Adjuvant Delivery Method and Nanoparticle Charge Influence Peptide Amphiphile Micelle Vaccine Bioactivity.

Vaccines are an indispensable public health measure that have enabled the eradication, near elimination, and prevention of a variety of pathogens. As research continues and our understanding of immunization strategies develops, subunit vaccines have emerged as exciting alternatives to existing whole vaccine approaches. Unfortunately, subunit vaccines often possess weak antigenicity, requiring delivery devices and adjuvant supplementation to improve their utility. Peptide amphiphile micelles have recently been shown to function as both delivery devices and self-adjuvanting systems that can be readily associated with molecular adjuvants to further improve vaccine-mediated host immunity. While promising, many "design rules" associated with the plethora of underlying adjustable parameters in the generation of a peptide amphiphile micelle vaccine have yet to be uncovered. This work explores the impact micellar adjuvant complexation method and incorporated antigen type have on their ability to activate dendritic cells and induce antigen specific responses. Interestingly, electrostatic complexation of CpG to micelles resulted in improved in vitro dendritic cell activation over hydrophobic association and antigen|adjuvant co-localization influenced cell-mediated, but not antibody-mediated immune responses. These exciting results complement those previously published to build the framework of a micelle vaccine toolbox that can be leveraged for future disease-specific formulations.

Photopolymerization Parameters Influence Mechanical, Microstructural, and Cell Loading Properties of Rapidly Fabricated Cell Scaffolds.

Engineered scaffolds are commonly used to assist in cellular transplantations, providing crucial support and specific architecture for a variety of tissue engineering applications. Photopolymerization as a fabrication technique for cell scaffolds enables precise spatial and temporal control of properties and structure. One simple technique to achieve a two-dimensional structure is the use of a patterned photomask, which results in regionally selective photo-cross-linking. However, the relationships between photopolymerization parameters like light intensity and exposure time and outcomes like structural fidelity and mechanical properties are not well-established. In this work, we used photopolymerization to generate degradable polycaprolactone triacrylate (PCLTA) scaffolds with a defined microstructure. We examined the impact of light intensity and exposure time on scaffold properties such as shear modulus and micropore structure. To assess feasibility in a specific application and determine the relationship between parameter-driven properties and cell loading, we cultured retinal progenitor cells on the PCLTA scaffolds. We found that light intensity and polymerization time directly impact the scaffold stiffness and micropore structure, which in turn influenced the cell loading capacity of the scaffold. Because material stiffness and topography are known to impact cell viability and fate, understanding the effect of scaffold fabrication parameters on mechanical and structural properties is critical to optimizing cell scaffolds for specific applications.

Biocompatibility of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Progenitor Cell Grafts in Immunocompromised Rats.

Loss of photoreceptor cells is a primary feature of inherited retinal degenerative disorders including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. To restore vision in affected patients, photoreceptor cell replacement will be required. The ideal donor cells for this application are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) because they can be derived from and transplanted into the same patient obviating the need for long-term immunosuppression. A major limitation for retinal cell replacement therapy is donor cell loss associated with simple methods of cell delivery such as subretinal injections of bolus cell suspensions. Transplantation with supportive biomaterials can help maintain cellular integrity, increase cell survival, and encourage proper cellular alignment and improve integration with the host retina. Using a pig model of retinal degeneration, we recently demonstrated that polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds fabricated with two photon lithography have excellent local and systemic tolerability. In this study, we describe rapid photopolymerization-mediated production of PCL-based bioabsorbable scaffolds, a technique for loading iPSC-derived retinal progenitor cells onto the scaffold, methods of surgical transplantation in an immunocompromised rat model and tolerability of the subretinal grafts at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up (n = 150). We observed no local or systemic toxicity, nor did we observe any tumor formation despite extensive clinical evaluation, clinical chemistry, hematology, gross tissue examination and detailed histopathology. Demonstrating the local and systemic compatibility of biodegradable scaffolds carrying human iPSC-derived retinal progenitor cells is an important step toward clinical safety trials of this approach in humans.

Full-Thickness Oral Mucoperiosteal Defects: Challenges and Opportunities.

Regenerative engineering strategies for the oral mucoperiosteum, as may be needed following surgeries, such as cleft palate repair and tumor resection, are underdeveloped compared with those for maxillofacial bone. However, critical-size tissue defects left to heal by secondary intention can lead to complications, such as infection, fistula formation, scarring, and midface hypoplasia. This review describes current clinical practice for replacing mucoperiosteal tissue, including autografts and allografts. Potentially paradigm-shifting experimental regenerative engineering strategies for mucoperiosteal wound healing, such as hybrid grafts and engineered matrices, are also discussed. Throughout the review, the advantages and disadvantages of each replacement or regeneration strategy are outlined in the context of clinical outcomes, quality of life for the patient, availability of materials, and cost of care. Finally, future directions for research and development in the area of mucoperiosteum repair are proposed, with an emphasis on identifying globally available and affordable solutions for promoting mucoperiosteal regeneration. Impact statement Unassisted oral mucoperiosteal wound healing can lead to severe complications such as infection, fistulae, scarring, and developmental abnormalities. Thus, strategies for promoting wound healing must be considered when mucoperiosteal defects are incident to oral surgery, as in palatoplasty or tumor resection. Emerging mucoperiosteal tissue engineering strategies, described in this study, have the potential to overcome the limitations of current standard-of-care donor tissue grafts. For example, the use of engineered mucoperiosteal biomaterials could circumvent concerns about tissue availability and immunogenicity. Moreover, employment of tissue engineering strategies may improve the equity of oral wound care by increasing global affordability and accessibility of materials.

Development of High-Resolution Three-Dimensional-Printed Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds and Their Compatibility with Pluripotent Stem Cells and Early Retinal Cells.

Purpose: Widely used approaches for retinal disease modeling and in vitro therapeutic testing can be augmented by using tissue-engineered scaffolds with a precise 3-dimensional structure. However, the materials currently used for these scaffolds are poorly matched to the biochemical and mechanical properties of the in vivo retina. Here, we create biopolymer-based scaffolds with a structure that is amenable to retinal tissue engineering and modeling. Methods: Optimal two-photon polymerization (TPP) settings, including laser power and scanning speed, are identified for 4 methacrylated biopolymer formulations: collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid (HA), and a 50/50 mixture of gelatin/HA, each with methylene blue as a photoinitiator. For select formulations, fabrication accuracy and swelling are determined and biocompatibility is evaluated by using human induced pluripotent stem cells and rat postnatal retinal cells. Results: TPP is feasible for each biopolymer formulation, but it is the most reliable for mixtures containing gelatin and the least reliable for HA alone. The mean size of microscaffold pores is within several microns of the intended value but the overall structure size is several times greater than the modeled volume. The addition of HA to gelatin scaffolds increases cell viability and promotes neuronal phenotype, including Tuj-1 expression and characteristic morphology. Conclusion: We successfully determined a useful range of TPP settings for 4 methacrylated biopolymer formulations. When crosslinked, these extracellular matrix-derived molecules support the growth and attachment of retinal cells. We anticipate that when combined with existing patient-specific approaches, this technique will enable more efficient and accurate retinal disease modeling and therapeutic testing in vitro than current techniques allow.

Vaccine Adjuvant Incorporation Strategy Dictates Peptide Amphiphile Micelle Immunostimulatory Capacity.

Current vaccine research has shifted from traditional vaccines (i.e., whole-killed or live-attenuated) to subunit vaccines (i.e., protein, peptide, or DNA) as the latter is much safer due to delivering only the bioactive components necessary to produce a desirable immune response. Unfortunately, subunit vaccines are very weak immunogens requiring delivery vehicles and the addition of immunostimulatory molecules termed adjuvants to convey protective immunity. An interesting type of delivery vehicle is peptide amphiphile micelles (PAMs), unique biomaterials where the vaccine is part of the nanomaterial itself. Due to the modularity of PAMs, they can be readily modified to deliver both vaccine antigens and adjuvants within a singular construct. Through the co-delivery of a model antigenic epitope (Ovalbumin319-340-OVABT) and a known molecular adjuvant (e.g., 2,3-dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine-Pam2C), greater insight into the mechanisms by which PAMs can exert immunostimulatory effects was gained. It was found that specific combinations of antigen and adjuvant can significantly alter vaccine immunogenicity both in vitro and in vivo. These results inform fundamental design rules that can be leveraged to fabricate optimal PAM-based vaccine formulations for future disease-specific applications. Graphical Abstract.

Calcium and phosphate ions as simple signaling molecules with versatile osteoinductivity.

Due to the continually increasing clinical need to heal large bone defects, synthetic bone graft substitutes have become ever more necessary with calcium phosphates (CaP) widely used due to their similarity to the mineral component of bone. In this research, different concentrations of calcium ions (Ca2+), phosphate ions (Pi), or their combination were provided to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to evaluate their influence on proliferation and differentiation. The results suggest that 1-16 mM Ca2+ and 1-8 mM Pi is osteoinductive, but not cytotoxic. Furthermore, three distinct calcium phosphates (i.e. monobasic, dibasic, and hydroxyapatite) with different dissolution rates were investigated for their Ca2+ and Pi release. These biomaterials were then adjusted to release ion concentrations within the established therapeutics window for which MSC bioactivity was assessed. These findings suggest that CaP-based biomaterials can be leveraged to achieve Ca2+ and Pi dose-dependent osteoinduction for bone regenerative engineering applications.

Peptide Amphiphile Micelle Vaccine Size and Charge Influence the Host Antibody Response.

Vaccines are one of the best health care advances ever developed, having led to the eradication of smallpox and near eradication of polio and diphtheria. While tremendously successful, traditional vaccines (i.e., whole-killed or live-attenuated) have been associated with some undesirable side effects, including everything from mild injection site inflammation to the autoimmune disease Guillain-Barré syndrome. This has led recent research to focus on developing subunit vaccines (i.e., protein, peptide, or DNA vaccines) since they are inherently safer because they deliver only the bioactive components necessary (i.e., antigens) to produce a protective immune response against the pathogen of interest. However, a major challenge in developing subunit vaccines is overcoming numerous biological barriers to effectively deliver the antigen to the secondary lymphoid organs where adaptive immune responses are orchestrated. Peptide amphiphile micelles are a class of biomaterials that have been shown to possess potent self-adjuvanting vaccine properties, but their optimization capacity and underlying immunostimulatory mechanism are not well understood. The present work investigated the influence of micelle size and charge on the materials' bioactivity, including lymph node accumulation, cell uptake ability, and immunogenicity. The results generated provide considerable insight into how micelles exert their biological effects, yielding a micellar toolbox that can be exploited to either enhance or diminish host immune responses. This exciting development makes peptide amphiphile micelles an attractive candidate for both immune activation and suppression applications.

Controlled Ion Release from Novel Polyester/Ceramic Composites Enhances Osteoinductivity.

Due to the growing number of patients suffering from musculoskeletal defects and the limited supply of and sub-optimal outcomes associated with biological graft materials, novel biomaterials must be created that can function as graft substitutes. For bone regeneration, composite materials that mimic the organic and inorganic phases of natural bone can provide cues which expedite and enhance endogenous repair. Specifically, recent research has shown that calcium and phosphate ions are inherently osteoinductive, so controllably delivering their release holds significant promise for this field. In this study, unique aliphatic polyesters were synthesized and complexed with a rapidly decomposing ceramic (monobasic calcium phosphate, MCP) yielding novel polymer/ceramic composite biomaterials. It was discovered that the fast dissolution and rapid burst release of ions from MCP could be modulated depending on polymer length and chemistry. Also, controlled ion release was found to moderate solution pH associated with polyester degradation. When composite biomaterials were incubated with mesenchymal stems cells (MSCs) they were found to better facilitate osteogenic differentiation than the individual components as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphate expression and more rapid mineralization. These results indicate that controlling calcium and phosphate ion release via a polyester matrix is a promising approach for bone regenerative engineering.

Osteotropic nanoscale drug delivery systems based on small molecule bone-targeting moieties.

Bone-targeted drug delivery is an active research area because successful clinical applications of this technology can significantly advance the treatment of bone injuries and disorders. Molecules with bone-targeting potential have been actively investigated as promising moieties in targeted drug delivery systems. In general, bone-targeting molecules are characterized by their high affinity for bone and their predisposition to persist in bone tissue for prolonged periods, while maintaining low systemic concentrations. Proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, have shown promise as bone-targeting molecules; however, they suffer from several limitations including large molecular size, high production cost, and undesirable immune responses. A viable alternative associated with significantly less side effects is the use of small molecule-based targeting moieties. This review provides a summary of recent findings regarding small molecule compounds with bone-targeting capacity, as well as nanoscale targeted drug delivery approaches employing these molecules.