TY - JOUR A1 - Angelova, Liliya A1 - Daskalova, Albena A1 - Filipov, Emil A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Tomasch, Janine A1 - Avdeev, Georgi A1 - Teuschl-Woller, Andreas Herbert A1 - Buchvarov, Ivan T1 - Optimizing the Surface Structural and Morphological Properties of Silk Thin Films via Ultra-Short Laser Texturing for Creation of Muscle Cell Matrix Model JF - Polymers N2 - Temporary scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrix's structure and provide a stable substratum for the natural growth of cells are an innovative trend in the field of tissue engineering. The aim of this study is to obtain and design porous 2D fibroin-based cell matrices by femtosecond laser-induced microstructuring for future applications in muscle tissue engineering. Ultra-fast laser treatment is a non-contact method, which generates controlled porosity-the creation of micro/nanostructures on the surface of the biopolymer that can strongly affect cell behavior, while the control over its surface characteristics has the potential of directing the growth of future muscle tissue in the desired direction. The laser structured 2D thin film matrices from silk were characterized by means of SEM, EDX, AFM, FTIR, Micro-Raman, XRD, and 3D-roughness analyses. A WCA evaluation and initial experiments with murine C2C12 myoblasts cells were also performed. The results show that by varying the laser parameters, a different structuring degree can be achieved through the initial lifting and ejection of the material around the area of laser interaction to generate porous channels with varying widths and depths. The proper optimization of the applied laser parameters can significantly improve the bioactive properties of the investigated 2D model of a muscle cell matrix. Keywords: biopolymers; femtosecond laser processing; muscle cell matrix 2D model; muscle tissue engineering; silk fibroin. KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Muscle Cell matrix Model KW - Silk Scaffold KW - Surface Structure Y1 - VL - 2022 IS - 14(13), 2584 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Deininger, Christian A1 - Wagner, Andrea A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Salzer, Elias A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Weißenbacher, Nadja A1 - Grillari, Johannes A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Wichlas, Florian A1 - Freude, Thomas A1 - Tempfer, Herbert A1 - Teuschl-Woller, Andreas A1 - Traweger, Andreas T1 - Enhanced BMP-2-Mediated Bone Repair Using an Anisotropic Silk Fibroin Scaffold Coated with Bone-like Apatite JF - Int. J. Mol. Sci. N2 - The repair of large bone defects remains challenging and often requires graft material due to limited availability of autologous bone. In clinical settings, collagen sponges loaded with excessive amounts of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) are occasionally used for the treatment of bone non-unions, increasing the risk of adverse events. Therefore, strategies to reduce rhBMP-2 dosage are desirable. Silk scaffolds show great promise due to their favorable biocompatibility and their utility for various biofabrication methods. For this study, we generated silk scaffolds with axially aligned pores, which were subsequently treated with 10× simulated body fluid (SBF) to generate an apatitic calcium phosphate coating. Using a rat femoral critical sized defect model (CSD) we evaluated if the resulting scaffold allows the reduction of BMP-2 dosage to promote efficient bone repair by providing appropriate guidance cues. Highly porous, anisotropic silk scaffolds were produced, demonstrating good cytocompatibility in vitro and treatment with 10× SBF resulted in efficient surface coating. In vivo, the coated silk scaffolds loaded with a low dose of rhBMP-2 demonstrated significantly improved bone regeneration when compared to the unmineralized scaffold. Overall, our findings show that this simple and cost-efficient technique yields scaffolds that enhance rhBMP-2 mediated bone healing. KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Biomaterials KW - silk scaffold KW - bone regeneration KW - pseudoarthrosis Y1 - VL - 23 IS - 1 / 283 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Khimich, Margarita A. A1 - Prosolov, Konstantin A. A1 - Mishurova, Tatiana A1 - Evsevleev, Sergej A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Teuschl, Andreas H. A1 - Slezak, Paul A1 - Ibragimov, Egor A. A1 - Saprykin, Alexander A. A1 - Kovalevskaya, Zhanna G. A1 - Dmitriev, Andrey I. A1 - Bruno, Giovanni A1 - Sharkeev, Yurii P. T1 - Advances in Laser Additive Manufacturing of Ti-Nb Alloys: From Nanostructured Powders to Bulk Objects JF - Nanomaterials (Basel) N2 - The additive manufacturing of low elastic modulus alloys that have a certain level of porosity for biomedical needs is a growing area of research. Here, we show the results of manufacturing of porous and dense samples by a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of Ti-Nb alloy, using two distinctive fusion strategies. The nanostructured Ti-Nb alloy powders were produced by mechanical alloying and have a nanostructured state with nanosized grains up to 90 nm. The manufactured porous samples have pronounced open porosity and advanced roughness, contrary to dense samples with a relatively smooth surface profile. The structure of both types of samples after LPBF is formed by uniaxial grains having micro- and nanosized features. The inner structure of the porous samples is comprised of an open interconnected system of pores. The volume fraction of isolated porosity is 2 vol. % and the total porosity is 20 vol. %. Cell viability was assessed in vitro for 3 and 7 days using the MG63 cell line. With longer culture periods, cells showed an increased cell density over the entire surface of a porous Ti-Nb sample. Both types of samples are not cytotoxic and could be used for further in vivo studies. KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Biomaterials KW - Laser Additive Manufacturing KW - Bulk Objects Y1 - VL - 11 IS - 5 / 1159 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schanda, Jakob A1 - Keibl, Claudia A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Feichtinger, Xaver A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Baierl, Andreas A1 - Muschitz, Christian A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Fialka, Christian A1 - Mittermayr, Rainer T1 - Zoledronic Acid Substantially Improves Bone Microarchitecture and Biomechanical Properties After Rotator Cuff Repair in a Rodent Chronic Defect Model JF - Am J Sports Med N2 - Background: Bone mineral density at the humeral head is reduced in patients with chronic rotator cuff tears. Bone loss in the humeral head is associated with repair failure after rotator cuff reconstruction. Bisphosphonates (eg, zoledronic acid) increase bone mineral density. Hypothesis: Zoledronic acid improves bone mineral density of the humeral head and biomechanical properties of the enthesis after reconstruction of chronic rotator cuff tears in rats. Study design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent unilateral (left) supraspinatus tenotomy with delayed transosseous rotator cuff reconstruction after 3 weeks. All rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after rotator cuff repair. Animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. At 1 day after rotator cuff reconstruction, the intervention group was treated with a single subcutaneous dose of zoledronic acid at 100 µg/kg bodyweight, and the control group received 1 mL of subcutaneous saline solution. In 12 animals of each group, micro-computed tomography scans of both shoulders were performed as well as biomechanical testing of the supraspinatus enthesis of both sides. In 4 animals of each group, histological analyses were conducted. Results: In the intervention group, bone volume fraction (bone volume/total volume [BV/TV]) of the operated side was higher at the lateral humeral head (P = .005) and the medial humeral head (P = .010) compared with the control group. Trabecular number on the operated side was higher at the lateral humeral head (P = .004) and the medial humeral head (P = .001) in the intervention group. Maximum load to failure rates on the operated side were higher in the intervention group (P < .001). Cortical thickness positively correlated with higher maximum load to failure rates in the intervention group (r = 0.69; P = .026). Histological assessment revealed increased bone formation in the intervention group. Conclusion: Single-dose therapy of zoledronic acid provided an improvement of bone microarchitecture at the humeral head as well as an increase of maximum load to failure rates after transosseous reconstruction of chronic rotator cuff lesions in rats. Clinical relevance: Zoledronic acid improves bone microarchitecture as well as biomechanical properties after reconstruction of chronic rotator cuff tears in rodents. These results need to be verified in clinical investigations. KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Rotator Cuff Tears Y1 - VL - 2020 Jul IS - 48 (9) SP - 2151 EP - 2160 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Feichtinger, Xaver A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Keibl, Claudia A1 - Hercher, David A1 - Schanda, Jakob A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Muschitz, Christian A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Fialka, Christian A1 - Mittermayr, Rainer T1 - Substantial Biomechanical Improvement by Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy After Surgical Repair of Rodent Chronic Rotator Cuff Tears. JF - American Journal of Sports Medicine KW - Shockwave Therapy KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Regeneration KW - Surgery Y1 - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Tangl, Stefan A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Schwarze, Uwe Yacine A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Nau, Thomas T1 - Osteointegration of a Novel Silk Fiber-Based ACL Scaffold by Formation of a Ligament-Bone Interface. JF - American Journal of Sports Medicine KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Silk KW - Scaffold KW - ACL Y1 - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Simsa, Robin A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Salzer, Elias A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Jenndahl, Lachmi A1 - Bergh, Niklas A1 - Fogelstrand, Per T1 - Effect of fluid dynamics on decellularization efficacy and mechanical properties of blood vessels. JF - PLoS One KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Decellularization KW - Blood Vessel Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Schuh, Christina A1 - Weihs, Anna A1 - Guillaume, Olivier A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Kaplan, David A1 - Rünzler, Dominik T1 - Tailoring bioactivity of silk-based biomaterials via delivering and functionalization strategies with fibrinogen/thrombin, plant lectins or laminin KW - Biomaterials KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Silk Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Nürnberger, Sylvia A1 - Tangl, Stefan A1 - van Griensven, Martijn A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Nau, Thomas T1 - Anterior cruciate ligament regeneration using the silk-based RegACL scaffold KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Silk KW - Biomaterial KW - Anterior Cruciate Ligament Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Salzer, Elias A1 - Rieder, Bernhard A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Weihs, Anna A1 - Rünzler, Dominik A1 - Teuschl, Andreas T1 - Evaluation of a novel hydrostatic pressure bioreactor on bovine cartilage chips KW - Bioreactor KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Cartilage Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Salzer, Elias A1 - Liousia, Varvara A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Rünzler, Dominik T1 - Tracking of small aquatic organisms with custom-made tracking plates KW - Ecotoxicology KW - Behavior Analysis KW - Aquatic Ecotoxicology Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Weihs, Anna A1 - Fuchs, Christiane A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier T1 - Silk as a versatile biomaterial for musculoskeletal tissue engineering KW - Silk KW - Biomaterials Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schneider, Cornelia A1 - Lehmann, Johannes A1 - van Osch, Gerjo A1 - Hildner, Florian A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Miosga, David A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Priglinger, Eleni A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Wolbank, Susanne A1 - Nürnberger, Sylvia T1 - Systematic Comparison of Protocols for the Preparation of Human Articular Cartilage for Use as Scaffold Material in Cartilage Tissue Engineering JF - Tissue Eng Part C Methods KW - Cartilage KW - Scaffold Material Y1 - 2018 VL - 22 IS - 12 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Szwarc, Dorota A1 - Fuchs, Christiane A1 - Weihs, Anna A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Hanetseder, Dominik A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Rünzler, Dominik T1 - The effect of shock waves on in vitro cartilage development in silk scaffolds KW - Shockwave treatment KW - In Vitro KW - Cartilage KW - Silk Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heher, Philipp A1 - Maleiner, Babette A1 - Prüller, Johanna A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Kollmitzer, Josef A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Wolbank, Susanne A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Rünzler, Dominik A1 - Fuchs, Christiane T1 - A novel bioreactor for the generation of highly aligned 3D skeletal muscle-like constructs through orientation of fibrin via application of static strain JF - Acta Biomaterialia KW - Bioreactor Y1 - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Guillaume, Olivier A1 - Park, Jaesung A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Gruber-Blum, Simone A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Petter-Puchner, Akexander A1 - Teuschl, Andreas T1 - Fabrication of silk mesh with enhanced cytocompatibility: preliminary in vitro investigation toward cell-based therapy for hernia repair JF - Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine KW - Cytocompatibility KW - Hernia Repair Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Guillaume, Olivier A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier T1 - Development of a Biodegradable Silk Mesh Suitable for Intra-Operative Fast Cell Seeding KW - Silk KW - Cell Seeding Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Neutsch, Lukas A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Rünzler, Dominik A1 - van Griensven, Martijn A1 - Gabor, Franz A1 - Redl, Heinz T1 - Enhanced cell adhesion on silk fibroin via lectin surface modification. JF - Acta Biomaterialia KW - Silk KW - Fibrin Y1 - ER - TY - GEN A1 - Purtscher, Michaela A1 - Ergir, Ece A1 - Szwarc, Dorota A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Rünzler, Dominik A1 - Huber-Gries, Carina T1 - A microfluidic-based easy-to-use cardiac tissue model for drug screening applications KW - Tissue Generation KW - Drug Screening KW - Cardiac Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Purtscher, Michaela A1 - Ergir, Ece A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Huber-Gries, Carina T1 - Establishment of an in vitro heart tissue model for pre-clinical screening of therapeutic agents using microfluidic technology KW - Tissue Generation KW - Heart Tissue Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Holnthoner, Wolfgang A1 - Monforte, Xavier T1 - Repopulation of an auricular cartilage scaffold, AuriScaff, perforated with an enzyme combination JF - Acta Biomater. N2 - Biomaterials currently in use for articular cartilage regeneration do not mimic the composition or architecture of hyaline cartilage, leading to the formation of repair tissue with inferior characteristics. In this study we demonstrate the use of "AuriScaff", an enzymatically perforated bovine auricular cartilage scaffold, as a novel biomaterial for repopulation with regenerative cells and for the formation of high-quality hyaline cartilage. AuriScaff features a traversing channel network, generated by selective depletion of elastic fibers, enabling uniform repopulation with therapeutic cells. The complex collagen type II matrix is left intact, as observed by immunohistochemistry, SEM and TEM. The compressive modulus is diminished, but three times higher than in the clinically used collagen type I/III scaffold that served as control. Seeding tests with human articular chondrocytes (hAC) alone and in co-culture with human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC) confirmed that the network enabled cell migration throughout the scaffold. It also guides collagen alignment along the channels and, due to the generally traverse channel alignment, newly deposited cartilage matrix corresponds with the orientation of collagen within articular cartilage. In an osteochondral plug model, AuriScaff filled the complete defect with compact collagen type II matrix and enabled chondrogenic differentiation inside the channels. Using adult articular chondrocytes from bovine origin (bAC), filling of even deep defects with high-quality hyaline-like cartilage was achieved after 6 weeks in vivo. With its composition and spatial organization, AuriScaff provides an optimal chondrogenic environment for therapeutic cells to treat cartilage defects and is expected to improve long-term outcome by channel-guided repopulation followed by matrix deposition and alignment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: After two decades of tissue engineering for cartilage regeneration, there is still no optimal strategy available to overcome problems such as inconsistent clinical outcome, early and late graft failures. Especially large defects are dependent on biomaterials and their scaffolding, guiding and protective function. Considering the currently used biomaterials, structure and mechanical properties appear to be insufficient to fulfill this task. The novel scaffold developed within this study is the first approach enabling the use of dense cartilage matrix, repopulate it via channels and provide the cells with a compact collagen type II environment. Due to its density, it also provides better mechanical properties than materials currently used in clinics. We therefore think, that the auricular cartilage scaffold (AuriScaff) has a high potential to improve future cartilage regeneration approaches. KW - Auricular cartilage KW - Cartilage Regeneration KW - Human adipose derived stromal/stem cells KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Decellularization Y1 - 2020 VL - 2019 IS - Mar/86 SP - 207 EP - 222 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Schneider, Karl Heinrich A1 - Aigner, Petra A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Holnthoner, Wolfgang A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Bergmeister, Helga A1 - Redl, Heinz T1 - Naturally derived acellular small diameter vascular grafts from human placenta for reconstructive surgery KW - Placenta KW - Grafting KW - Surgery Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nürnberger, Sylvia A1 - Schneider, Cornelia A1 - van Osch, Gerjo A1 - Keibl, Claudia A1 - Rieder, Bernhard A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Teuschl, Andreas A1 - Mühleder, Severin A1 - Holnthoner, Wolfgang A1 - Schädl, Barbara A1 - Gahleitner, Christoph A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Wolbank, Susanne T1 - Repopulation of an auricular cartilage scaffold, AuriScaff, perforated with an enzyme combination. JF - Acta Biomaterialia KW - Tissue Engineering KW - Decellularization KW - Cartilage Y1 - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schneider, Karl Heinrich A1 - Aigner, Petra A1 - Holnthoner, Wolfgang A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Nürnberger, Sylvia A1 - Rünzler, Dominik A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Teuschl, Andreas T1 - Decellularized human placenta chorion matrix as a favorable source of small-diameter vascular grafts JF - Acta Biomaterialia KW - Grafting KW - Tissue Engineering Y1 - 2018 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Friedrich, Robin A1 - Lakic, Nevana A1 - Prähauser, Linda A1 - Schweitzer, Karoline A1 - Olscher, Christoph A1 - Monforte Vila, Xavier A1 - Leitner, Rita A1 - Gepp, Barbara T1 - Effects of Plastic on the Freshwater Snail Biomphalaria Glabrata T2 - SETAC Europe 32nd Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark from 15 - 19. May 2022 KW - Ecotoxicology KW - Biomphalaria Glabrata Y1 - ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bernhard, Jonathan C A1 - Marolt Presen, Darja A1 - Li, Ming A1 - Monforte, Xavier A1 - Ferguson, James A1 - Leinfellner, Gabriele A1 - Heimel, Patrick A1 - Betti, Susanne L A1 - Shu, Sharon A1 - Teuschl-Woller, Andreas H A1 - Tangl, Stefan A1 - Redl, Heinz A1 - Vunjak-Novakovic, Gordana T1 - Effects of Endochondral and Intramembranous Ossification Pathways on Bone Tissue Formation and Vascularization in Human Tissue-Engineered Grafts JF - Cells N2 - Bone grafts can be engineered by differentiating human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) via the endochondral and intramembranous ossification pathways. We evaluated the effects of each pathway on the properties of engineered bone grafts and their capacity to drive bone regeneration. Bone-marrow-derived MSCs were differentiated on silk scaffolds into either hypertrophic chondrocytes (hyper) or osteoblasts (osteo) over 5 weeks of in vitro cultivation, and were implanted subcutaneously for 12 weeks. The pathways' constructs were evaluated over time with respect to gene expression, composition, histomorphology, microstructure, vascularization and biomechanics. Hypertrophic chondrocytes expressed higher levels of osteogenic genes and deposited significantly more bone mineral and proteins than the osteoblasts. Before implantation, the mineral in the hyper group was less mature than that in the osteo group. Following 12 weeks of implantation, the hyper group had increased mineral density but a similar overall mineral composition compared with the osteo group. The hyper group also displayed significantly more blood vessel infiltration than the osteo group. Both groups contained M2 macrophages, indicating bone regeneration. These data suggest that, similar to the body's repair processes, endochondral pathway might be more advantageous when regenerating large defects, whereas intramembranous ossification could be utilized to guide the tissue formation pattern with a scaffold architecture. KW - bone tissue engineering KW - endochondral KW - mesenchymal stromal cells KW - ossification KW - intramembranous Y1 - U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells11193070 VL - 11 IS - 19:3070 ER -