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  - 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  -