Complexation of CXCL12, FGF-2 and VEGF with Heparin Modulates the Protein Release from Alginate Microbeads.

Long-term delivery of growth factors and immunomodulatory agents is highly required to support the integrity of tissue in engineering constructs, e.g., formation of vasculature, and to minimize immune response in a recipient. However, for proteins with a net positive charge at the physiological pH, controlled delivery from negatively charged alginate (Alg) platforms is challenging due to electrostatic interactions that can hamper the protein release. In order to regulate such interactions between proteins and the Alg matrix, we propose to complex proteins of interest in this study - CXCL12, FGF-2, VEGF - with polyanionic heparin prior to their encapsulation into Alg microbeads of high content of α-L-guluronic acid units (high-G). This strategy effectively reduced protein interactions with Alg (as shown by model ITC and SPR experiments) and, depending on the protein type, afforded control over the protein release for at least one month. The released proteins retained their in vitro bioactivity: CXCL12 stimulated the migration of Jurkat cells, and FGF-2 and VEGF induced proliferation and maturation of HUVECs. The presence of heparin also intensified protein biological efficiency. The proposed approach for encapsulation of proteins with a positive net charge into high-G Alg hydrogels is promising for controlled long-term protein delivery under in vivo conditions.

pH-responsive and antibacterial properties of self-assembled multilayer films based on chitosan and tannic acid.

Polyelectrolyte layer-by-layer (LbL) films that disintegrate under physiological conditions are intensively studied as coatings to enable the release of bioactive components. Herein, we report on the interactions and pH-stability of LbL films composed of chitosan (CH) or N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (CMCH) and tannic acid (TA), employed to guarantee the film disintegration. The self-assembly of TA with CH and CMCH at pH 5 and with CMCH at pH 7.4 were proven by turbidimetric, surface plasmon resonance and UV-Vis analyses. The LbL films exhibited pH-dependent properties; CMCH/TA films prepared at pH 7.4 showed exponential growth as well as a higher layer thickness and surface roughness, whereas films prepared at pH 5 grew linearly and were smoother. The film stability varied with the pH used for film assembly; CH/TA films assembled at pH 5 were unstable at pH 8.5, whereas CMCH/TA films assembled at pH 7.4 disintegrated at pH 4. All films exhibited a similar disassembly at pH 7.4. The coatings reduced the adhesion of E. coli and S. aureus by approximately 80%. CMCH-terminated CMCH/TA films were more resistant to bacterial adhesion, whereas CH-terminated CH/TA films demonstrated stronger killing activity. The prepared pH-triggered decomposable LbL films could be used as degradable coatings that allow the release of therapeutics for biomedical applications and also prevent bacterial adhesion.

Correction: Bioengineering a pre-vascularized pouch for subsequent islet transplantation using VEGF-loaded polylactide capsules.

Correction for 'Bioengineering a pre-vascularized pouch for subsequent islet transplantation using VEGF-loaded polylactide capsules' by Naresh Kasoju et al., Biomater. Sci., 2020, DOI: 10.1039/c9bm01280j.

Bioengineering a pre-vascularized pouch for subsequent islet transplantation using VEGF-loaded polylactide capsules.

The effectiveness of cell transplantation can be improved by optimization of the transplantation site. For some types of cells that form highly oxygen-demanding tissue, e.g., pancreatic islets, a successful engraftment depends on immediate and sufficient blood supply. This critical point can be avoided when cells are transplanted into a bioengineered pre-vascularized cavity which can be formed using a polymer scaffold. In our study, we tested surface-modified poly(lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) capsular scaffolds containing the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF. After each modification step (i.e., amination and heparinization), the surface properties and morphology of scaffolds were characterized by ATR-FTIR and XPS spectroscopy, and by SEM and AFM. All modifications preserved the gross capsule morphology and maintained the open pore structure. Optimized aminolysis conditions decreased the Mw of PLCL only up to 10% while generating a sufficient number of NH2 groups required for the covalent immobilization of heparin. The heparin layer served as a VEGF reservoir with an in vitro VEGF release for at least four weeks. In vivo studies revealed that to obtain highly vascularized PLCL capsules (a) the optimal VEGF dose for the capsule was 50 µg and (b) the implantation time was four weeks when implanted into the greater omentum of Lewis rats; dense fibrous tissue accompanied by vessels completely infiltrated the scaffold and created sparse granulation tissue within the internal cavity of the capsule. The prepared pre-vascularized pouch enabled the islet graft survival and functioning for at least 50 days after islet transplantation. The proposed construct can be used to create a reliable pre-vascularized pouch for cell transplantation.

Properties of polyethylene glycol supported tetraarylporphyrin in aqueous solution and its interaction with liposomal membranes.

5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin was functionalized by covalent attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of various molecular weights, 350, 2000, and 5000 Da. The properties of PEG-functionalized tetraarylporphyrins in aqueous solution and their interactions with liposomes have been studied. Electronic absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence quenching were used to monitor aggregation of porphyrin chromophores and behavior of the attached PEG chains in the aqueous solution. The tendency for aggregation of porphyrin chromophores in aqueous solution and the efficiency of fluorescence quenching by KI decrease with increasing length of PEG chain linked to the porphyrin ring. The experimental results indicate that polymer clusters are present in aqueous solution of all pegylated porphyrins. The interactions between the pegylated porphyrins and phosphatidylcholine liposomes in the aqueous solution were studied using the fluorescence methods. The apparent binding constants of porphyrin chromophores to liposomes were determined. The degree of binding was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of the attached polymer.

Which physical and structural factors of liposome carriers control their drug-loading efficiency?

The correlation between structural and physical properties of lipid membrane and its drug-loading efficiency were studied. The properties of bilayer were altered by incorporation of several lipidic modifiers: cholesterol, oleic acid, methyl oleate, and pegylated lipid. By using the molecular probe technique it was demonstrated that the membrane properties, such as micropolarity, microviscosity and free volume were considerably changed by incorporation of the modifiers. The partitioning of two different porphyrins between the bulk aqueous phase and the modified liposomes was studied using the fluorescence methods, and liposome-binding constants were determined. It was found that cholesterol reduced the partitioning of both porphyrins into liposomal bilayer. On the contrary, the incorporation of methyl oleate and pegylated lipid causes a pronounced increase in the value of the binding constants of both porphyrins. It was concluded that the free volume rather than hydrophobicity of bilayer is a governing factor in the solute partitioning into lipid bilayers.

Polymer scaffolds with no skin-effect for tissue engineering applications fabricated by thermally induced phase separation.

Thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) based methods are widely used for the fabrication of porous scaffolds for tissue engineering and related applications. However, formation of a less-/non-porous layer at the scaffold's outer surface at the air-liquid interface, often known as the skin-effect, restricts the cell infiltration inside the scaffold and therefore limits its efficacy. To this end, we demonstrate a TIPS-based process involving the exposure of the just quenched poly(lactide-co-caprolactone):dioxane phases to the pure dioxane for a short time while still being under the quenching strength, herein after termed as the second quenching (2Q). Scanning electron microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry and contact angle analysis revealed a direct correlation between the time of 2Q and the gradual disappearance of the skin, followed by the widening of the outer pores and the formation of the fibrous filaments over the surface, with no effect on the internal pore architecture and the overall porosity of scaffolds. The experiments at various quenching temperatures and polymer concentrations revealed the versatility of 2Q in removing the skin. In addition, the in vitro cell culture studies with the human primary fibroblasts showed that the scaffolds prepared by the TIPS based 2Q process, with the optimal exposure time, resulted in a higher cell seeding and viability in contrast to the scaffolds prepared by the regular TIPS. Thus, TIPS including the 2Q step is a facile, versatile and innovative approach to fabricate the polymer scaffolds with a skin-free and fully open porous surface morphology for achieving a better cell response in tissue engineering and related applications.

PEGylated Liposomes as Carriers of Hydrophobic Porphyrins.

Sterically stabilized liposomes (SSLs) (PEGylated liposomes) are applied as effective drug delivery vehicles. Understanding the interactions between hydrophobic compounds and PEGylated membranes is therefore important to determine the effectiveness of PEGylated liposomes for delivery of drugs or other bioactive substances. In this study, we have combined fluorescence quenching analysis (FQA) experiments and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the effect of membrane PEGylation on the location and orientation of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (p-THPP) that has been used in our study as a model hydrophobic compound. First, we consider the properties of p-THPP in the presence of different fluid phosphatidylcholine bilayers that we use as model systems for protein-free cell membranes. Next, we studied the interaction between PEGylated membranes and p-THPP. Our MD simulation results indicated that the arrangement of p-THPP within zwitterionic membranes is dependent on their free volume, and p-THPP solubilized in PEGylated liposomes is localized in two preferred positions: deep within the membrane (close to the center of the bilayer) and in the outer PEG corona (p-THPP molecules being wrapped with the polymer chains). Fluorescence quenching methods confirmed the results of atomistic MD simulations and showed two populations of p-THPP molecules as in MD simulations. Our results provide both an explanation for the experimental observation that PEGylation improves the drug-loading efficiency of membranes and also a more detailed molecular-level description of the interactions between porphyrins and lipid membranes.

Cellular Responses Modulated by FGF-2 Adsorbed on Albumin/Heparin Layer-by-Layer Assemblies.

In a typical cell culture system, growth factors immobilized on the cell culture surfaces can serve as a reservoir of bio-signaling molecules, without the need to supplement them additionally into the culture medium. In this paper, we report on the fabrication of albumin/heparin (Alb/Hep) assemblies for controlled binding of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). The surfaces were constructed by layer-by-layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes albumin and heparin and were subsequently stabilized by covalent crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. An analysis of the surface morphology by atomic force microscopy showed that two Alb/Hep bilayers are required to cover the surface of substrate. The formation of the Alb/Hep assemblies was monitored by the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), the infrared multiinternal reflection spectroscopy (FTIR MIRS) and UV/VIS spectroscopy. The adsorption of FGF-2 on the cross-linked Alb/Hep was followed by SPR. The results revealed that FGF-2 binds to the Alb/Hep assembly in a dose and time-dependent manner up to the surface concentration of 120 ng/cm(2). The bioactivity of the adsorbed FGF-2 was assessed in experiments in vitro, using calf pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (CPAE). CPAE cells could attach and proliferate on Alb/Hep surfaces. The adsorbed FGF-2 was bioactive and stimulated both the proliferation and the differentiation of CPAE cells. The improvement was more pronounced at a lower FGF-2 surface concentration (30 ng/cm(2)) than on surfaces with a higher concentration of FGF-2 (120 ng/cm(2)).

Dip TIPS as a facile and versatile method for fabrication of polymer foams with controlled shape, size and pore architecture for bioengineering applications.

The porous polymer foams act as a template for neotissuegenesis in tissue engineering, and, as a reservoir for cell transplants such as pancreatic islets while simultaneously providing a functional interface with the host body. The fabrication of foams with the controlled shape, size and pore structure is of prime importance in various bioengineering applications. To this end, here we demonstrate a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) based facile process for the fabrication of polymer foams with a controlled architecture. The setup comprises of a metallic template bar (T), a metallic conducting block (C) and a non-metallic reservoir tube (R), connected in sequence T-C-R. The process hereinafter termed as Dip TIPS, involves the dipping of the T-bar into a polymer solution, followed by filling of the R-tube with a freezing mixture to induce the phase separation of a polymer solution in the immediate vicinity of T-bar; Subsequent free-drying or freeze-extraction steps produced the polymer foams. An easy exchange of the T-bar of a spherical or rectangular shape allowed the fabrication of tubular, open- capsular and flat-sheet shaped foams. A mere change in the quenching time produced the foams with a thickness ranging from hundreds of microns to several millimeters. And, the pore size was conveniently controlled by varying either the polymer concentration or the quenching temperature. Subsequent in vivo studies in brown Norway rats for 4-weeks demonstrated the guided cell infiltration and homogenous cell distribution through the polymer matrix, without any fibrous capsule and necrotic core. In conclusion, the results show the "Dip TIPS" as a facile and adaptable process for the fabrication of anisotropic channeled porous polymer foams of various shapes and sizes for potential applications in tissue engineering, cell transplantation and other related fields.

Effect of PEGylation on drug entry into lipid bilayer.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is a polymer commonly used for functionalization of drug molecules to increase their bloodstream lifetime, hence efficacy. However, the interactions between the PEGylated drugs and biomembranes are not clearly understood. In this study, we employed atomic-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to consider the behavior of two drug molecules functionalized with PEG (tetraphenylporphyrin used in cancer phototherapy and biochanin A belonging to the isoflavone family) in the presence of a lipid bilayer. The commonly held view is that functionalization of a drug molecule with a polymer acts as an entropic barrier, inhibiting the penetration of the drug molecule through a cell membrane. Our results indicate that in the bloodstream there is an additional source of electrostatic repulsive interactions between the PEGylated drugs and the lipid bilayer. Both the PEG chain and lipids can bind Na(+) ions, thus effectively becoming positively charged molecules. This leads to an extra repulsive effect resulting from the presence of salt in the bloodstream. Thus, our study sheds further light on the role of PEG in drug delivery.

Novel nanostructural photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: in vitro studies.

Photosensitizing properties of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (p-THPP) functionalized by covalent attachment of one chain of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with a molecular weight of 350, 2000, or 5000 Da (p-THPP-PEG(350), p-THPP-PEG(2000), p-THPP-PEG(5000)) were studied in vitro. Dark and photo cytotoxicity of these photosensitizers delivered in solution or embedded in liposomes were evaluated on two cell lines: a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT 116) and a prostate cancer cell line (DU 145), and compared with these treated with free p-THPP. The attachment of PEG chains results in the pronounced reduction of the dark cytotoxicity of the parent porphyrin. Cell viability tests have demonstrated that the phototoxicity of pegylated porphyrins is dependent on the length of PEG chain and p-THPP-PEG(2000) exhibited the highest photodynamic efficacy for both cell lines. The encapsulation into liposomes did not improve the PDT effect. However, the liposomal formulation of p-THPP-PEG(2000) showed a greater tendency to induce apoptosis in both cell lines than the parent or pegylated porphyrin delivered in solution. The colocalization of p-THPP, p-THPP-PEG(2000) and p-THPP-PEG(2000) enclosed in liposomes with fluorescent markers for lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus (GA) was determined in the HCT 116 line. The p-THPP exhibited ubiquitous intracellular distribution with a preference for membranes: mitochondria, ER, GA, lysosomes and plasma membrane. Fluorescence of p-THPP-PEG(2000) was observed within the cytoplasm, with a stronger signal detected in membranous organelle: mitochondria, ER, GA and lysosomes. In contrast, p-THPP-PEG(2000) delivered in liposomes gave a distinct lysosomal pattern of localization.

Behavior of 2,6-bis(decyloxy)naphthalene inside lipid bilayer.

Interactions between small organic molecules and lipid or cell membranes are important because of their role in the distribution of biologically active substances inside the membrane and their permeation through the cell membranes. In the current paper, we have explored the effect of the attachment of long hydrocarbon tails on the behavior of small organic molecule inside the lipid membrane. Naphthalene with two decyloxy groups attached at the opposite sites of the ring (2,6-bis(decyloxy)naphthalene, 3) was synthesized and incorporated into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles. Fluorescence methods as well as molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to estimate the position, orientation, and migration of compound 3 in PC bilayer. It was found that the naphthalene ring of compound 3 resides in the upper acyl chain region of the bilayer and the hydrocarbon tails are directed to the center of the bilayer. As was shown with cryotransmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), such lipidlike conformation enables compound 3 to be incorporated into liposomes at a very high content without their disintegration. Moreover, compound 3 can migrate from one leaflet to other. The mechanism of this process is, however, different from that characteristic of the flip-flop event of lipid molecules in the membrane. Finally, the possible application of compound 3 as a rotational molecular probe for monitoring fluidity of liposomal membrane in the acyl side chain region was checked by studies of the effect of cholesterol on the fluorescence anisotropy of 3.