Inhalable Mucociliary-On-Chip System Revealing Pulmonary Clearance Dynamics in Nanodrug Delivery.

The development of a inhaled nanodrug delivery assessment platform is crucial for advancing treatments for chronic lung diseases. Traditional in vitro models and commercial aerosol systems fail to accurately simulate the complex human respiratory patterns and mucosal barriers. To address this, we have developed the breathing mucociliary-on-a-chip (BMC) platform, which replicates mucociliary clearance and respiratory dynamics in vitro.

Revolutionizing Epithelial Differentiability Analysis in Small Airway-on-a-Chip Models Using Label-Free Imaging and Computational Techniques.

Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices mimic human organs, which can be used for many different applications, including drug development, environmental toxicology, disease models, and physiological assessment. Image data acquisition and analysis from these chips are crucial for advancing research in the field. In this study, we propose a label-free morphology imaging platform compatible with the small airway-on-a-chip system.

Patterned graphene oxide one-step thermal annealing for controlling collective cell migration.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a two-dimensional metastable nanomaterial. Interestingly, GO formed oxygen clusterings in addition to oxidized and graphitic phases during the low-temperature thermal annealing process, which could be further used for biomolecule bonding. By harnessing this property of GO, we created a bio-interface with patterned structures with a common laboratory hot plate that could tune cellular behavior by physical contact.

Co-culture of chondrocytes and stem cells: a review of head and neck cell lines for cartilage regeneration.

Introduction: Bioprinting, using "bio-inks" consisting of living cells, supporting structures and biological motifs to create customized constructs, is an emerging technique that aims to overcome the challenges of cartilaginous reconstruction of head and neck structures. Several living cell lines and culturing methods have been explored as bio-inks with varying efficacy. Co-culture of primary chondrocytes and stem cells (SCs) is one technique, well established for degenerative joint disease treatment, with potential for use in expanding chondrocyte populations for bio-inks.

Enhancing Cementitious Composites with Functionalized Graphene Oxide-Based Materials: Surface Chemistry and Mechanisms.

Graphene oxide-based materials (GOBMs) have been widely explored as nano-reinforcements in cementitious composites due to their unique properties. Oxygen-containing functional groups in GOBMs are crucial for enhancing the microstructure of cementitious composites. A better comprehension of their surface chemistry and mechanisms is required to advance the potential applications in cementitious composites of functionalized GOBMs.

Edaravone and mitochondrial transfer as potential therapeutics for vanishing white matter disease astrocyte dysfunction.

Introduction: Previous research has suggested that vanishing white matter disease (VWMD) astrocytes fail to fully differentiate and respond differently to cellular stresses compared to healthy astrocytes. However, few studies have investigated potential VWMD therapeutics in monoculture patient-derived cell-based models.

Methods: To investigate the impact of alterations in astrocyte expression and function in VWMD, astrocytes were differentiated from patient and control induced pluripotent stem cells and analyzed by proteomics, pathway analysis, and functional assays, in the absence and presence of stressors or potential therapeutics.

Collagen Alignment via Electro-Compaction for Biofabrication Applications: A Review.

As the most prevalent structural protein in the extracellular matrix, collagen has been extensively investigated for biofabrication-based applications. However, its utilisation has been impeded due to a lack of sufficient mechanical toughness and the inability of the scaffold to mimic complex natural tissues. The anisotropic alignment of collagen fibres has been proven to be an effective method to enhance its overall mechanical properties and produce biomimetic scaffolds.

Single-molecule analysis of actin filament debranching by cofilin and GMF.

Eukaryotic cells contain branched actin networks that are essential for endocytosis, motility, and other key cellular processes. These networks, which are formed by filamentous actin and the Arp2/3 complex, must subsequently be debranched to allow network remodeling and to recycle the Arp2/3 complex. Debranching appears to be catalyzed by two different members of the actin depolymerizing factor homology protein family: cofilin and glial maturation factor (GMF).

Controllable graphene oxide-based biocompatible hybrid interface as an anti-fibrotic coating for metallic implants.

In tissue engineering, foreign body reactions (FBRs) that may occur after the insertion of medical implants are a considerable challenge. Materials currently used in implants are mainly metals that are non-organic, and the lack of biocompatibility and absence of immune regulations may lead to fibrosis after long periods of implantation. Here, we introduce a highly biocompatible hybrid interface of graphene oxide (GO) and collagen type I (COL-I), where the topological nanostructure can effectively inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.

Bioprinting of Chondrocyte Stem Cell Co-Cultures for Auricular Cartilage Regeneration.

Advances in 3D bioprinting allows not only controlled deposition of cells or cell-laden hydrogels but also flexibility in creating constructs that match the anatomical features of the patient. This is especially the case for reconstructing the pinna (ear), which is a large feature of the face and made from elastic cartilage that primarily relies on diffusion for nutrient transfer. The selection of cell lines for reconstructing this cartilage becomes a crucial step in clinical translation.

Engineering stability, longevity, and miscibility of microtubule-based active fluids.

Microtubule-based active matter provides insight into the self-organization of motile interacting constituents. We describe several formulations of microtubule-based 3D active isotropic fluids. Dynamics of these fluids is powered by three types of kinesin motors: a processive motor, a non-processive motor, and a motor which is permanently linked to a microtubule backbone.

Effect of Graphene Addition on Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Fabricated Using Melt-Electrowriting.

Melt-electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging method that combines electrospinning and extrusion printing, allowing the fabrication of micron-scale structures suitable for tissue engineering. Compared to other additive fabrication methods, melt-electro written structures can offer more appropriate substrates for cell culture due to filament size and mechanical characteristics of the fabricated scaffolds. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene composites were investigated for fabrication of micron-size scaffolds through MEW.

Tissue-level alveolar epithelium model for recapitulating SARS-CoV-2 infection and cellular plasticity.

Pulmonary sequelae following COVID-19 pneumonia have been emerging as a challenge; however, suitable cell sources for studying COVID-19 mechanisms and therapeutics are currently lacking. In this paper, we present a standardized primary alveolar cell culture method for establishing a human alveolar epithelium model that can recapitulate viral infection and cellular plasticity. The alveolar model is infected with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, and the clinically relevant features of the viral entry into the alveolar type-I/II cells, cytokine production activation, and pulmonary surfactant destruction are reproduced.

Precision Medicine in Ossiculoplasty.

Introduction: Long term results of ossiculoplasty surgery are considered poor with displacement and extrusion amongst the common reasons for failure. Application of 3Dimensional (3D) printing may help overcome some of these barriers, however digital methods to attain accurate 3D morphological studies of ossicular anatomy are lacking, exacerbated by the limitation of resolution of clinical imaging.

Methods: 20 human cadaveric temporal bones were assessed using micro computed tomography (CT) imaging to demonstrate the lowest resolution required for accurate 3D reconstruction.

3D hybrid printing platform for auricular cartilage reconstruction.

As scaffolds approach dimensions that are of clinical relevance, mechanical integrity and distribution becomes an important factor to the overall success of the implant. Hydrogels often lack the structural integrity and mechanical properties for use in vivo or handling. The inclusion of a structural support during the printing process, referred to as hybrid printing, allows the implant to retain structure and protect cells during maturation without needing to compromise its biological performance.

Invitro and Invivo Study of PCL-Hydrogel Scaffold to Advance Bioprinting Translation in Microtia Reconstruction.

Background: Bioprinting has shown promise in the area of microtia reconstruction. However clinical translation has been challenged by the lack of robust techniques to control delivery of stem cells. Hybrid printing allowing multiple materials, both cell and support, to be printed together may overcome these challenges.

Graphene Oxide-Based Nanomaterials: An Insight into Retinal Prosthesis.

Retinal prosthesis has recently emerged as a treatment strategy for retinopathies, providing excellent assistance in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa. The potential application of graphene oxide (GO), a highly biocompatible nanomaterial with superior physicochemical properties, in the fabrication of electrodes for retinal prosthesis, is reviewed in this article. This review integrates insights from biological medicine and nanotechnology, with electronic and electrical engineering technological breakthroughs, and aims to highlight innovative objectives in developing biomedical applications of retinal prosthesis.

Synthesis and 3D Printing of Conducting Alginate-Polypyrrole Ionomers.

Hydrogels composed of calcium cross-linked alginate are under investigation as bioinks for tissue engineering scaffolds due to their variable viscoelasticity, biocompatibility, and erodibility. Here, pyrrole was oxidatively polymerized in the presence of sodium alginate solutions to form ionomeric composites of various compositions. The IR spectroscopy shows that mild base is required to prevent the oxidant from attacking the alginate during the polymerization reaction.

3D Printed Sugar-Sensing Hydrogels.

The ability of boronic acids (BAs) to reversibly bind diols, such as sugars, has been widely studied in recent years. In solution, through the incorporation of additional fluorophores, the BA-sugar interaction can be monitored by changes in fluorescence. Ultimately, a practical realization of this technology requires a transition from solution-based methodologies.

Synergy between Cyclase-associated protein and Cofilin accelerates actin filament depolymerization by two orders of magnitude.

Cellular actin networks can be rapidly disassembled and remodeled in a few seconds, yet in vitro actin filaments depolymerize slowly over minutes. The cellular mechanisms enabling actin to depolymerize this fast have so far remained obscure. Using microfluidics-assisted TIRF, we show that Cyclase-associated protein (CAP) and Cofilin synergize to processively depolymerize actin filament pointed ends at a rate 330-fold faster than spontaneous depolymerization.

Abp1 promotes Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin nucleation and stabilizes branch junctions by antagonizing GMF.

Formation and turnover of branched actin networks underlies cell migration and other essential force-driven processes. Type I nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs) such as WASP recruit actin monomers to Arp2/3 complex to stimulate nucleation. In contrast, mechanisms of type II NPFs such as Abp1 (also known as HIP55 and Drebrin-like protein) are less well understood.

3D printable conducting hydrogels containing chemically converted graphene.

The development of conducting 3D structured biocompatible scaffolds for the growth of electroresponsive cells is critical in the field of tissue engineering. This work reports the synthesis and 3D processing of UV-crosslinkable conducting cytocompatible hydrogels that are prepared from methacrylated chitosan (ChiMA) containing graphenic nanosheets. The addition of chemically converted graphene resulted in mechanical and electrical properties of the composite that were significantly better than ChiMA itself, as well as improved adhesion, proliferation and spreading of L929 fibroblasts cells.

Development of the Biopen: a handheld device for surgical printing of adipose stem cells at a chondral wound site.

We present a new approach which aims to translate freeform biofabrication into the surgical field, while staying true to the practical constraints of the operating theatre. Herein we describe the development of a handheld biofabrication tool, dubbed the 'biopen', which enables the deposition of living cells and biomaterials in a manual, direct-write fashion. A gelatin-methacrylamide/hyaluronic acid-methacrylate (GelMa/HAMa) hydrogel was printed and UV crosslinked during the deposition process to generate surgically sculpted 3D structures.