Organization of collagen fibers and tissue hardening: Markers of fibrotic scarring after spinal cord injury in mice revealed by multiphoton-atomic force microscopy imaging.

Spinal cord injury is a dramatic disease leading to severe motor, sensitive and autonomic impairments. After injury the axonal regeneration is partly inhibited by the glial scar, acting as a physical and chemical barrier. The scarring process involves microglia, astrocytes and extracellular matrix components, such as collagen, constructing the fibrotic component of the scar. To investigate the role of collagen, we used a multimodal label-free imaging approach combining multiphoton and atomic force microscopy. The second harmonic generation signal exhibited by fibrillar collagen enabled to specifically monitor it as a biomarker of the lesion. An increase in collagen density and the formation of more tortuous fibers over time after injury are observed. Nano-mechanical investigations revealed a noticeable hardening of the injured area, correlated with collagen fibers' formation. These observations indicate the concomitance of important structural and mechanical modifications during the fibrotic scar evolution.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing ALS-causing SOD1 mutant selectively trigger death of spinal motoneurons.

Adaptive immune response is part of the dynamic changes that accompany motoneuron loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). CD4+ T cells that regulate a protective immunity during the neurodegenerative process have received the most attention. CD8+ T cells are also observed in the spinal cord of patients and ALS mice although their contribution to the disease still remains elusive. Here, we found that activated CD8+ T lymphocytes infiltrate the central nervous system (CNS) of a mouse model of ALS at the symptomatic stage. Selective ablation of CD8+ T cells in mice expressing the ALS-associated superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1)G93A mutant decreased spinal motoneuron loss. Using motoneuron-CD8+ T cell coculture systems, we found that mutant SOD1-expressing CD8+ T lymphocytes selectively kill motoneurons. This cytotoxicity activity requires the recognition of the peptide-MHC-I complex (where MHC-I represents major histocompatibility complex class I). Measurement of interaction strength by atomic force microscopy-based single-cell force spectroscopy demonstrated a specific MHC-I-dependent interaction between motoneuron and SOD1G93A CD8+ T cells. Activated mutant SOD1 CD8+ T cells produce interferon-γ, which elicits the expression of the MHC-I complex in motoneurons and exerts their cytotoxic function through Fas and granzyme pathways. In addition, analysis of the clonal diversity of CD8+ T cells in the periphery and CNS of ALS mice identified an antigen-restricted repertoire of their T cell receptor in the CNS. Our results suggest that self-directed immune response takes place during the course of the disease, contributing to the selective elimination of a subset of motoneurons in ALS.

Strategies for Chalcogenide Thin Film Functionalization.

We report the functionalization of chalcogenide thin films with biotinylated 12-mer peptides SVSVGMKPSPRP and LLADTTHHRPWT exhibiting a high binding affinity toward inorganic surfaces, on the one hand, and with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), on the other hand. The specific biotin moieties were used to bind streptavidin proteins and demonstrate the efficacy of the biofunctionalizated chalcogenide thin films to capture biomolecules. Atomic force microscopy provided high-resolution images of the interfaces, and water contact angle measurements gave insight into the interaction mechanisms. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflection mode provided information about the secondary structure of the bound proteins, thanks to the deconvolution of the amide I band (1700-1600 cm-1). Following adsorption of the biotinylated peptides or APTES immobilization, a homogenous coverage of the biotin layer exhibiting very low roughness was obtained, also rendering more hydrophilic Ge-Se-Te surfaces. Subsequent capture of streptavidin depends on the functionalization approach, permitting more or less an optimal orientation of the biotin to bind streptavidin. The molecular interface layer formed on Ge-Se-Te is crucial also for retaining the native secondary structure of the protein. Altogether, our results demonstrate that both peptides and APTES were appropriate linkers to build a favorable interface on chalcogenide materials to capture proteins, opening hereby promising biosensing applications.

Internal structure and remodeling in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyocytes using second harmonic generation.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a debilitating disorder related to dystrophin encoding gene mutations, often associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. However, it is still unclear how dystrophin deficiency affects cardiac sarcomere remodeling and contractile dysfunction. We employed second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, a nonlinear optical imaging technique that allows studying contractile apparatus organization without histologic fixation and immunostaining. Images were acquired on alive DMD (mdx) and wild type cardiomyocytes at different ages and at various external calcium concentrations. An automated image processing was developed to identify individual myofibrils and extract data about their organization. We observed a structural aging-dependent remodeling in mdx cardiomyocytes affecting sarcomere sinuosity, orientation and length that could not be anticipated from standard optical imaging. These results revealed for the first time the interest of SHG to evaluate the intracellular and sarcomeric remodeling of DMD cardiac tissue in an age-dependent manner that could participate in progressive contractile dysfunction.

De-adhesion dynamics of melanoma cells from brain endothelial layer.

Metastasis formation is a complex and not entirely understood process. The poorest prognosis and the most feared complications are associated to brain metastases. Melanoma derived brain metastases show the highest prevalence. Due to the lack of classical lymphatic drainage, in the process of brain metastases formation the haematogenous route is of primordial importance. The first and crucial step in this multistep process is the establishment of firm adhesion between the blood travelling melanoma cells and the tightly connected layer of the endothelium, which is the fundamental structure of the blood-brain barrier. This study compares the de-adhesion properties and dynamics of three melanoma cells types (WM35, A2058 and A375) to a confluent layer of brain micro-capillary endothelial cells. Cell type dependent adhesion characteristics are presented, pointing towards the existence of metastatic potential related nanomechanical aspects. Apparent mechanical properties such as elasticity, maximal adhesion force, number, size and distance of individual rupture events showed altered values pointing towards cell type dependent aspects. Our results underline the importance of mechanical details in case of intercellular interactions. Nevertheless, it suggests that in adequate circumstances elastic and adhesive characterizations might be used as biomarkers.

Direct mapping of melanoma cell - endothelial cell interactions.

The most life-threatening aspect of cancer is metastasis; cancer patient mortality is mainly due to metastasis. Among all metastases, presence of brain metastasis is one with the poorest prognosis; the median survival time can be counted in months. Therefore, prevention or decreasing their incidence would be highly desired both by patients and physicians. Metastatic cells invading the brain must breach the cerebral vasculature, primarily the blood-brain barrier. The key step in this process is the establishment of firm adhesion between the cancer cell and the cerebral endothelial layer. Using the atomic force microscope, a high-resolution force spectrograph, our aim was to explore the connections among the cell morphology, cellular mechanics, and biological function in the process of transendothelial migration of metastatic cancer cells. By immobilization of a melanoma cell to an atomic force microscope's cantilever, intercellular adhesion was directly measured at quasi-physiological conditions. Hereby, we present our latest results by using this melanoma-decorated probe. Binding characteristics to a confluent layer of brain endothelial cells was directly measured by means of single-cell force spectroscopy. Adhesion dynamics and strength were characterized, and we present data about spatial distribution of elasticity and detachment strength. These results highlight the importance of cellular mechanics in brain metastasis formation and emphasize the enormous potential toward exploration of intercellular dynamic-related processes.

Properties of dentin, enamel and their junction, studied with Brillouin scattering and compared to Raman microscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Dentin, enamel and the transition zone, called the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ), have an organization and properties that play a critical role in tooth resilience and in stopping the propagation of cracks. Understanding their chemical and micro-biomechanical properties is then of foremost importance. The aim of this study is to apply Brillouin microscopy on a complex biological structure, that is, the DEJ, and to compare these results with those obtained with Raman microscopy. DESIGN: Both techniques allow noncontact measurements at the microscopic scale. Brillouin microscopy is based on the interaction between acoustic phonons and laser photons and gives a relation between the frequency shift of the scattered light and the stiffness of the sample. Raman spectra contain peaks related to specific chemical bonds. RESULTS: Comparison of the Brillouin and Raman cartographies reveals correlations between mechanical and chemical properties. Indeed, the shapes of the phosphate content and stiffness curves are similar. The two spectroscopies give compatible values for the mean distance between two tubules, i.e., 4-6 µm. Moreover, for the first time, the daily cross striations of enamel could be studied, indicating a relationship between the variation in the phosphate concentration and the variation in the rigidity within the enamel prisms. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate here the possibility of using Brillouin scattering microscopy to both study complex biological materials such as the enamel-dentin junction and visualize secondary structures. Correlations between the chemical composition and mechanical properties could help in better understanding the tissue histology.

Biomechanical characterization of a fibrinogen-blood hydrogel for human dental pulp regeneration.

In dental practice, Regenerative Endodontic Treatment (RET) is applied as an alternative to classical endodontic treatments of immature necrotic teeth. This procedure, also known as dental pulp revitalization, relies on the formation of a blood clot inside the root canal leading to the formation of a reparative vascularized tissue similar to dental pulp, which would provide vitality to the affected tooth. Despite the benefit of this technique, it lacks reproducibility due to the fast degradation and poor mechanical properties of blood clots. This work presents a method for constructing a fibrinogen-blood hydrogel that mimics the viscoelastic properties of human dental pulp while preserving the biological properties of blood for application in RET. By varying the blood and fibrinogen concentrations, gels with different biomechanical and biological properties were obtained. Rheology and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were combined to study the viscoelastic properties. AFM was used to evaluate the elasticity of human dental pulp. The degradation and swelling rates were assessed by measuring weight changes. The biomimetic properties of the gels were demonstrated by studying the cell survival and proliferation of dental pulp cells (DPCs) for 14 days. The formation of an extracellular matrix (ECM) was assessed by multiphoton microscopy (MPM). The angiogenic potential was evaluated by an ex vivo aortic ring assay, in which the endothelial cells were observed by histological staining after migration. The results show that the Fbg-blood gel prepared with 9 mg ml-1 fibrinogen and 50% blood of the Fbg solution volume has similar elasticity to human dental pulp and adequate degradation and swelling rates. It also allows cell survival and ECM secretion and enhances endothelial cell migration and formation of neovessel-like structures.

Exploring Macrophage-Dependent Wound Regeneration During Mycobacterial Infection in Zebrafish.

The molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with tissue degradation or regeneration in an infectious context are poorly defined. Herein, we explored the role of macrophages in orchestrating either tissue regeneration or degradation in zebrafish embryos pre-infected with the fish pathogen Mycobacterium marinum. Zebrafish were inoculated with different infectious doses of M. marinum prior to fin resection. While mild infection accelerated fin regeneration, moderate or severe infection delayed this process by reducing blastemal cell proliferation and impeding tissue morphogenesis. This was correlated with impaired macrophage recruitment at the wound of the larvae receiving high infectious doses. Macrophage activation characterized, in part, by a high expression level of tnfa was exacerbated in severely infected fish during the early phase of the regeneration process, leading to macrophage necrosis and their complete absence in the later phase. Our results demonstrate how a mycobacterial infection influences the macrophage response and tissue regenerative processes.

Poly-NIPAM/Fe3O4/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites for kerosene removal from water.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized using a mixture of H2SO4 and HNO3, and the oxidized MWCNTS were decorated with magnetite (Fe3O4). Finally, poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-butyl acrylate (P-NIPAM) was added to obtain P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites. The nanosorbents were characterized by various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited increased surface hydrophobicity. Owing to their higher adsorption capacity, their kerosene removal efficiency was 95%; by contrast, the as-prepared, oxidized, and magnetite-decorated MWCNTs had removal efficiencies of 45%, 55%, and 68%, respectively. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited a sorbent capacity of 8.1 g/g for kerosene removal from water. The highest kerosene removal efficiency from water was obtained at a process time of 45 min, sorbent dose of 0.005 g, solution temperature of 40 °C, and pH 3.5. The P-NIPAM/Fe/MWCNTs showed excellent stability after four cycles of kerosene removal from water followed by regeneration. The reason may be the increase in the positive charge of the polymer at pH 3.5 and the increased adsorption affinity of the adsorbent toward the kerosene contaminant. The pseudo second-order model was found to be the most suitable model for studying the kinetics of the adsorption reaction.

Enhancement of Podocyte Attachment on Polyacrylamide Hydrogels with Gelatin-Based Polymers.

Biological activities of cells such as survival and differentiation processes are mainly maintained by a specific extracellular matrix (ECM). Hydrogels have recently been employed successfully in tissue engineering applications. In particular, scaffolds made of gelatin methacrylate-based hydrogels (GelMA) showed great potential due to their biocompatibility, biofunctionality, and low mechanical strength. The development of a hydrogel having tunable and appropriate mechanical properties as well as chemical and biological cues was the aim of this work. A synthetic and biological hybrid hydrogel was developed to mimic the biological and mechanical properties of native ECM. A combination of gelatin methacrylate and acrylamide (GelMA-AAm)-based hydrogels was studied, and it showed tunable mechanical properties upon changing the polymer concentrations. Different GelMA-AAm samples were prepared and studied by varying the concentrations of GelMA and AAm (AAm2.5% + GelMA3%, AAm5% + GelMA3%, and AAm5% + GelMA5%). The swelling behavior, biodegradability, physicochemical and mechanical properties of GelMA-AAm were also characterized. The results showed a variation of swelling capability and a tunable elasticity ranging from 4.03 to 24.98 kPa depending on polymer concentrations. Moreover, the podocyte cell morphology, cytoskeleton reorganization and differentiation were evaluated as a function of GelMA-AAm mechanical properties. We concluded that the AAm2.5% + GelMA3% hydrogel sample having an elasticity of 4.03 kPa can mimic the native kidney glomerular basement membrane (GBM) elasticity and allow podocyte cell attachment without the functionalization of the gel surface with adhesion proteins compared to synthetic hydrogels (PAAm). This work will further enhance the knowledge of the behavior of podocyte cells to understand their biological properties in both healthy and diseased states.

Simultaneous label-free live imaging of cell nucleus and luminescent nanodiamonds.

In recent years, fluorescent nanodiamond (fND) particles containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers gained recognition as an attractive probe for nanoscale cellular imaging and quantum sensing. For these applications, precise localization of fNDs inside of a living cell is essential. Here we propose such a method by simultaneous detection of the signal from the NV centers and the spectroscopic Raman signal from the cells to visualize the nucleus of living cells. However, we show that the commonly used Raman cell signal from the fingerprint region is not suitable for organelle imaging in this case. Therefore, we develop a method for nucleus visualization exploiting the region-specific shape of C-H stretching mode and further use k-means cluster analysis to chemically distinguish the vicinity of fNDs. Our technique enables, within a single scan, to detect fNDs, distinguish by chemical localization whether they have been internalized into cell and simultaneously visualize cell nucleus without any labeling or cell-fixation. We show for the first time spectral colocalization of unmodified high-pressure high-temperature fND probes with the cell nucleus. Our methodology can be, in principle, extended to any red- and near-infrared-luminescent cell-probes and is fully compatible with quantum sensing measurements in living cells.

Microstructure, Thermal, and Corrosion Behavior of the AlAgCuNiSnTi Equiatomic Multicomponent Alloy.

The paper presents the microstructure and corrosion behavior of an AlTiNiCuAgSn new equiatomic multicomponent alloy. The alloy was obtained using the vacuum arc remelting (VAR) technique in MRF-ABJ900 equipment. The microstructural analysis was performed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM microscope, SEM-EDS) and the phase transformations were highlighted by dilatometric analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results show that the as-cast alloy microstructure is three-phase, with an average microhardness of 487 HV0.1/15. The obtained alloy could be included in the group of compositionally complex alloys (CCA). The corrosion resistance was studied using the potentiodynamic method in saline solution with 3.5% NaCl. Considering the high corrosion resistance, the obtained alloy can be used for surface coating applications.

Influence of Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Stiffness on Podocyte Morphology, Phenotype, and Mechanical Properties.

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by a gradual decline in renal function that progresses toward end-stage renal disease. Podocytes are highly specialized glomerular epithelial cells which form with the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and capillary endothelium the glomerular filtration barrier. GBM is an extracellular matrix (ECM) that acts as a mechanical support and provides biophysical signals that control normal podocytes behavior in the process of glomerular filtration. Thus, the ECM stiffness represents an essential characteristic that controls podocyte function. Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels are smart polyelectrolyte materials. Their biophysical properties can be tuned as desired to mimic the natural ECM. Therefore, these hydrogels are investigated as new ECM-like constructs to engineer a podocyte-like basement membrane that forms with cultured human podocytes a functional glomerular-like filtration barrier. Such ECM-like PAAm hydrogel construct will provide unique opportunity to reveal podocyte cell biological responses in an in vivo-like setting by controlling the physical properties of the PAAm membranes. In this work, Hydrolyzed PAAm scaffolds having different stiffness ranging between 0.6-44 kPa are prepared. The correlation between the hydrogel structural and mechanical properties and Podocyte morphology, elasticity, cytoskeleton reorganization, and podocin expression is evaluated. Results show that hydrolyzed PAAm hydrogels promote good cell adhesion and growth and are suitable materials for the development of future 3D smart scaffolds. In addition, the hydrogel properties can be easily modulated over a wide physiological range by controlling the cross-linker concentration. Finally, tuning the hydrogel properties is an effective strategy to control the cells function. This work addressed the complexity of podocytes behavior which will further enhance our knowledge to develop a kidney-on-chip model much needed in kidney function studies in both healthy and diseased states.

Ti-Zr-Si-Nb Nanocrystalline Alloys and Metallic Glasses: Assessment on the Structural Development, Thermal Stability, Corrosion and Mechanical Properties.

The development of novel Ti-based amorphous or ß-phase nanostructured metallic materials could have significant benefits for implant applications, due to potentially improved corrosion properties, and mechanical characteristics (lower Young's modulus, better wear performance, improved fracture toughness) in comparison to the standardized α+ß titanium alloys. Moreover, the devitrification phenomenon, occurring during heating, could contribute to lower input power during additive manufacturing technologies. Ti-based alloy ribbons were obtained by melt-spinning, considering the ultra-fast cooling rates this method can provide. The titanium alloys contain Zr, Nb, and Si (Ti60Zr10Si15Nb15, Ti64Zr10Si15Nb11, Ti56Zr10Si15Nb19) in various proportions. These elements were chosen due to their reported biological safety, as in the case of Zr and Nb, and the metallic glass-forming ability and biocompatibility of Si. The morphology and chemical composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, while the structural features (crystallinity, phase attribution after devitrification (after heat treatment)) were assessed by X-ray diffraction. Some of the mechanical properties (hardness, Young's modulus) were assessed by instrumented indentation. The thermal stability and crystallization temperatures were measured by differential thermal analysis. High-intensity exothermal peaks were observed during heating of melt-spun ribbons. The corrosion behavior was assessed by electrocorrosion tests. The results show the potential of these alloys to be implemented as materials for biomedical applications.

Myotube elasticity of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor system leading to generalized paralysis and death of patients. The understanding of early pathogenic mechanisms will help to define early diagnostics criteria that will eventually provide basis for efficient therapeutics. Early symptoms of ALS usually include muscle weakness or stiffness. Therefore, mechanical response of differentiated myotubes from primary cultures of mice, expressing the ALS-causing SOD1 G93A mutation, was examined by atomic force microscopy. Simultaneous acquisition of topography and cell elasticity of ALS myotubes was performed by force mapping method, compared with healthy myotubes and supplemented with immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR studies. Wild type myotubes reveal a significant difference in elasticity between a narrow and a wide population, consistent with maturation occurring with higher actin expression relative to myosin together with larger myotube width. However, this is not true for SOD1 G93A expressing myotubes, where a significant shift of thin population towards higher elastic modulus values was observed. We provide evidence that SOD1 mutant induces structural changes that occurs very early in muscle development and well before symptomatic stage of the disease. These findings could significantly contribute to the understanding of the role of skeletal muscle in ALS pathogenesis.

Elasto-mechanical properties of living cells.

The possibility to directly measure the elasticity of living cell has emerged only in the last few decades. In the present study the elastic properties of two cell lines were followed. Both types are widely used as cell barrier models (e.g. blood-brain barrier). During time resolved measurement of the living cell elasticity a continuous quasi-periodic oscillation of the elastic modulus was observed. Fast Fourier transformation of the signals revealed that a very limited number of three to five Fourier terms fitted the signal in the case of human cerebral endothelial cells. In the case of canine kidney epithelial cells more than 8 Fourier terms did not result a good fit. Calculating the correlation between nucleus and periphery of the signals revealed a higher correlation factor for the endothelial cells compared to the epithelial cells.

Addressing the optimal silver content in bioactive glass systems in terms of BSA adsorption.

Bioactive glasses doped with silver are aimed to minimize the risk of microbial contamination; therefore, the influence of silver on the bioactive properties is intensely investigated. However, information related to the role played by silver, when added to the bioactive glass composition, on biocompatibility properties is scarce. This aspect is essential as long as the silver content can influence blood protein adsorption onto the surface of the glass, thus affecting the material's biocompatibility. Therefore, from the perspective of the biocompatibility standpoint, the finding of an optimal silver content in a bioactive glass is an extremely important issue. In this study, silver-doped bioactive glasses were prepared by a melt-derived technique, which eliminates the pores' influence in the protein adsorption process. The obtained glasses were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy; afterwards, they were investigated in terms of protein adsorption. Both UV-vis and XPS spectroscopy revealed the presence of Ag+ ions in all silver containing samples. By increasing the silver content, metallic Ag0 appears, the highest amount being observed for the sample with 1 mol% AgO2. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements evidenced that the amount of spin-labeled serum albumin attached to the surface increases with the silver content. The results obtained by analyzing the information derived from atomic force microscopy and FT-IR measurements indicate that the occurrence of metallic Ag0 in the samples' structure influences the secondary structure of the adsorbed protein. Based on the results derived from the protein response upon interaction with the investigated glass calcium-phosphate based system, the optimal silver oxide concentration was determined for which the secondary structure of the adsorbed protein is similar with that of the free one. This concentration was found to be 0.5 mol%.