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Biointerphases
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.558

Citation Impact (citeScore): 2
Number of Followers: 1

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 1934-8630 - ISSN (Online) 1559-4106
Published by AIP

[29 journals]

Insight into the assembly of lipid-hyaluronan complexes in osteoarthritic
conditions
- Authors: Kangdi Sun, Tooba Shoaib, Mark W. Rutland, Joseph Beller, Changwoo Do, Rosa M. Espinosa-Marzal
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Interactions between molecules in the synovial fluid and the cartilage surface may play a vital role in the formation of adsorbed films that contribute to the low friction of cartilage boundary lubrication. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease. Previous studies have shown that in OA-diseased joints, hyaluronan (HA) not only breaks down resulting in a much lower molecular weight (MW), but also its concentration is reduced ten times. Here, we have investigated the structural changes of lipid-HA complexes as a function of HA concentration and MW to simulate the physiologically relevant conditions that exist in healthy and diseased joints. Small angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering were used to determine the structure of HA-lipid vesicles in bulk solution, while a combination of atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance was applied to study their assembly on a gold surface. We infer a significant influence of both MW and HA concentrations on the structure of HA-lipid complexes in bulk and assembled on a gold surface. Our results suggest that low MW HA cannot form an amorphous layer on the gold surface, which is expected to negatively impact the mechanical integrity and longevity of the boundary layer and could contribute to the increased wear of the cartilage that has been reported in joints diseased with OA.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-04-11T02:45:00Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002502
Evaluation of focal adhesion mediated subcellular curvature sensing in
response to engineered extracellular matrix
- Authors: Daniel T. Bowers, Mary Elizabeth McCulloch, Justin L. Brown
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Fibril curvature is bioinstructive to attached cells. Similar to natural healthy tissues, an engineered extracellular matrix can be designed to stimulate cells to adopt desired phenotypes. To take full advantage of the curvature control in biomaterial fabrication methodologies, an understanding of the response to fibril subcellular curvature is required. In this work, we examined morphology, signaling, and function of human cells attached to electrospun nanofibers. We controlled curvature across an order of magnitude using nondegradable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) attached to a stiff substrate with flat PMMA as a control. Focal adhesion length and the distance of maximum intensity from the geographic center of the vinculin positive focal adhesion both peaked at a fiber curvature of 2.5 μm-1 (both ∼2× the flat surface control). Vinculin experienced slightly less tension when attached to nanofiber substrates. Vinculin expression was also more affected by a subcellular curvature than structural proteins α-tubulin or α-actinin. Among the phosphorylation sites we examined (FAK397, 576/577, 925, and Src416), FAK925 exhibited the most dependance on the nanofiber curvature. A RhoA/ROCK dependance of migration velocity across curvatures combined with an observation of cell membrane wrapping around nanofibers suggested a hybrid of migration modes for cells attached to fibers as has been observed in 3D matrices. Careful selection of nanofiber curvature for regenerative engineering scaffolds and substrates used to study cell biology is required to maximize the potential of these techniques for scientific exploration and ultimately improvement of human health.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-04-05T12:28:36Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002440
Back to the basics of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry of
bio-related samples. I. Instrumentation and data collection
- Authors: Daniel J. Graham, Lara J. Gamble
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is used widely throughout industrial and academic research due to the high information content of the chemically specific data it produces. Modern ToF-SIMS instruments can generate high mass resolution data that can be displayed as spectra and images (2D and 3D). This enables determining the distribution of molecules across and into a surface and provides access to information not obtainable from other methods. With this detailed chemical information comes a steep learning curve in how to properly acquire and interpret the data. This Tutorial is aimed at helping ToF-SIMS users to plan for and collect ToF-SIMS data. The second Tutorial in this series will cover how to process, display, and interpret ToF-SIMS data.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-03-29T12:22:29Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002477
3D bioprinting of gastrointestinal cancer models: A comprehensive review
on processing, properties, and therapeutic implications
- Authors: Kalappa Prashantha, Amita Krishnappa, Malini Muthappa
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) malignancies are an important public health problem considering the increased incidence in recent years and the high morbidity and mortality associated with it. GIT malignancies constitute 26% of the global cancer incidence burden and 35% of all cancer-related deaths. Gastrointestinal cancers are complex and heterogenous diseases caused by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of gastrointestinal tract carcinomas is dynamic and complex; it cannot be recapitulated in the basic two-dimensional cell culture systems. In contrast, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models can mimic the TME more closely, enabling an improved understanding of the microenvironmental cues involved in the various stages of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. However, the heterogeneity of the TME is incompletely reproduced in these 3D culture models, as they fail to regulate the orientation and interaction of various cell types in a complex architecture. To emulate the TME, 3D bioprinting has emerged as a useful technique to engineer cancer tissue models. Bioprinted cancer tissue models can potentially recapitulate cancer pathology and increase drug resistance in an organ-mimicking 3D environment. In this review, we describe the 3D bioprinting methods, bioinks, characterization of 3D bioprinted constructs, and their application in developing gastrointestinal tumor models that integrate their microenvironment with different cell types and substrates, as well as bioprinting modalities and their application in therapy and drug screening. We review prominent studies on the 3D bioprinted esophageal, hepatobiliary, and colorectal cancer models. In addition, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the cancer microenvironment in printed tumor models, highlights current challenges with respect to their clinical translation, and summarizes future perspectives.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-03-24T04:10:25Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002372
Biocompatibility evaluation of polyethersulfone–pyrolytic carbon
composite membrane in artificial pancreas
- Authors: Reza Peighami, Mohamadreza Mehrnia, Fatemeh Yazdian, Mojgan Sheikhpour
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are widely used in medical devices, especially intravascular devices such as intravascular bioartificial pancreases. In the current work, the pure PES and PES–pyrolytic carbon (PyC) composite membranes were synthesized and permeability studies were conducted. In addition, the cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility of the pure PES and PES–PyC membranes were investigated. These materials were characterized using peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) activation, platelet activation, platelet adhesion, ß-cell viability and proliferation, and ß-cell response to hyperglycemia. The results showed that platelet activation decreased from 87.3% to 27.8%. Any alteration in the morphology of sticking platelets was prevented, and the number of attached platelets decreased by modification with PyC. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay corroborated that PBMC activation was encouraged by the PyC-modified PES membrane surface. It can be concluded that PES-modified membranes show higher hemocompatibility than pure PES membranes. ß-cells cultured on all the three membranes displayed a lower rate of proliferation although the cells on the PES–PyC (0.1 wt. %) membrane indicated a slightly higher viability and proliferation than those on the pure PES and PES–PyC (0.05 wt. %) membranes. It shows that the PES–PyC (0.1 wt. %) membrane possesses superior cytocompatibility over the other membranes.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-03-21T11:34:12Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002155
Production of WE43 magnesium alloy by powder metallurgy and the effect of
glucose on wear resistance in biocorrosive wear
- Authors: Bünyamin Çiçek
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  In this study, WE43 magnesium alloy was produced by the powder metallurgy method. Microstructural analyses of the produced samples were carried out using the scanning electron microscopy method. X-ray fluorescence, energy dispersive x-ray (EDS) analysis, and hardness tests were also implemented to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the alloys. The volumetric hardness was measured to be approximately 53 HV. The microstructural analysis and EDS results indicated the presence of Mg24Y5 and Mg41Nd5 phases in the alloys. Reciprocating-type experiments were carried out in dry and corrosive environments to evaluate the wear resistance. Hanks’s solution containing 2% g/l glucose was used as the corrosive environment. Gluconic acid resulting from the oxidation of glucose in the Hanks’s solution formed a new thin layer on the alloy surface, which was observed in the worn surface images. The formation of the thin film on the alloy surface resulted in an increase in wear resistance by 37%. The results unraveled the potential of the WE43 alloys as implant materials in areas in contact with glucose.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-03-17T12:25:03Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002270
Bioconjugation of COL1 protein on liquid-like solid surfaces to study
tumor invasion dynamics
- Authors: D. T. Nguyen, D. I. Pedro, A. Pepe, J. G. Rosa, J. I. Bowman, L. Trachsel, G. R. Golde, I. Suzuki, J. M. Lavrador, N. T. Y. Nguyen, M. A. Kis, R. A. Smolchek, N. Diodati, R. Liu, S. R. Phillpot, A. R. Webber, P. Castillo, E. J. Sayour, B. S. Sumerlin, W. G. Sawyer
  Abstract: Biointerphases, Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2023.
  Tumor invasion is likely driven by the product of intrinsic and extrinsic stresses, reduced intercellular adhesion, and reciprocal interactions between the cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is a dynamic material system that is continuously evolving with the tumor microenvironment. Although it is widely reported that cancer cells degrade the ECM to create paths for migration using membrane-bound and soluble enzymes, other nonenzymatic mechanisms of invasion are less studied and not clearly understood. To explore tumor invasion that is independent of enzymatic degradation, we have created an open three-dimensional (3D) microchannel network using a novel bioconjugated liquid-like solid (LLS) medium to mimic both the tortuosity and the permeability of a loose capillary-like network. The LLS is made from an ensemble of soft granular microgels, which provides an accessible platform to investigate the 3D invasion of glioblastoma (GBM) tumor spheroids using in situ scanning confocal microscopy. The surface conjugation of the LLS microgels with type 1 collagen (COL1-LLS) enables cell adhesion and migration. In this model, invasive fronts of the GBM microtumor protruded into the proximal interstitial space and may have locally reorganized the surrounding COL1-LLS. Characterization of the invasive paths revealed a super-diffusive behavior of these fronts. Numerical simulations suggest that the interstitial space guided tumor invasion by restricting available paths, and this physical restriction is responsible for the super-diffusive behavior. This study also presents evidence that cancer cells utilize anchorage-dependent migration to explore their surroundings, and geometrical cues guide 3D tumor invasion along the accessible paths independent of proteolytic ability.
  Citation: Biointerphases
  PubDate: 2023-03-10T12:36:44Z
  DOI: 10.1116/6.0002083