Biointerphases最新文献

In this study, the marine red seaweed Devaleraea mollis (commonly known as Pacific dulse) was investigated as a green, sustainable, and animal-free tissue scaffold alternative, owing to its extracellular matrix mimicking properties. A decellularization-recellularization approach was employed to develop cellulose-based scaffolds capable of supporting human cardiomyocyte growth. Native dulse samples were cleaned, dried, and decellularized using varying concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (3%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, and 15%), with Triton X-100 (2%) and NaClO (0.2%). The resulting scaffolds were comprehensively characterized using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to identify the conditions that best preserved the fibrous, honeycombed architecture and cellulose-rich content of the native tissue scaffold. Among all treatments, scaffolds processed with 10%, 12%, and 15% SDS exhibited superior structural integrity and biochemical preservation, emerging as the most effective formulations. These selected scaffolds were then subjected to swelling analysis to evaluate biodegradation behavior, followed by in vitro cell culture to assess biocompatibility. All tested scaffolds demonstrated excellent compatibility with human cardiomyocytes, maintaining high cell viability and proliferation for one week of in vitro culture, as confirmed by SEM and immunohistochemistry. Notably, a 90% scaffold surface coverage by cardiac cells on day 6, accompanied by a 2.5 times normalized cell proliferation, indicated robust cell attachment and proliferation. Collectively, these findings highlight seaweed-derived cellulose as a highly promising, biocompatible, and eco-friendly biomaterial, posing itself as a novel interface for diverse biomedical applications and innovations in sustainable tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering offers a promising route to treat cartilage damage caused by trauma or aging due to factors that limit regenerative capacity, such as tissue avascularity, limited nerve fiber distribution, and low cell-to-matrix ratio. It aims to repair hyaline cartilage by introducing chondrocytes or chondrocyte-differentiated stem cells within biocompatible scaffold. This study aimed to develop a composite tissue scaffold with enhanced mechanical strength and the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix of cartilage tissue by forming chitosan and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) in shredded bacterial cellulose (BC). PECs at C:P molar ratios of 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 were combined with BC at 0.25% and 0.5% w/v. FTIR confirmed characteristic peaks of BC, chitosan, and γ-PGA in the scaffolds. Water-holding capacity (WHC) increased significantly in the BCn-50P50 scaffolds. BC incorporation modulated PEC pore size and distribution most prominently in C30P70 and C70P30, while, overall, scaffolds exhibited a predominant pore-size range of 50-300 μm. Mechanical testing showed bidirectional reinforcement: PECs enhanced the elastic modulus of the BC, and, conversely, BC increased the elastic modulus of PECs. In vitro, all composite scaffolds were biocompatible and BC0.5-C50P50 scaffolds exhibited the best chondrogenic differentiation at day 7 compared to control (p = 0.0015). To our knowledge, this is the first composite scaffold in which PEC forms within BC nanofibers. The composites improved mechanical performance and WHC, expand surface area for cell adhesion, and support chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Protein-mediated underwater adhesion is vital for the survival of many aquatic organisms and plays central roles in biofouling and bioinspired material development. Metal ions are known to influence underwater adhesion by regulating cohesion between adhesive proteins and interactions at the underwater material interface. However, direct mechanistic evidence of Ca2+ involvement in adhesion of marine organisms remains insufficient. In this study, we investigated the role of Ca2+ in permanent underwater adhesion of ascidian adhesive protein 1 (AAP1), an adhesive protein identified from the ascidian Ciona robusta, a model marine invasive fouling species. Using in vitro experiments, we examined AAP1's cohesion and interfacial adhesion under varying Ca2+ concentrations (0, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 25.0 mM). Our results indicated that Ca2+ mediated both cohesion and interfacial adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner. Protein aggregation was induced at 10.0 and 25.0 mM, with denser aggregation at higher concentrations. Surface force apparatus measurements showed a peak in cohesion energy at 25.0 mM Ca2+, while interfacial adhesion energy reached a maximum at 10.0 mM. These results suggest that Ca2+ may facilitate cohesion via salt bridge formation and promote interfacial adhesion by mediating electrostatic interactions between AAP1 and material surfaces. Additionally, the cohesion of AAP1 may enhance molecular alignment on surfaces, contributing its interfacial adhesion. Overall, our results provide direct evidence for the involvement of Ca2+ in protein-mediated ascidian underwater adhesion. These findings will deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of underwater adhesion in aquatic organisms and guide the future development of antifouling strategies and bioinspired underwater adhesives.

DNA nanostructures are promising materials for drug delivery due to their unique topology, shape, size control, biocompatibility, structural stability, and blood-brain-barrier penetration capability. However, their cellular permeability is hindered by strong electrostatic repulsion from negatively charged cellular membranes, posing a significant obstacle to the use of DNA nanostructures as a drug delivery vehicle. Recent experimental studies have shown enhanced cellular uptake for the conjugate binary mixtures of DNA Tetrahedron (TDN) with cationic lipid N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA) compared to TDN alone. However, the cationic DOTMA lipid binding mechanism with the TDN nucleotides is still elusive. Using fully atomistic MD simulations, we aim to understand the molecular interactions that drive the formation and stability of the TDN-DOTMA binary complexes in a physiological environment. Our results uncovered that lipid concentration plays a crucial role in the energetics of the TDN-DOTMA association. We also report that distinct time scales are associated with the self-assembly of cationic DOTMA lipids first, followed by the complexation of self-assembled DOTMA lipid clusters with the TDN nucleotides, where electrostatics, hydrophobicity, and hydrogen bonding are the key interactions that drive the formation and stability of these complexes. Our results provide molecular insights into TDN-DOTMA interactions, highlighting the lipid self-assembly dynamics, complex stability, and morphology, paving the way for the better rational design of cationic lipid-functionalized DNA nanostructures for efficient drug delivery and transfection.

Epithelial ovarian cancer is a gynecological disease in which transformed cells, upon dissemination into the peritoneum colonize locales such as omenta and form metastatic foci. Colonization is an emergent outcome of the interactions between the invading cancer cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) of the peritoneal serosa. Although ECM is known to be remodeled in cancer, the dynamics in ovarian cancer of a major class of ECM-remodeling factors: the proteoglycans remain understudied. Here, we focus on Decorin, a proteoglycan with binding activity to the principal stromal ECM protein Collagen I and investigate its regulation of ovarian cancer colonization. We observe that Decorin is depleted in cancer deposits within omenta of cancer patients. The spreading of suspended spheroids of the ovarian cancer line SK-OV-3 on engineered Collagen I scaffolds is impaired when the latter is polymerized in the presence of Decorin. Decorin-supplemented Collagen I shows poorer fibrillar organization, which has been associated with slower kinetics of cancer cell migration. To our surprise, Decorin was also found to be depleted in primary tumor cells as well as in ovarian cancer cell lines compared with their controls. Overexpression of wild type Decorin, but not its glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-removed mutant in cancer cells decreased mean spheroid size, invasion through Collagen I matrix, and migration on fibronectin matrix scaffolds. Our results suggest that downregulation of an extracellular inhibitor of colonization occurs both in the seed and soil components of the metastatic toolkit; in addition, the GAG chains of Decorin may be crucial to its carcinomatosis-inhibiting functions.

Copper intrauterine devices (Cu-IUDs) are widely used for long-term contraception; yet, the burst release of Cu2+ during early implantation often induces adverse uterine responses. In this study, a femtosecond laser texturing method was employed to construct a biomimetic microstructure (Cu#BM) inspired by Epipremnum aureum leaves. The engineered surface exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance and a moderated ion-release profile in simulated uterine fluid, effectively mitigating the initial burst of Cu2+. Electrochemical measurements, immersion tests, and cytocompatibility assays consistently confirmed the improved stability and biocompatibility of Cu#BM compared with unmodified Cu. These findings suggest that femtosecond laser-induced surface engineering provides a simple and effective strategy to suppress the early burst release of Cu2+, thereby offering translational potential to reduce clinical side effects associated with Cu-IUDs.

Peptides that selectively bind to inorganic surfaces play a crucial role in nanobiotechnology, biomaterials, and biosensing applications. While phage display has been the predominant method for identifying such peptides, its selection process is influenced by propagation biases and experimental constraints, which may lead to the exclusion of peptides with superior binding affinity. In this study, we implement a molecular dynamics simulation to systematically assess the binding affinity of 46 solid-binding peptides, which were manually curated from literature with previously identified affinities to various surfaces to Au(111). We perform a comprehensive analysis, including interaction energy calculations, molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann-surface area, root mean square deviation, and distance of each residue with Au(111) to elucidate the molecular determinants of solid-binding peptide-Au(111) interactions. Our results reveal that while phage display-derived peptides exhibit affinity, several peptides not previously categorized as Au(111) binding show stronger affinity than the experimentally identified Au-binding sequences. We propose the term "promiscuous binding peptides" to describe these sequences, which demonstrate high affinity for surfaces beyond their original selection targets. Our findings highlight the limitations of experimental selection techniques and emphasize the potential of computational screening in identifying higher-affinity peptides toward the target metal interfaces. This study establishes a foundation for advancing the rational design of functional solid-binding peptides.

Indirect co-culture, wherein two distinct cell types are cultivated within the same medium without direct contact, remains a relatively underexplored approach in biomaterials science for simulating physiological cell-cell interactions on material surfaces in vitro. In this study, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured on two types of Ti6Al4V substrates (polished and sand-blasted/acid etched) in a co-culture system using conditioned osteogenic differentiation media (cOBM), enriched with soluble factors secreted by human osteoblasts (hOBs). The combined impact of surface microtopography of Ti6Al4V substrates and cOBM supplementation has resulted in the modulation of cell morphology, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and calcium phosphate mineralization. Enhanced mineralization (2.5-fold increase compared to baseline at day 21) was observed on Ti6Al4V substrates when hMSCs were cultured in the presence of cOBM. This was accompanied by a peak expression of the early osteogenic marker, ALP by day 14. The synergistic behavior of sandblasted and acid-etched substrates with soluble biochemical cues, derived from hOBs showcased their potential for augmenting osteogenic differentiation. The in vitro outcomes were validated in a rabbit model study, which clearly demonstrated better osseointegration of sand-blasted/acid etched implants over 12 weeks.

Biofilm-biomaterial interfaces have an important role in biofilm development and pose a critical challenge in healthcare, contributing to device failures and chronic infections that affect patient outcomes and healthcare economics. This review explores the complex dynamics of these interfaces, from initial protein adsorption through mature biofilm development, highlighting how bacteria and materials are involved in bidirectional interactions that determine both infection progression and material degradation. It also examines different advanced analytical methods for characterizing these dynamic biofilm-biomaterial interactions, with particular emphasis on the recent developments in electrochemical techniques (ion-selective electrodes, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electrochemical microscopy) that enable real-time monitoring of critical parameters such as pH, oxygen gradients, and metabolic activities, providing unique insights into biofilm heterogeneity and localized chemical changes. In addition, the review explores future developments in sensor technology and standardized protocols needed to accelerate biomaterial innovation, potentially transforming our approach to implant-associated infections through responsive surfaces that adapt to microbial challenges.

For this study, zeolite powder served as a substrate for inoculating Metarhizium robertsii to demonstrate the biocompatibility between the entomopathogenic fungus and the zeolite mineral, as the initial step in developing a biological control agent. Our fungal strains were isolated from corpses of spittlebugs (Aeneolamia albofasciata, Hemiptera: Cercopidae) and were identified as M. robertsii based on sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2. Zeolite was characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). XRD and EDS results indicate that zeolite consists of a mixture of Heulandite and Clinoptilolite. EDS analysis shows that oxygen, silicon, and aluminum are the primary chemical components of the zeolite powder, with calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, and potassium present in smaller amounts. After five days of inoculation, SEM images reveal M. robertsii conidia on the porous surface of zeolite particles, along with hyphal formation. These findings suggest the potential for maintaining M. robertsii spores and mycelium alive within a zeolite substrate under laboratory conditions.