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Membranes
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Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020
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Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 38285

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sabrina Morelli

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Guest Editor
Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR c/o University of Calabria, Via P.Bucci, cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy
Interests: polymeric membrane systems for tissue engineering; regenerative medicine and bioartificial organs; 3D membrane-based tissue models for tissue repair; pharmacological screening; and disease modeling; membrane bioreactors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shih-Jung Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University Adjunct Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Tao-Yuan, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
Interests: bioabsorbable medical devices; drug delivery; tissue engineering; nanofibers; core-shell microspheres
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Loredana De Bartolo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute on Membrane Technology (ITM-CNR), National Research Council of Italy, c/o University of Calabria, via P. Bucci cubo 17/C, I-87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: design of micro- and nano-structured membranes; bioengineering of membrane bioreactors, bioartificial organs/tissues; membrane interfacial properties; tissue engineering; in vitro membrane platform
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, in the field of tissue engineering, membrane-based approaches provide advanced systems that are able to mimic the native physiological environment of healthy tissues and, consequently, regulate cell behavior and support the regeneration of injured tissues/organs. A variety of membrane systems, including micro/nanofibers and scaffolds made of natural, synthetic or blend polymers, and bioreactors, have been widely investigated for engineering a range of tissues (i.e., liver, kidney, bone, nerve, skin, etc.).

For the design and fabrication of advanced tissue-engineered constructs, membrane properties including morphological, mechanical, physico-chemical, and transport and electrical properties, are key elements in dictating cellular behavior and in controlling new tissue formation. In this context, a challenging issue is to provide biofunctionality—mechanical and topographical features of the native target tissue within the membrane system to improve interactions with cells for greater repair and regeneration.

To date, membrane-based systems also have great potential as investigational tools in preclinical research, contributing to expand the available in vitro devices for drug testing applications and modeling of human disease. Therefore, membrane systems offer a broad range of applications in the field of tissue engineering.

This Special Issue aims to cover the latest developments and innovations regarding the multifunctional role of membrane systems for tissue engineering applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced approaches in membrane synthesis and characterization;
  • Functionalization procedures of membranes;
  • Membrane bioreactors;
  • Bioartificial organs;
  • Cell–membrane interactions;
  • Bioabsorbable materials;
  • Micro/nano fabrication methods;
  • Membranes for cell/drug delivery;
  • In vitro membrane platforms for disease modeling/drug screening;
  • Biosensors;
  • Bioprinting methods;
  • Microfluidic systems.

Authors are invited to submit their latest results; both original papers and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Sabrina Morelli
Prof. Dr. Shih-Jung (Sean) Liu
Dr. Loredana De Bartolo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Membranes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Instructive membranes
  • Tissue engineering
  • Membrane bioreactors
  • Bioartificial organs
  • Membrane properties
  • Mass transfer
  • Implantable membranes
  • Cell–membrane interactions

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 199 KiB  
Editorial
Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020
by Sabrina Morelli, Shih-Jung Liu and Loredana De Bartolo
Membranes 2021, 11(10), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11100763 - 01 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1418
Abstract
Membrane systems offer a broad range of applications in the field of tissue engineering [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 4144 KiB  
Article
Tissue-Engineered Vascular Graft with Co-Culture of Smooth Muscle Cells and Human Endothelial Vein Cells on an Electrospun Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microtube Array Membrane
by Chee Ho Chew, Bo-Long Sheu, Amanda Chen, Wan-Ting Huang, Tsai-Mu Cheng, Chun-Ming Shih, Austin Chang and Chien-Chung Chen
Membranes 2021, 11(10), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11100732 - 27 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2640
Abstract
Coronary artery disease is one of the major diseases that plagues today’s modern society. Conventional treatments utilize synthetic vascular grafts such as Dacron® and Teflon® in bypass graft surgery. Despite the wide adaptation, these synthetic grafts are often plagued with weaknesses [...] Read more.
Coronary artery disease is one of the major diseases that plagues today’s modern society. Conventional treatments utilize synthetic vascular grafts such as Dacron® and Teflon® in bypass graft surgery. Despite the wide adaptation, these synthetic grafts are often plagued with weaknesses such as low hemocompatibility, thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and risks of graft infection. More importantly, these synthetic grafts are not available at diameters of less than 6 mm. In view of these challenges, we strived to develop and adapt the electrospun Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM) vascular graft for applications smaller than 6 mm in diameter. Homogenously porous PLGA MTAMs were successfully electrospun at 5.5–8.5 kV under ambient conditions. Mechanically, the PLGA MTAMs registered a maximum tensile strength of 5.57 ± 0.85 MPa and Young’s modulus value of 1.134 ± 0.01 MPa; while MTT assay revealed that seven-day Smooth Muscle Cells (SMCs) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) registered a 6 times and 2.4 times higher cell viability when cultured in a co-culture setting in medium containing α-1 haptaglobulin. When rolled into a vascular graft, the PLGA MTAMs registered an overall degradation of 82% after 60 days of cell co-culture. After eight weeks of culturing, immunohistochemistry staining revealed the formation of a monolayer of HUVECs with tight junctions on the surface of the PLGA MTAM, and as for the SMCs housed within the lumens of the PLGA MTAMs, a monolayer with high degree of orientation was observed. The PLGA MTAM registered a burst pressure of 1092.2 ± 175.3 mmHg, which was sufficient for applications such as small diameter blood vessels. Potentially, the PLGA MTAM could be used as a suitable substrate for vascular engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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21 pages, 5011 KiB  
Article
Ultra-High Packing Density Next Generation Microtube Array Membrane for Absorption Based Applications
by Chee Ho Chew, Wan-Ting Huang, Tzu-Sen Yang, Amanda Chen, Yun Ming Wu, Mai-Szu Wu and Chien-Chung Chen
Membranes 2021, 11(4), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11040273 - 08 Apr 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2265
Abstract
Previously, we successfully developed an extracorporeal endotoxin removal device (EERD) that is based on the novel next generation alternating microtube array membrane (MTAM-A) that was superior to the commercial equivalent. In this article, we demonstrated multiple different parameter modifications that led to multiple [...] Read more.
Previously, we successfully developed an extracorporeal endotoxin removal device (EERD) that is based on the novel next generation alternating microtube array membrane (MTAM-A) that was superior to the commercial equivalent. In this article, we demonstrated multiple different parameter modifications that led to multiple different types of novel new MTAM structures, which ultimately led to the formation of the MTAM-A. Contrary to the single layered MTAM, the MTAM-A series consisted of a superior packing density fiber connected in a double layered, alternating position which allowed for the greater fiber count to be packed per unit area. The respective MTAM variants were electrospun by utilizing our internally developed tri-axial electrospinning set up to produce the novel microstructures as seen in the respective MTAM variants. A key uniqueness of this study is the ability to produce self-arranged fibers into the respective MTAM variants by utilizing a single spinneret, which has not been demonstrated before. Of the MTAM variants, we observed a change in the microstructure from a single layered MTAM to the MTAM-A series when the ratio of surfactant to shell flow rate approaches 1:1.92. MTAM-A registered the greatest surface area of 2.2 times compared to the traditional single layered MTAM, with the greatest tensile strength at 1.02 ± 0.13 MPa and a maximum elongation of 57.70 ± 9.42%. The MTAM-A was selected for downstream immobilization of polymyxin B (PMB) and assembly into our own internally developed and fabricated dialyzer housing. Subsequently, the entire setup was tested with whole blood spiked with endotoxin; and benchmarked against commercial Toraymyxin fibers of the same size. The results demonstrated that the EERD based on the MTAM-A performed superior to that of the commercial equivalent, registering a rapid reduction of 73.18% of endotoxin (vs. Toraymyxin at 38.78%) at time point 15 min and a final total endotoxin removal of 89.43% (vs. Toraymyxin at 65.03%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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12 pages, 2177 KiB  
Article
Bone Regeneration Assessment of Polycaprolactone Membrane on Critical-Size Defects in Rat Calvaria
by Ana Paula Farnezi Bassi, Vinícius Ferreira Bizelli, Tamires Mello Francatti, Ana Carulina Rezende de Moares Ferreira, Járede Carvalho Pereira, Hesham Mohammed Al-Sharani, Flavia de Almeida Lucas and Leonardo Perez Faverani
Membranes 2021, 11(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020124 - 09 Feb 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
Biomaterials for use in guided bone regeneration (GBR) are constantly being investigated and developed to improve clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the biological performance of different membranes during the bone healing process of 8 mm critical defects in rat [...] Read more.
Biomaterials for use in guided bone regeneration (GBR) are constantly being investigated and developed to improve clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the biological performance of different membranes during the bone healing process of 8 mm critical defects in rat calvaria in order to assess their influence on the quality of the newly formed bone. Seventy-two adult male rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 24) based on the membranes used: the CG—membrane-free control group (only blood clot, negative control), BG—porcine collagen membrane group (Bio-Guide®, positive control), and the PCL—polycaprolactone (enriched with 5% hydroxyapatite) membrane group (experimental group). Histological and histometric analyses were performed at 7, 15, 30, and 60 days postoperatively. The quantitative data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p < 0.05). At 7 and 15 days, the inflammatory responses in the BG and PCL groups were significantly different (p < 0.05). The PCL group, at 15 days, showed a large area of newly formed bone. At 30 and 60 days postoperatively, the PCL and BG groups exhibited similar bone healing, including some specimens showing complete closure of the critical defect (p = 0.799). Thus, the PCL membrane was biocompatible, and has the potential to help with GBR procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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16 pages, 4337 KiB  
Article
PLGA Multiplex Membrane Platform for Disease Modelling and Testing of Therapeutic Compounds
by Antonella Piscioneri, Sabrina Morelli, Enrico Drioli and Loredana De Bartolo
Membranes 2021, 11(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11020112 - 05 Feb 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1651
Abstract
A proper validation of an engineered brain microenvironment requires a trade of between the complexity of a cellular construct within the in vitro platform and the simple implementation of the investigational tool. The present work aims to accomplish this challenging balance by setting [...] Read more.
A proper validation of an engineered brain microenvironment requires a trade of between the complexity of a cellular construct within the in vitro platform and the simple implementation of the investigational tool. The present work aims to accomplish this challenging balance by setting up an innovative membrane platform that represents a good compromise between a proper mimicked brain tissue analogue combined with an easily accessible and implemented membrane system. Another key aspect of the in vitro modelling disease is the identification of a precise phenotypic onset as a definite hallmark of the pathology that needs to be recapitulated within the implemented membrane system. On the basis of these assumptions, we propose a multiplex membrane system in which the recapitulation of specific neuro-pathological onsets related to Alzheimer’s disease pathologies, namely oxidative stress and β-amyloid1–42 toxicity, allowed us to test the neuroprotective effects of trans-crocetin on damaged neurons. The proposed multiplex membrane platform is therefore quite a versatile tool that allows the integration of neuronal pathological events in combination with the testing of new molecules. The present paper explores the use of this alternative methodology, which, relying on membrane technology approach, allows us to study the basic physiological and pathological behaviour of differentiated neuronal cells, as well as their changing behaviour, in response to new potential therapeutic treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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19 pages, 13768 KiB  
Article
Development of Porous and Flexible PTMC Membranes for In Vitro Organ Models Fabricated by Evaporation-Induced Phase Separation
by Thijs Pasman, Danielle Baptista, Sander van Riet, Roman K. Truckenmüller, Pieter S. Hiemstra, Robbert J. Rottier, Dimitrios Stamatialis and André A. Poot
Membranes 2020, 10(11), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10110330 - 05 Nov 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3285
Abstract
Polymeric membranes are widely applied in biomedical applications, including in vitro organ models. In such models, they are mostly used as supports on which cells are cultured to create functional tissue units of the desired organ. To this end, the membrane properties, e.g., [...] Read more.
Polymeric membranes are widely applied in biomedical applications, including in vitro organ models. In such models, they are mostly used as supports on which cells are cultured to create functional tissue units of the desired organ. To this end, the membrane properties, e.g., morphology and porosity, should match the tissue properties. Organ models of dynamic (barrier) tissues, e.g., lung, require flexible, elastic and porous membranes. Thus, membranes based on poly (dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) are often applied, which are flexible and elastic. However, PDMS has low cell adhesive properties and displays small molecule ad- and absorption. Furthermore, the introduction of porosity in these membranes requires elaborate methods. In this work, we aim to develop porous membranes for organ models based on poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC): a flexible polymer with good cell adhesive properties which has been used for tissue engineering scaffolds, but not in in vitro organ models. For developing these membranes, we applied evaporation-induced phase separation (EIPS), a new method in this field based on solvent evaporation initiating phase separation, followed by membrane photo-crosslinking. We optimised various processing variables for obtaining form-stable PTMC membranes with average pore sizes between 5 to 8 µm and water permeance in the microfiltration range (17,000–41,000 L/m2/h/bar). Importantly, the membranes are flexible and are suitable for implementation in in vitro organ models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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12 pages, 1817 KiB  
Article
Membranes for Modelling Cardiac Tissue Stiffness In Vitro Based on Poly(trimethylene carbonate) and Poly(ethylene glycol) Polymers
by Iris Allijn, Marcelo Ribeiro, André Poot, Robert Passier and Dimitrios Stamatialis
Membranes 2020, 10(10), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10100274 - 03 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2683
Abstract
Despite the increased expenditure of the pharmaceutical industry on research and development, the number of drugs for cardiovascular diseases that reaches the market is decreasing. A major issue is the limited ability of the current in vitro and experimental animal models to accurately [...] Read more.
Despite the increased expenditure of the pharmaceutical industry on research and development, the number of drugs for cardiovascular diseases that reaches the market is decreasing. A major issue is the limited ability of the current in vitro and experimental animal models to accurately mimic human heart disease, which hampers testing of the efficacy of potential cardiac drugs. Moreover, many non-heart-related drugs have severe adverse cardiac effects, which is a major cause of drugs’ retraction after approval. A main hurdle of current in vitro models is their inability to mimic the stiffness of in vivo cardiac tissue. For instance, poly(styrene) petri dishes, which are often used in these models, have a Young’s modulus in the order of GPa, while the stiffness of healthy human heart tissue is <50 kPa. In pathological conditions, such as scarring and fibrosis, the stiffness of heart tissue is in the >100 kPa range. In this study, we focus on developing new membranes, with a set of properties for mimicry of cardiac tissue stiffness in vitro, based on methacrylate-functionalized macromers and triblock-copolymers of poly(trimethylene carbonate) and poly(ethylene glycol). The new membranes have Young’s moduli in the hydrated state ranging from 18 kPa (healthy tissue) to 2.5 MPa (pathological tissue), and are suitable for cell contraction studies using human pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The membranes with higher hydrophilicity have low drug adsorption and low Young’s moduli and could be suitable for drug screening applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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15 pages, 10782 KiB  
Article
Is the Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Feasible for Osteopromotive Property?
by Ana Paula Farnezi Bassi, Vinícius Ferreira Bizelli, Leticia Freitas de Mendes Brasil, Járede Carvalho Pereira, Hesham Mohammed Al-Sharani, Gustavo Antonio Correa Momesso, Leonardo P. Faverani and Flavia de Almeida Lucas
Membranes 2020, 10(9), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10090230 - 12 Sep 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2867
Abstract
Guided bone regeneration was studied to establish protocols and develop new biomaterials that revealed satisfactory results. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the efficiency of the bacterial cellulose membrane (Nanoskin®) and collagen membrane Bio-Gide® in the bone repair of [...] Read more.
Guided bone regeneration was studied to establish protocols and develop new biomaterials that revealed satisfactory results. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the efficiency of the bacterial cellulose membrane (Nanoskin®) and collagen membrane Bio-Gide® in the bone repair of 8-mm critical size defects in rat calvaria. Seventy-two adult male rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 24): the CG—membrane-free control group (only blood clot, negative control), BG—porcine collagen membrane group (Bio-Guide®, positive control), and BC—bacterial cellulose membrane group (experimental group). The comparison periods were 7, 15, 30, and 60 days postoperatively. Histological, histometric, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. The quantitative data were subjected to 2-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-test, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. At 30 and 60 days postoperatively, the BG group showed more healing of the surgical wound than the other groups, with a high amount of newly formed bone (p < 0.001), while the BC group showed mature connective tissue filling the defect. The inflammatory cell count at postoperative days 7 and 15 was higher in the BC group than in the BG group (Tukey’s test, p = 0.006). At postoperative days 30 and 60, the area of new bone formed was greater in the BG group than in the other groups (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed moderate and intense immunolabeling of osteocalcin and osteopontin at postoperative day 60 in the BG and BC groups. Thus, despite the promising application of the BC membrane in soft-tissue repair, it did not induce bone repair in rat calvaria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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13 pages, 3381 KiB  
Article
Molecular Interaction, Chain Conformation, and Rheological Modification during Electrospinning of Hyaluronic Acid Aqueous Solution
by Hao Chen, Xuhong Chen, Huiying Chen, Xin Liu, Junxing Li, Jun Luo, Aihua He, Charles C. Han, Ying Liu and Shanshan Xu
Membranes 2020, 10(9), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10090217 - 31 Aug 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2443
Abstract
Most of natural water-soluble polymers are difficult to electrospin due to their specific chain conformation in aqueous solution, which limits their applications. This study investigated the effects of polyethylene oxide (PEO) on the electrospinning of hyaluronic acid (HA) in HA/PEO aqueous solutions. The [...] Read more.
Most of natural water-soluble polymers are difficult to electrospin due to their specific chain conformation in aqueous solution, which limits their applications. This study investigated the effects of polyethylene oxide (PEO) on the electrospinning of hyaluronic acid (HA) in HA/PEO aqueous solutions. The rheological properties of HA/PEO aqueous solutions showed polymer chain entanglement in HA was the essential factor affecting its electrospinnability. Wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry analyses of a PEO crystal showed different crystallization behavior of the PEO chain with different molecular weight, which indicates different interaction with HA. A schematic molecular model has been proposed to explain the effect of PEO on the chain conformation of HA along with the relationship between electrospinnability and chain entanglement. PEO with a relatively high molecular weight with limited crystal formation formed extensive chain entanglements with HA, while PEO with relatively low molecular weight weakened the interactions among HA chains. The findings of this study provide a wide perspective to better understand the electrospinning mechanisms of natural polyelectrolytes and usage in tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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18 pages, 3917 KiB  
Article
Hollow Fiber Membranes of PCL and PCL/Graphene as Scaffolds with Potential to Develop In Vitro Blood—Brain Barrier Models
by Marián Mantecón-Oria, Nazely Diban, Maria T. Berciano, Maria J. Rivero, Oana David, Miguel Lafarga, Olga Tapia and Ane Urtiaga
Membranes 2020, 10(8), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10080161 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3504
Abstract
There is a huge interest in developing novel hollow fiber (HF) membranes able to modulate neural differentiation to produce in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) models for biomedical and pharmaceutical research, due to the low cell-inductive properties of the polymer HFs used in current [...] Read more.
There is a huge interest in developing novel hollow fiber (HF) membranes able to modulate neural differentiation to produce in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) models for biomedical and pharmaceutical research, due to the low cell-inductive properties of the polymer HFs used in current BBB models. In this work, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and composite PCL/graphene (PCL/G) HF membranes were prepared by phase inversion and were characterized in terms of mechanical, electrical, morphological, chemical, and mass transport properties. The presence of graphene in PCL/G membranes enlarged the pore size and the water flux and presented significantly higher electrical conductivity than PCL HFs. A biocompatibility assay showed that PCL/G HFs significantly increased C6 cells adhesion and differentiation towards astrocytes, which may be attributed to their higher electrical conductivity in comparison to PCL HFs. On the other hand, PCL/G membranes produced a cytotoxic effect on the endothelial cell line HUVEC presumably related with a higher production of intracellular reactive oxygen species induced by the nanomaterial in this particular cell line. These results prove the potential of PCL HF membranes to grow endothelial cells and PCL/G HF membranes to differentiate astrocytes, the two characteristic cell types that could develop in vitro BBB models in future 3D co-culture systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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13 pages, 2187 KiB  
Article
Microtube Array Membrane (MTAM)-Based Encapsulated Cell Therapy for Cancer Treatment
by Chee Ho Chew, Chih-Wei Lee, Wan-Ting Huang, Li-Wei Cheng, Amanda Chen, Tsai-Mu Cheng, Yen-Lin Liu and Chien-Chung Chen
Membranes 2020, 10(5), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10050080 - 26 Apr 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3895
Abstract
The treatment of cancer has evolved significantly in recent years with a strong focus on immunotherapy. Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) for immunotherapy-based anti-cancer treatment is a unique niche within this landscape, where molecules such as signaling factors and antibodies produced from cells are [...] Read more.
The treatment of cancer has evolved significantly in recent years with a strong focus on immunotherapy. Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) for immunotherapy-based anti-cancer treatment is a unique niche within this landscape, where molecules such as signaling factors and antibodies produced from cells are encapsulated within a vehicle, with a host amount of benefits in terms of treatment efficacy and reduced side effects. However, traditional ECTs generally lie in two extremes; either a macro scale vehicle is utilized, resulting in a retrievable system but with limited diffusion and surface area, or a micro scale vehicle is utilized, resulting in a system that has excellent diffusion and surface area but is unretrievable in the event of side effects occurring, which greatly compromises the biosafety of patients. In this study we adapted our patented and novel electrospun Polysulfone (PSF) Microtube Array Membranes (MTAMs) as a ‘middle’ approach to the above dilemma, which possess excellent diffusion and surface area while being retrievable. Hybridoma cells were encapsulated within the PSF MTAMs, where they produced CEACAM6 antibodies to be used in the suppression of cancer cell line A549, MDA-MB-468 and PC 3 (control). In vitro and in vivo studies revealed excellent cell viability of hybridoma cells with continuous secretion of CEACAM6 antibodies which suppressed the MDA-MB-468 throughout the entire 21 days of experiment. Such outcome suggested that the PSF MTAMs were not only an excellent three-dimensional (3D) cell culture substrate but potentially also an excellent vehicle for the application in ECT systems. Future research needs to include a long term in vivo >6 months study before it can be used in clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

28 pages, 2553 KiB  
Review
Review of Synthetic and Hybrid Scaffolds in Cartilage Tissue Engineering
by Monika Wasyłeczko, Wioleta Sikorska and Andrzej Chwojnowski
Membranes 2020, 10(11), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes10110348 - 17 Nov 2020
Cited by 78 | Viewed by 6923
Abstract
Cartilage tissue is under extensive investigation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies because of its limited regenerative potential. Currently, many scaffolds are undergoing scientific and clinical research. A key for appropriate scaffolding is the assurance of a temporary cellular environment that allows [...] Read more.
Cartilage tissue is under extensive investigation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies because of its limited regenerative potential. Currently, many scaffolds are undergoing scientific and clinical research. A key for appropriate scaffolding is the assurance of a temporary cellular environment that allows the cells to function as in native tissue. These scaffolds should meet the relevant requirements, including appropriate architecture and physicochemical and biological properties. This is necessary for proper cell growth, which is associated with the adequate regeneration of cartilage. This paper presents a review of the development of scaffolds from synthetic polymers and hybrid materials employed for the engineering of cartilage tissue and regenerative medicine. Initially, general information on articular cartilage and an overview of the clinical strategies for the treatment of cartilage defects are presented. Then, the requirements for scaffolds in regenerative medicine, materials intended for membranes, and methods for obtaining them are briefly described. We also describe the hybrid materials that combine the advantages of both synthetic and natural polymers, which provide better properties for the scaffold. The last part of the article is focused on scaffolds in cartilage tissue engineering that have been confirmed by undergoing preclinical and clinical tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Systems for Tissue Engineering 2020)
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