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Biomedical subjects

Kevin M Shakesheff

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin M Shakesheff.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Spatial confinement of neurite regrowth from dorsal root ganglia within nonporous microconduits.

Tissue engineering is founded on the concept of controlling the behavior of individual cells to stimulate tissue formation. This control is achieved by mimicking signals that manage natural tissue development or repair. These interdependent signals include cytokine delivery, extracellular matrix interactions, and cell-cell communication. Here, we report on the effect of spatial guidance as a signal for nerve tissue regeneration, using a simple in vitro model. We observe the acceleration of neurite extension from rat dorsal root ganglia within micron-scale tubes. Within these hydrogel-filled conduits, neurites were observed to extend more rapidly than when cultured within the hydrogel alone. The spatial cue also induced a change in tissue architecture, with the cabling of cells within the microconduit. The acceleration of neurite extension was found to be independent of conduit diameter within the range of 200 to 635 microm. Finally, our in vitro model enabled quantification of the effect of combining spatial control and localized nerve growth factor delivery.

Animals↗

Induction of human osteoprogenitor chemotaxis, proliferation, differentiation, and bone formation by osteoblast stimulating factor-1/pleiotrophin: osteoconductive biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering.

The process of bone growth, regeneration, and remodeling is mediated, in part, by the immediate cell-matrix environment. Osteoblast stimulating factor-1 (OSF-1), more commonly known as pleiotrophin (PTN), is an extracellular matrix-associated protein, present in matrices, which act as targets for the deposition of new bone. However, the actions of PTN on human bone progenitor cells remain unknown. We examined the effects of PTN on primary human bone marrow stromal cells chemotaxis, differentiation, and colony formation (colony forming unit-fibroblastic) in vitro, and in particular, growth and differentiation on three-dimensional biodegradable porous scaffolds adsorbed with PTN in vivo. Primary human bone marrow cells were cultured on tissue culture plastic or poly(DL-lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA; 75:25) porous scaffolds with or without addition of recombinant human PTN (1 pg-50 ng/ml) in basal and osteogenic conditions. Negligible cellular growth was observed on PLGA scaffold alone, generated using a super-critical fluid mixing method. PTN (50 microg/ml) was chemotactic to human osteoprogenitors and stimulated total colony formation, alkaline phosphatase-positive colony formation, and alkaline phosphatase-specific activity at concentrations as low as 10 pg/ml compared with control cultures. The effects were time-dependent. On three-dimensional scaffolds adsorbed with PTN, alkaline phosphatase activity, type I collagen formation, and synthesis of cbfa-1, osteocalcin, and PTN were observed by immunocytochemistry and PTN expression by in situ hybridization. PTN-adsorbed constructs showed morphologic evidence of new bone matrix and cartilage formation after subcutaneous implantation as well as within diffusion chambers implanted into athymic mice. In summary, PTN has the ability to promote adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells, and these results indicate the potential to develop protocols for de novo bone formation for skeletal repair that exploit cell-matrix interactions.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Immunoselection and adenoviral genetic modulation of human osteoprogenitors: in vivo bone formation on PLA scaffold.

The aim of this study was to examine the potential of immunoselected genetically modified human osteoprogenitors to form bone in vivo on porous PLA scaffolds. Human osteoprogenitors from bone marrow were selected using the antibody STRO-1 utilising a magnetically activated cell separation system. The STRO-1(+) fraction isolated 7% of nucleated marrow cells and increased fibroblastic colony formation by 300% and alkaline phosphatase activity by 190% over unselected marrow cell cultures. To engineer bone tissue, STRO-1(+) culture-expanded cells were transduced with AxCAOBMP-2, an adenovirus carrying the human BMP-2 gene, injected into diffusion chambers containing porous PLA scaffolds, and implanted in vivo. After 11 weeks the presence of bone mineral was observed by X-ray analysis and confirmed for mineral by von Kossa, as well as bone matrix composition by Sirius red staining, birefringence, and type I collagen immunohistochemistry. Bone formation in vivo indicates the potential of using immunoselected progenitor cells and ex vivo gene transfer with biodegradable scaffolds, for the development of protocols for the treatment of a wide variety of musculo-skeletal disorders.

Absorbable Implants↗

Adenoviral BMP-2 gene transfer in mesenchymal stem cells: in vitro and in vivo bone formation on biodegradable polymer scaffolds.

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of adenoviral gene transfer into primary human bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells in combination with biodegradeable scaffolds to tissue-engineer bone. Osteoprogenitors were infected with AxCAOBMP-2, a vector carrying the human BMP-2 gene. Alkaline phosphatase activity was induced in C2C12 cells following culture with conditioned media from BMP-2 expressing cells, confirming successful secretion of active BMP-2. Expression of alkaline phosphatase activity, type I collagen and mineralisation confirmed bone cell differentiation and maintenance of the osteoblast phenotype in extended culture for up to 6 weeks on PLGA porous scaffolds. In vivo implantation of adenoviral osteoprogenitor constructs on PLGA biodegradeable scaffolds, using diffusion chambers, also demonstrated bone cell differentiation and production of bone tissue. The maintenance of the osteoblast phenotype in extended culture and generation of mineralised 3-D scaffolds containing such constructs indicate the potential of such bone tissue engineering approaches in bone repair.

Absorbable Implants↗

Novel surface entrapment process for the incorporation of bioactive molecules within preformed alginate fibers.

A physical entrapment technique has been developed for the surface engineering of preformed alginate fibers. Surface engineering was carried out at room temperature in aqueous solutions without additional solvent, a catalyst/initiator, a chemical cross-linking agent, or a temperature increase. Entrapment of surface-modifying molecules was achieved by exposing the alginate fibers to a Na(+)-rich NaCl/CaCl2 mixture solution, which caused the formation of a moderate dissociation layer into which the modifier could diffuse within a few seconds. The surface dissociation was then reversed by the addition of a large excess of multivalent cations, which resulted in collapse of the interface and immobilization of the modifying species. Rhodamine-tagged poly(ethylene glycol)s of different molecular weights were used as model molecules to investigate the effect of process parameters on the entrapment efficiency. It was found that the entrapment efficiency as well as the distribution of the modifier within the alginate fibers was determined by several factors, including the NaCl/CaCl2 ratio in the preswelling solution, exposure time, and concentration and molecular weight of the modifiers. The morphology of the fibers was not significantly changed in terms of shape and size after the entrapment process. By this technique, poly(L-lysine) (PLL) coupled with cell adhesion peptide sequence GRGDS (PLL-GRGDS) was entrapped within alginate fibers, and it was demonstrated that the modification promoted the attachment of mouse 3T3 fibroblasts.

3T3 Cells↗

Human osteoprogenitor bone formation using encapsulated bone morphogenetic protein 2 in porous polymer scaffolds.

The ability to deliver, over time, biologically active osteogenic growth factors by means of designed scaffolds to sites of tissue regeneration offers tremendous therapeutic opportunities in a variety of musculoskeletal diseases. The aims of this study were to generate porous biodegradable scaffolds encapsulating an osteogenic protein, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), and to examine the ability of the scaffolds to promote human osteoprogenitor differentiation and bone formation in vitro and in vivo. BMP-2-encapsulated poly(DL-lactic acid) (PLA) scaffolds were generated by an innovative supercritical fluid process developed for solvent-sensitive and thermolabile growth factors. BMP-2 released from encapsulated constructs promoted adhesion, migration, expansion, and differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells on three-dimensional scaffolds. Enhanced matrix synthesis and cell differentiation on growth factor-encapsulated scaffolds was observed after culture in an ex vivo model of bone formation developed on the basis of the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. BMP-2-encapsulated polymer scaffolds showed morphologic evidence of new bone matrix and cartilage formation after subcutaneous implantation and within diffusion chambers implanted into athymic mice as assessed by X-ray analysis and immunocytochemistry. The generation of three-dimensional biomimetic structures incorporating osteoinductive factors such as BMP-2 indicates their potential for de novo bone formation that exploits cell-matrix interactions and, significantly, realistic delivery protocols for growth factors in musculoskeletal tissue engineering.

Adolescent↗

Maggots and wound healing: an investigation of the effects of secretions from Lucilia sericata larvae upon the migration of human dermal fibroblasts over a fibronectin-coated surface.

Lucilia sericata larvae, or greenbottle fly maggots, placed within chronic wounds have been observed to remove necrotic tissue and infection. They are also believed to actively promote granulation tissue formation. Interactions between fibroblasts and the surrounding extracellular matrix play a crucial role in tissue formation, influencing fibroblast proliferation, migration, and tissue remodeling. For example, the strength of cell adhesion to surfaces coated with extracellular matrix influences cell motility. L. sericata larval excretory/secretory products having previously been shown to modify fibroblast adhesion to collagen and particularly fibronectin, it was hypothesized that these products would alter fibroblast migration. This was investigated using a two-dimensional in vitro wound assay, time-lapse digital photography, enzyme class-specific substrates and inhibitors, and gel electrophoresis. Results showed that L. sericata excretory/secretory products promoted fibroblast migration upon a fibronectin-coated surface. This was related to the degradation of fibronectin by serine proteinases within maggot excretion/secretions. The presence of a metalloproteinase activity may also have played a role. Thus, a possible mechanism by which maggots enhance tissue formation within wounds may be via the promotion of fibroblast motility, providing for a wider distribution of viable fibroblasts.

Animals↗