Kaplan
Summary: Effective drug delivery is crucial for successful medical treatment. Silks and recombinant silks have emerged as preferred polymeric drug delivery systems due to their unique properties and tailored physicochemical characteristics.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maobin Xie, Liming Lian, Xuan Mu, Zeyu Luo, Carlos Ezio Garciamendez-Mijares, Zhenrui Zhang, Arturo Lopez, Jennifer Manriquez, Xiao Kuang, Junqi Wu, Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Federico Zertuche Gonzalez, Gang Li, Guosheng Tang, Sushila Maharjan, Jie Guo, David L. Kaplan, Yu Shrike Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates the rapid volumetric printing of unmodified silk sericin and silk fibroin inks, which exhibit shape-memory and tuneable mechanical properties. The inks are cytocompatible, providing expanded bioink libraries for volumetric additive manufacturing and offering potential for diverse biomedical applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jaewon Choi, Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Onur Hasturk, Thomas Falcucci, Ya Yao, David L. Kaplan
Summary: This study presents a new strategy to fabricate silk protein-based aerosols and silk fibers instantaneously in situ using a spray device, without the need for complicated and costly advanced manufacturing techniques. The key to success lies in the conformational transition of silk fibroin from random coil to beta-sheet before spraying, achieved by mixing silk and polyethylene glycol solutions in the spray device. The system utilizes green solvents and shear and elongational flow to provide a portable and user-friendly method for drug delivery carriers and surface coatings.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Jose A. Foppiani, Allan Weidman, Angelica Hernandez Alvarez, Lauren Valentine, Karthika Devi, David L. Kaplan, Samuel J. Lin
Summary: This systematic review investigates the clinical application and patient outcomes of various innovative non-suture silk and silk-containing products. A total of nine studies were included in the qualitative analysis, covering the use of silk in wound dressings, topical application, breast reconstruction, and treatment of gynecological conditions. The results demonstrate the advantageous clinical properties of silk products in terms of structure, immune response, and wound healing modulation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luciana d'Amone, Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Nicholas Ostrovsky-Snider, David L. Kaplan, Fiorenzo G. Omenetto
Summary: Mucus lines all surfaces of the human body not covered by skin and provides lubrication, hydration, and protection. The properties of mucus are influenced by changes in pH that may occur due to physiological conditions and pathological circumstances. Using biopolymers that can adhere to mucus in different conditions to reinforce the mucus barrier can be a useful strategy for protecting the underlying mucosae from damage.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Andrew J. Stout, Miriam L. Rittenberg, Michelle Shub, Michael K. Saad, Addison B. Mirliani, James Dolgin, David L. Kaplan
Summary: The development of cost-effective serum-free media is crucial for the economic viability of cultured meat. This study successfully replaced recombinant albumin, which is a high-cost component, with rapeseed protein isolate in a serum-free medium called Beefy-R. The new medium showed improved growth and maintained cell phenotype and myogenicity of bovine satellite cells, offering a sustainable and low-cost alternative for muscle stem cell culture in cultured meat production.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ying Pei, Wen Yang, Keyong Tang, David L. Kaplan
Summary: Collagen presents a hierarchical multilevel structure that achieves an ideal balance of mechanical strength and toughness. Isolation of mesostructured aggregates of collagen from biological tissues enables the construction of new collagen materials with ideal mechanical performance. The use of these mesostructural components has shown promise in various applications.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qiongling Chen, Jinchuang Zhang, Yujie Zhang, Haodong Liu, Tongqing Li, Qiang Wang, David L. Kaplan
Summary: This study investigated the interactions between pea protein and fatty acids as well as the effect on protein conformational changes during high-moisture extrusion processing. The results showed that fatty acids induced the exposure of hydrophobic groups, weakened hydrogen bonds, and affected the aggregation of protein subunits. Unsaturated fatty acids limited protein chain refolding and covalent interactions. Additionally, stearic acid promoted the formation of fibrous structures.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Marin-Quilez, Lorena Diaz-Ajenjo, Christian A. A. Di Buduo, Ana Zamora-Canovas, Maria Luisa Lozano, Rocio Benito, Jose Ramon Gonzalez-Porras, Alessandra Balduini, Jose Rivera, Jose Maria Bastida
Summary: Protein glycosylation, including sialylation, is important for various biological processes. Carbohydrate conjugation to molecules and receptors is critical for normal hematopoiesis and platelet regulation. More than 200 enzymes are involved in proper glycosylation and sialylation. Genetic alterations in GNE, SLC35A1, GALE, and B4GALT can lead to syndromic manifestations, severe inherited thrombocytopenia, and hemorrhagic complications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jianbing Wu, Wenjun Guo, Yongfeng Wang, Jian Liu, Heng Wang, Zhaozhu Zheng, Xiaoqin Wang, David L. Kaplan
Summary: Encapsulation of fragrances in silk fibroin microspheres was investigated in this study. Certain fragrances showed higher affinities to silk, resulting in better microsphere formation and higher fragrance loading. The citral-SFMSs exhibited longer shelf life and sustained release. This method has potential applications in textile finishing, cosmetics, and the food industry.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Mario Milazzo, Vincent Fitzpatrick, Crystal E. Owens, Igor M. Carraretto, Gareth H. McKinley, David L. Kaplan, Markus J. Buehler
Summary: This study investigates the rheology, printability, and prosthetic mechanical properties of HA and HA-silk protein composites, highlighting the roles of composition and water content. The inclusion of silk improves the quality of printed items by reducing underextrusion and slumping. A printing map is constructed to guide the manufacturing of HA-based inks for biomedical applications requiring sub-millimetric features.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marta G. Fuster, Mercedes G. Montalban, Imane Moulefera, Gloria Villora, David L. Kaplan
Summary: In this study, folic acid-conjugated silk nanoparticles were used to deliver the anticancer drug ibrutinib (IB) to cancer cells with folate receptor overexpression. The study confirmed that the functionalized nanoparticles were internalized by cancer cells, mediated by folate receptors. This suggests that the developed nanocarrier can enhance IB uptake in cancer cells and be used for drug targeting applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Onur Hasturk, Thomas Falcucci, David L. Kaplan
Summary: Silk fibroin is widely used in various medical fields such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and medical devices. Advancements in silk chemistry and biomaterial designs have resulted in exciting tools for creating new silk-based materials and technologies. Selective chemistries can enhance or modify the properties of silk to address challenges in medically relevant materials.
NATURE REVIEWS CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kirsten R. Trinidad, Reina Ashizawa, Amin Nikkhah, Cameron Semper, Christian Casolaro, David L. Kaplan, Alexei Savchenko, Nicole Tichenor Blackstone
Summary: Growth factors are critical components in cultivated meat production, but their environmental impacts have not been accurately quantified in current assessments. This study conducted a life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of recombinant growth factor production for cultivated meat applications. The results show that even in small quantities, recombinant growth factors can have significant environmental impacts. Future research should explore sustainable production methods or alternative options with lower environmental impacts.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Gang Xu, Liying Xiao, Peng Guo, Yuanyuan Wang, Shiyu Ke, Guozhong Lyu, Xiangsheng Ding, Qiang Lu, David L. Kaplan
Summary: The study developed an assembly strategy to regulate multiple cues in the same scaffold. The results showed that the multiple cues in the scaffold could promote vascularization and accelerate wound healing.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)