Biomaterial Strategies to Bolster Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Repair of the Central Nervous System.

Stem cell therapies have the potential to not only repair, but to regenerate tissue of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies demonstrate that transplanted stem cells can differentiate into neurons and integrate with the intact circuitry after traumatic injury. Unfortunately, the positive findings described in rodent models have not been replicated in clinical trials, where the burden to maintain the cell viability necessary for tissue repair becomes more challenging. Low transplant survival remains the greatest barrier to stem cell-mediated repair of the CNS, often with fewer than 1-2% of the transplanted cells remaining after 1 week. Strategic transplantation parameters, such as injection location, cell concentration, and transplant timing achieve only modest improvements in stem cell transplant survival and appear inconsistent across studies. Biomaterials provide researchers with a means to significantly improve stem cell transplant survival through two mechanisms: (1) a vehicle to deliver and protect the stem cells and (2) a substrate to control the cytotoxic injury environment. These biomaterial strategies can alleviate cell death associated with delivery to the injury and can be used to limit cell death after transplantation by limiting cell exposure to cytotoxic signals. Moreover, it is likely that control of the injury environment with biomaterials will lead to a more reliable support for transplanted cell populations. This review will highlight the challenges associated with cell delivery in the CNS and the advances in biomaterial development and deployment for stem cell therapies necessary to bolster stem cell-mediated repair.

IL-10 lentivirus-laden hydrogel tubes increase spinal progenitor survival and neuronal differentiation after spinal cord injury.

A complex cellular cascade characterizes the pathophysiological response following spinal cord injury (SCI) limiting regeneration. Biomaterial and stem cell combination therapies together have shown synergistic effects, compared to the independent benefits of each intervention, and represent a promising approach towards regaining function after injury. In this study, we combine our polyethylene glycol (PEG) cell delivery platform with lentiviral-mediated overexpression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 to improve mouse embryonic Day 14 (E14) spinal progenitor transplant survival. Immediately following injury in a mouse SCI hemisection model, five PEG tubes were implanted followed by direct injection into the tubes of lentivirus encoding for IL-10. Two weeks after tube implantation, mouse E14 spinal progenitors were injected directly into the integrated tubes, which served as a soft substrate for cell transplantation. Together, the tubes with the IL-10 encoding lentivirus improved E14 spinal progenitor survival, assessed at 2 weeks posttransplantation (4 weeks postinjury). On average, 8.1% of E14 spinal progenitors survived in mice receiving IL-10 lentivirus-laden tubes compared with 0.7% in mice receiving transplants without tubes, an 11.5-fold difference. Surviving E14 spinal progenitors gave rise to neurons when injected into tubes. Axon elongation and remyelination were observed, in addition to a significant increase in functional recovery in mice receiving IL-10 lentivirus-laden tubes with E14 spinal progenitor delivery compared to the injury only control by 4 weeks postinjury. All other conditions did not exhibit increased stepping until 8 or 12 weeks postinjury. This system affords increased control over the transplantation microenvironment, offering the potential to improve stem cell-mediated tissue regeneration.

Nanoparticle-Based Delivery to Treat Spinal Cord Injury-a Mini-review.

There is an increasing need to develop improved and non-invasive strategies to treat spinal cord injury (SCI). Nanoparticles (NPs) are an enabling technology to improve drug delivery, modulate inflammatory responses, and restore functional responses following SCI. However, the complex pathophysiology associated with SCI presents several distinct challenges that must be overcome for sufficient NP drug delivery to the spinal cord. The objective of this mini-review is to highlight the physiological challenges and cell types available for modulation and discuss several promising advancements using NPs to improve SCI treatment. We will focus our discussion on recent innovative approaches in NP drug delivery and how the implementation of multifactorial approaches to address the proinflammatory and complex immune dysfunction in SCI offers significant potential to improve outcomes in SCI.

Porous Silicon Nanoparticles Embedded in Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanofiber Scaffolds Deliver Neurotrophic Payloads to Enhance Neuronal Growth.

Scaffolds made from biocompatible polymers provide physical cues to direct the extension of neurites and to encourage repair of damaged nerves. The inclusion of neurotrophic payloads in these scaffolds can substantially enhance regrowth and repair processes. However, many promising neurotrophic candidates are excluded from this approach due to incompatibilities with the polymer or with the polymer processing conditions. This work provides one solution to this problem by incorporating porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) that are pre-loaded with the therapeutic into a polymer scaffold during fabrication. The nanoparticle-drug-polymer hybrids are prepared in the form of oriented poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanofiber scaffolds. We test three different therapeutic payloads: bpV(HOpic), a small molecule inhibitor of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN); an RNA aptamer specific to tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (TrkB); and the protein nerve growth factor (NGF). Each therapeutic is loaded using a loading chemistry that is optimized to slow the rate of release of these water-soluble payloads. The drug-loaded pSiNP-nanofiber hybrids release approximately half of their TrkB aptamer, bpV(HOpic), or NGF payload in 2, 10, and >40 days, respectively. The nanofiber hybrids increase neurite extension relative to drug-free control nanofibers in a dorsal root ganglion explant assay.

Combinatorial lentiviral gene delivery of pro-oligodendrogenic factors for improving myelination of regenerating axons after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in paralysis below the injury and strategies are being developed that support axonal regrowth, yet recovery lags, in part, because many axons are not remyelinated. Herein, we investigated strategies to increase myelination of regenerating axons by overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA and noggin either alone or in combination in a mouse SCI model. Noggin and PDGF-AA have been identified as factors that enhance recruitment and differentiation of endogenous progenitors to promote myelination. Lentivirus encoding for these factors was delivered from a multichannel bridge, which we have previously shown creates a permissive environment and supports robust axonal growth through channels. The combination of noggin+PDGF enhanced total myelination of regenerating axons relative to either factor alone, and importantly, enhanced functional recovery relative to the control condition. The increase in myelination was consistent with an increase in oligodendrocyte-derived myelin, which was also associated with a greater density of cells of an oligodendroglial lineage relative to each factor individually and control conditions. These results suggest enhanced myelination of regenerating axons by noggin+PDGF that act on oligodendrocyte-lineage cells post-SCI, which ultimately led to improved functional outcomes.

Tissue Engineering Approaches to Modulate the Inflammatory Milieu following Spinal Cord Injury.

Tissue engineering strategies have shown promise in promoting healing and regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI); however, these strategies are limited by inflammation and the immune response. Infiltration of cells of the innate and adaptive immune responses and the inflammation that follows cause secondary damage adjacent to the injury, increased scarring, and a potently inhibitory environment for the regeneration of damaged neurons. While the inflammation that ensues is typically associated with limited regeneration, the immune response is a crucial element in the closing of the blood-brain barrier, minimizing the spread of injury, and initiating healing. This review summarizes the strategies that have been developed to modulate the immune response towards an anti-inflammatory environment that is permissive to the regeneration of neurons, glia, and parenchyma. We focus on the use of biomaterials, biologically active molecules, gene therapy, nanoparticles, and stem cells to modulate the immune response, and illustrate concepts for future therapies. Current clinical treatments for SCI are limited to systemic hypothermia or methylprednisolone, which both act by systemically mitigating the effects of immune response but have marginal efficacy. Herein, we discuss emerging research strategies to further enhance these clinical treatments by directly targeting specific aspects of the immune response.

Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI.

Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair. While transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSC) myelinate axons after spinal cord injury (SCI), hNSC fate is highly influenced by the SCI inflammatory microenvironment, also limiting functional repair. Accordingly, we investigated the combination of PLG scaffold bridges with hNSC to improve histological and functional outcome after SCI. In vitro, hNSC culture on a PLG scaffold increased oligodendroglial lineage selection after inflammatory challenge. In vivo, acute PLG bridge implantation followed by chronic hNSC transplantation demonstrated a robust capacity of donor human cells to migrate into PLG bridge channels along regenerating axons and integrate into the host spinal cord as myelinating oligodendrocytes and synaptically integrated neurons. Axons that regenerated through the PLG bridge formed synaptic circuits that connected the ipsilateral forelimb muscle to contralateral motor cortex. hNSC transplantation significantly enhanced the total number of regenerating and myelinated axons identified within the PLG bridge. Finally, the combination of acute bridge implantation and hNSC transplantation exhibited robust improvement in locomotor recovery. These data identify a successful strategy to enhance neurorepair through a temporally layered approach using acute bridge implantation and chronic cell transplantation to spare tissue, promote regeneration, and maximize the function of new axonal connections.

Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI.

Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair. While transplanted human neural stem cells (hNSC) myelinate axons after spinal cord injury (SCI), hNSC fate is highly influenced by the SCI inflammatory microenvironment, also limiting functional repair. Accordingly, we investigated the combination of PLG scaffold bridges with hNSC to improve histological and functional outcome after SCI. In vitro, hNSC culture on a PLG scaffold increased oligodendroglial lineage selection after inflammatory challenge. In vivo, acute PLG bridge implantation followed by chronic hNSC transplantation demonstrated a robust capacity of donor human cells to migrate into PLG bridge channels along regenerating axons and integrate into the host spinal cord as myelinating oligodendrocytes and synaptically integrated neurons. Axons that regenerated through the PLG bridge formed synaptic circuits that connected ipsilateral forelimb muscle to contralateral motor cortex. hNSC transplantation significantly enhanced the total number of regenerating and myelinated axons identified within the PLG bridge. Finally, the combination of acute bridge implantation and hNSC transplantation exhibited robust improvement in locomotor recovery vs. control and hNSC transplant alone. These data identify a successful novel strategy to enhance neurorepair through a temporally layered approach using acute bridge implantation and chronic cell transplantation to spare tissue, promote regeneration, and maximize the function of new axonal connections.

Biomaterial-targeted precision nanoparticle delivery to the injured spinal cord.

Drug delivery requires precision in timing, location, and dosage to achieve therapeutic benefits. Challenges in addressing all three of these critical criteria result in poor temporal dexterity, widespread accumulation and off-target effects, and high doses with the potential for toxicity. To address these challenges, we have developed the BiomatErial Accumulating Carriers for On-demand Nanotherapy (BEACON) platform that utilizes an implantable biomaterial to serve as a target for systemically delivered nanoparticles (NPs). With the BEACON system, administered NPs are conjugated with a ligand that has high affinity for a receptor in the implanted biomaterial. To test BEACON, an in vivo spinal cord injury (SCI) model was used as it provides an injury model where the three identified criteria can be tested as it is a dynamic and complicated injury model with no currently approved therapies. Through our work, we have demonstrated temporal dexterity in NP administration by injecting 6 days post-SCI, decreased off-target accumulation with a significant drop in liver accumulation, and retention of our NPs in the target biomaterial. The BEACON system can be applied broadly, beyond the nervous system, to improve systemically delivered NP accumulation at an implanted biomaterial target. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Targeted drug delivery approaches have the potential to improve therapeutic regimens for patients on a case-by-case basis. Improved localization of a therapeutic to site of interest can result in increased efficacy and limit the need for repeat dosing. Unfortunately, targeted strategies can fall short when receptors on cells or tissues are too widespread or change over the course of disease or injury progression. The BEACON system developed herein eliminates the need to target a cell or tissue receptor by targeting an implantable biomaterial with location-controllable accumulation and sustained presentation over time. The targeting paradigm presented by BEACON is widely applicable throughout tissue engineering and regenerative medicine without the need to retool for each new application.

Acute Implantation of Aligned Hydrogel Tubes Supports Delayed Spinal Progenitor Implantation.

An important role of neural stem cell transplantation is repopulating neural and glial cells that actively promote repair following spinal cord injury (SCI). However, stem cell survival after transplantation is severely hampered by the inflammatory environment that arises after SCI. Biomaterials have a demonstrated history of managing post-SCI inflammation and can serve as a vehicle for stem cell delivery. In this study, we utilize macroporous polyethylene glycol (PEG) tubes, which were previously found to modulate the post-SCI microenvironment, to serve as a viable, soft substrate for injecting mouse embryonic day 14 (E14) spinal progenitors 2 weeks after tube implantation into a mouse SCI model. At 2 weeks after transplantation (4 weeks after injury), 4.3% of transplanted E14 spinal progenitors survived when transplanted directly into tubes compared to 0.7% when transplanted into the injury alone. Surviving E14 spinal progenitors exhibited a commitment to the neuronal lineage at 4 weeks post-injury, as assessed by both early and late phenotypic markers. Mice receiving tubes with E14 spinal progenitor transplantations had on average 21 ± 4 axons/mm2 regenerated compared to 8 ± 1 axons/mm2 for the injury only control, which corresponded with a significant increase in remyelination compared to the injury only control, while all conditions exhibited improved forelimb control 4 weeks after injury compared to the injury only. Collectively, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using PEG tubes to modify the implantation site and improve survival of transplanted E14 spinal progenitors.

Polycistronic Delivery of IL-10 and NT-3 Promotes Oligodendrocyte Myelination and Functional Recovery in a Mouse Spinal Cord Injury Model.

One million estimated cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) have been reported in the United States and repairing an injury has constituted a difficult clinical challenge. The complex, dynamic, inhibitory microenvironment postinjury, which is characterized by proinflammatory signaling from invading leukocytes and lack of sufficient factors that promote axonal survival and elongation, limits regeneration. Herein, we investigated the delivery of polycistronic vectors, which have the potential to coexpress factors that target distinct barriers to regeneration, from a multiple channel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge to enhance spinal cord regeneration. In this study, we investigated polycistronic delivery of IL-10 that targets proinflammatory signaling, and NT-3 that targets axonal survival and elongation. A significant increase was observed in the density of regenerative macrophages for IL-10+NT-3 condition relative to conditions without IL-10. Furthermore, combined delivery of IL-10+NT-3 produced a significant increase of axonal density and notably myelinated axons compared with all other conditions. A significant increase in functional recovery was observed for IL-10+NT-3 delivery at 12 weeks postinjury that was positively correlated to oligodendrocyte myelinated axon density, suggesting oligodendrocyte-mediated myelination as an important target to improve functional recovery. These results further support the use of multiple channel PLG bridges as a growth supportive substrate and platform to deliver bioactive agents to modulate the SCI microenvironment and promote regeneration and functional recovery. Impact statement Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a complex microenvironment that contains multiple barriers to regeneration and functional recovery. Multiple factors are necessary to address these barriers to regeneration, and polycistronic lentiviral gene therapy represents a strategy to locally express multiple factors simultaneously. A bicistronic vector encoding IL-10 and NT-3 was delivered from a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) bridge, which provides structural support that guides regeneration, resulting in increased axonal growth, myelination, and subsequent functional recovery. These results demonstrate the opportunity of targeting multiple barriers to SCI regeneration for additive effects.

Delivery of Interleukin-4-Encoding Lentivirus Using Multiple-Channel Bridges Enhances Nerve Regeneration.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Facial nerve injury is a source of major morbidity. This study investigated the neuroregenerative effects of inducing an anti-inflammatory environment when reconstructing a facial nerve defect with a multichannel bridge containing interleukin-4 (IL-4)-encoding lentivirus. STUDY DESIGN: Animal study. METHODS: Eighteen adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, all of which sustained a facial nerve gap defect. Group I had reconstruction performed via an IL-4 multichannel bridge, group II had a multichannel bridge with saline placed, and group III had no reconstruction. RESULTS: Quantitative histomorphometric data were assessed 10 weeks after injury. On post hoc analysis, the IL-4 bridge group demonstrated superior regeneration compared to bridge alone on fiber density (mean = 2,380 ± 297 vs. 1,680 ± 441 fibers/mm2 , P = .05) and latency time (mean = 2.9 ms ± 0.6 ms vs. 3.6 ms ± 0.3 ms, P < .001). There was significantly greater regeneration in the IL-4 bridge group versus unreconstructed defect for total fiber and density measurements (P ≤ .05). Comparison of facial motor-evoked distal latencies between the IL-4 bridge group versus bridge alone revealed significant electrophysiological improvement at week 8 (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation has been implicated in a variety of otolaryngologic disorders. This study demonstrates that placement of a multichannel bridge with lentivirus encoding IL-4 improves regenerative outcomes following facial nerve gap injury in rodents. This effect is likely mediated by promotion of an anti-inflammatory environment, and these findings may inform future therapeutic approaches to facial nerve injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 2020.

PLG Bridge Implantation in Chronic SCI Promotes Axonal Elongation and Myelination.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that may cause permanent functional loss below the level of injury, including paralysis and loss of bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Patients are rarely treated immediately, and this delay is associated with tissue loss and scar formation that can make regeneration at chronic time points more challenging. Herein, we investigated regeneration using a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) multichannel bridge implanted into a chronic SCI following surgical resection of necrotic tissue. We characterized the dynamic injury response and noted that scar formation decreased at 4 and 8 weeks postinjury (wpi), yet macrophage infiltration increased between 4 and 8 wpi. Subsequently, the scar tissue was resected and bridges were implanted at 4 and 8 wpi. We observed robust axon growth into the bridge and remyelination at 6 months after initial injury. Axon densities were increased for 8 week bridge implantation relative to 4 week bridge implantation, whereas greater myelination, particularly by Schwann cells, was observed with 4 week bridge implantation. The process of bridge implantation did not significantly decrease the postinjury function. Collectively, this chronic model follows the pathophysiology of human SCI, and bridge implantation allows for clear demarcation of the regenerated tissue. These data demonstrate that bridge implantation into chronic SCI supports regeneration and provides a platform to investigate strategies to buttress and expand regeneration of neural tissue at chronic time points.

Aligned hydrogel tubes guide regeneration following spinal cord injury.

Directing the organization of cells into a tissue with defined architectures is one use of biomaterials for regenerative medicine. To this end, hydrogels are widely investigated as they have mechanical properties similar to native soft tissues and can be formed in situ to conform to a defect. Herein, we describe the development of porous hydrogel tubes fabricated through a two-step polymerization process with an intermediate microsphere phase that provides macroscale porosity (66.5%) for cell infiltration. These tubes were investigated in a spinal cord injury model, with the tubes assembled to conform to the injury and to provide an orientation that guides axons through the injury. Implanted tubes had good apposition and were integrated with the host tissue due to cell infiltration, with a transient increase in immune cell infiltration at 1 week that resolved by 2 weeks post injury compared to a gelfoam control. The glial scar was significantly reduced relative to control, which enabled robust axon growth along the inner and outer surface of the tubes. Axon density within the hydrogel tubes (1744 axons/mm2) was significantly increased more than 3-fold compared to the control (456 axons/mm2), with approximately 30% of axons within the tube myelinated. Furthermore, implantation of hydrogel tubes enhanced functional recovery relative to control. This modular assembly of porous tubes to fill a defect and directionally orient tissue growth could be extended beyond spinal cord injury to other tissues, such as vascular or musculoskeletal tissue. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Tissue engineering approaches that mimic the native architecture of healthy tissue are needed following injury. Traditionally, pre-molded scaffolds have been implemented but require a priori knowledge of wound geometries. Conversely, hydrogels can conform to any injury, but do not guide bi-directional regeneration. In this work, we investigate the feasibility of a system of modular hydrogel tubes to promote bi-directional regeneration after spinal cord injury. This system allows for tubes to be cut to size during surgery and implanted one-by-one to fill any injury, while providing bi-directional guidance. Moreover, this system of tubes can be broadly applied to tissue engineering approaches that require a modular guidance system, such as repair to vascular or musculoskeletal tissues.

Spinal Progenitor-Laden Bridges Support Earlier Axon Regeneration Following Spinal Cord Injury.

IMPACT STATEMENT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in loss of tissue innervation below the injury. Spinal progenitors have a greater ability to repair the damage and can be injected into the injury, but their regenerative potential is hampered by their poor survival after transplantation. Biomaterials can create a cell delivery platform and generate a more hospitable microenvironment for the progenitors within the injury. In this work, polymeric bridges are used to deliver embryonic spinal progenitors to the injury, resulting in increased progenitor survival and subsequent regeneration and functional recovery, thus demonstrating the importance of combined therapeutic approaches for SCI.

Factors Released from Endothelial Cells Exposed to Flow Impact Adhesion, Proliferation, and Fate Choice in the Adult Neural Stem Cell Lineage.

The microvasculature within the neural stem cell (NSC) niche promotes self-renewal and regulates lineage progression. Previous work identified endothelial-produced soluble factors as key regulators of neural progenitor cell (NPC) fate and proliferation; however, endothelial cells (ECs) are sensitive to local hemodynamics, and the effect of this key physiological process has not been defined. In this study, we evaluated adult mouse NPC response to soluble factors isolated from static or dynamic (flow) EC cultures. Endothelial factors generated under dynamic conditions significantly increased neuronal differentiation, while those released under static conditions stimulated oligodendrocyte differentiation. Flow increases EC release of neurogenic factors and of heparin sulfate glycosaminoglycans that increase their bioactivity, likely underlying the enhanced neuronal differentiation. Additionally, endothelial factors, especially from static conditions, promoted adherent growth. Together, our data suggest that blood flow may impact proliferation, adhesion, and the neuron-glial fate choice of adult NPCs, with implications for diseases and aging that reduce flow.

Controlled release strategies for modulating immune responses to promote tissue regeneration.

Advances in the field of tissue engineering have enhanced the potential of regenerative medicine, yet the efficacy of these strategies remains incomplete, and is limited by the innate and adaptive immune responses. The immune response associated with injury or disease combined with that mounted to biomaterials, transplanted cells, proteins, and gene therapies vectors can contribute to the inability to fully restore tissue function. Blocking immune responses such as with anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents are either ineffective, as the immune response contributes significantly to regeneration, or have significant side effects. This review describes targeted strategies to modulate the immune response in order to limit tissue damage following injury, promote an anti-inflammatory environment that leads to regeneration, and induce antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance that can target degenerative diseases that destroy tissues and promote engraftment of transplanted cells. Focusing on targeted immuno-modulation, we describe local delivery techniques to sites of inflammation as well as systemic approaches that preferentially target subsets of immune populations.

Rapid assessment of migration and proliferation: a novel 3D high-throughput platform for rational and combinatorial screening of tissue-specific biomaterials.

Designing an ideal biomaterial supportive of multicellular tissue repair is challenging, especially with a poor understanding of the synergy between constituent proteins and growth factors. A brute-force approach, based on screening all possible combinations of proteins and growth factors, is inadequate due to the prohibitively large experimental space coupled with current low-throughput screening techniques. A high-throughput screening platform based on rational and combinatorial strategies for design and testing of proteins and growth factors can significantly impact the discovery of novel tissue-specific biomaterials. Here, we report the development of a flexible high-throughput screening platform, Rapid Assessment of Migration and Proliferation (RAMP), to rapidly investigate cell viability, proliferation, and migration in response to highly miniaturized three-dimensional biomaterial cultures (4-20 µL) with sparingly low cell densities (63-1000 cells per µL for cell arrays; 1 µL of 1000-10,000 cells per µL for migration arrays). The predictions made by RAMP on the efficacy and potency of the biomaterials are in agreement with the predictions made by conventional assays but at a throughput that is at least 100-1000-fold higher. The RAMP assay is therefore a novel approach for the rapid discovery of tissue-specific biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.