Source: A*Star.
Astar Tissue
Fig.1 (top left): The IBN research team (left to right): Dr Karthikeyan Narayanan, Dr Hong Fang Lu, Dr Du Chan, Dr Meng Fatt Leong, Jerry K. C. Toh, Dr Andrew C. A. Wan, Dr Tze Chiun Lim and Prof Jackie Y. Ying; Fig.2 (left bottom): Schematic of the process flow to achieve the hierarchical tissue structure; Fig.3 (right): Confocal microscopy images showing the different levels of organization; Fig.4 (middle): Schematic diagram illustrating the concept of a prevascularised hydrogel. The adjacent fibres could be used to pattern other cell types around the vessels.
Researchers at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have developed a simple method of organising cells and their microenvironments in hydrogel fibres. Their unique technology provides a feasible template for assembling complex structures, such as liver and fat tissues, as described in their recent publication in Nature Communications1.
According to IBN Executive Director Professor Jackie Y Ying, "Our tissue engineering approach gives researchers great control and flexibility over the arrangement of individual cell types, making it possible to engineer prevascularised tissue constructs easily. This innovation brings us a step closer toward developing viable tissue or organ replacements."
IBN Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist, Dr Andrew Wan, elaborated, "Critical to the success of an implant is its ability to rapidly integrate with the patient's circulatory system. This is essential for the survival of cells within the implant, as it would ensure timely access to oxygen and essential nutrients, as well as the removal of metabolic waste products. Integration would also facilitate signalling between the cells and blood vessels, which is important for tissue development."
Tissues designed with pre-formed vascular networks are known to promote rapid vascular integration with the host. Generally, prevascularisation has been achieved by seeding or encapsulating endothelial cells, which line the interior surfaces of blood vessels, with other cell types. In many of these approaches, the eventual distribution of vessels within a thick structure is reliant on in vitro cellular infiltration and self-organisation of the cell mixture. These are slow processes, often leading to a non-uniform network of vessels within the tissue. As vascular self-assembly requires a large concentration of endothelial cells, this method also severely restricts the number of other cells that may be co-cultured.
Alternatively, scientists have attempted to direct the distribution of newly formed vessels via three-dimensional (3D) co-patterning of endothelial cells with other cell types in a hydrogel. This approach allows large concentrations of endothelial cells to be positioned in specific regions within the tissue, leaving the rest of the construct available for other cell types. The hydrogel also acts as a reservoir of nutrients for the encapsulated cells. However, co-patterning multiple cell types within a hydrogel is not easy. Conventional techniques, such as micromoulding and organ printing, are limited by slow cell assembly, large volumes of cell suspension, complicated multi-step processes and expensive instruments. These factors also make it difficult to scale up the production of implantable 3D cell-patterned constructs. To date, these approaches have been unsuccessful in achieving vascularisation and mass transport through thick engineered tissues.
To overcome these limitations, IBN researchers have used interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) fibre assembly, a unique cell patterning technology patented by IBN, to produce cell-laden hydrogel fibres under aqueous conditions at room temperature. Unlike other methods, IBN's novel technique allows researchers to incorporate different cell types separately into different fibres, and these cell-laden fibres may then be assembled into more complex constructs with hierarchical tissue structures. In addition, IBN researchers are able to tailor the microenvironment for each cell type for optimal functionality by incorporating the appropriate factors, for example proteins, into the fibres. Using IPC fibre assembly, the researchers have engineered an endothelial vessel network, as well as cell-patterned fat and liver tissue constructs, which have successfully integrated with the host circulatory system in a mouse model and produced vascularised tissues.
The IBN researchers are now working on applying and further developing their technology toward engineering functional tissues and clinical applications.
Reference:
(1) M. F. Leong, J. K. C. Toh, D. Chan, K. Narayanan, H. F. Lu, T. C. Lim, A. C. A. Wan and J. Y. Ying, "Patterned Prevascularized Tissue Constructs by Assembly of Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel Fibers," Nature Communications, (2013) DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3353.
About the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) was established in 2003 and is spearheaded by its Executive Director, Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying. Professor Ying was a Professor of Chemical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1992 - 2005). She was recognised as one of "One Hundred Engineers of the Modern Era" by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 2008 for her groundbreaking work on nanostructured systems, nanoporous materials and host matrices for quantum dots and wires. Under her direction, IBN conducts research at the cutting-edge of bioengineering and nanotechnology. Its programs are geared towards linking multiple disciplines across engineering, science and medicine to produce research breakthroughs that will improve healthcare and our quality of life.
IBN's research activities are focused in the following areas:
- Nanomedicine, where functionalised polymers, hydrogels and biologics are developed as therapeutics and carriers for the controlled release and targeted delivery of therapeutics to diseased cells and organs.
- Cell and Tissue Engineering, where biomimicking materials, stem cell technology, microfluidic systems and bioimaging tools are combined to develop novel approaches to regenerative medicine and artificial organs.
- Biodevices and Diagnostics, which involve nanotechnology and microfabricated platforms for high-throughput biomarker and drug screening, automated biologics synthesis, and rapid disease diagnosis.
- Green Chemistry and Energy, which encompass the green synthesis of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, catalytic conversion of biomass, utilization of carbon dioxide, and new nanocomposite materials for energy applications.
IBN's innovative research is aimed at creating new knowledge and intellectual properties in the emerging fields of bioengineering and nanotechnology to attract top-notch researchers and business partners to Singapore. Since 2003, IBN researchers have published over 880 papers in leading journals.
IBN also plays an active role in technology transfer and spinning off companies, linking the research institute and industrial partners to other global institutions. The Institute has a portfolio of over 620 patents/patent applications, and welcomes industrial and clinical partners to collaborate on and co-develop its technologies. IBN has successfully commercialized 50 patents/patent applications, and has established 7 spin-off companies.
IBN's current staff and students strength stands at over 155 scientists, engineers and medical doctors. With its multinational and multidisciplinary research staff, the institute is geared towards generating new biomaterials, devices, systems and processes to boost Singapore's economy in the medical technology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, consumer products and clean technology sectors.
IBN is also committed to nurturing young talents. Besides the training of PhD students, IBN has a Youth Research Program (YRP) for students and teachers from secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, and universities. Since its inception in October 2003, YRP has reached out to more than 64,500 students and teachers from 290 local and overseas schools and institutions. Over 1,770 students and teachers have completed research attachments at IBN for a minimum period of four weeks. For more information, visit www.ibn.a-star.edu.sg.