Liquid Crystalline Networks toward Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair

Year: 2017

Authors: Martella D., Paoli P., Pioner J.M., Sacconi L., Coppini R., Santini L., Lulli M., Cerbai E., Wiersma D.S., Poggesi C., Ferrantini C., Parmeggiani C.

Autors Affiliation: European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Via N Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dipartimento Sci Biomed Sperimentali & Clin Mario, Viale Morgagni 50, I-50134 Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dipartimento Med Sperimentale & Clin, Viale Morgagni 63, I-50134 Florence, Italy; CNR INO, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dipartimento Neurosci Psicol, Area Farmaco & Salute Bambino, Viale Pieraccini, I-50139 Florence, Italy; Ist Nazl Ric Metrol INRiM, I-10135 Turin, Italy.

Abstract: The communication reports the use of liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) for engineering tissue cultures with human cells. Their ability as cell scaffolds for different cell lines is demonstrated. Preliminary assessments of the material biocompatibility are performed on human dermal fibroblasts and murine muscle cells (C2C12), demonstrating that coatings or other treatments are not needed to use the acrylate-based materials as support. Moreover, it is found that adherent C2C12 cells undergo differentiation, forming multinucleated myotubes, which show the typical elongated shape, and contain bundles of stress fibers. Once biocompatibility is demonstrated, the same LCN films are used as a substrate for culturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocites (hiPSC-CMs) proving that LCNs are capable to develop adult-like dimensions and a more mature cell function in a short period of culture in respect to standard supports. The demonstrated biocompatibility together with the extraordinary features of LCNs opens to preparation of complex cell scaffolds, both patterned and stimulated, for dynamic cell culturing. The ability of these materials to improve cell maturation and differentiation will be developed toward engineered heart and skeletal muscular tissues exploring regenerative medicine toward bioartificial muscles for injured sites replacement.

Journal/Review: SMALL

Volume: 13 (46)      Pages from: 1702677-1  to: 1702677-8

More Information: The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013)/ERC grant agreement no. (291349) on photonic micro robotics and from Laserlab-Europe EU-H2020 654148; The authors also thanks Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (2015/0782 and 2015/0781) and Telethon (grant GGP16191). This research project has been also supported by FAS-Salute ToRSADE project.
KeyWords: cell scaffolds; fibroblast; human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; liquid crystalline networks; myoblasts
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201702677

ImpactFactor: 9.229
Citations: 56
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