Fabio Bianco

Publications (20) View all

• Article: A Simple Method to Generate Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Neurons for Screening Purposes.

  Caterina Bossio, Rosa Mastrangelo, Raffaella Morini, Noemi Tonna, Silvia Coco, Claudia Verderio, Michela Matteoli, Fabio Bianco
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  ABSTRACT: Strategies involved in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation toward neuronal cells for screening purposes are characterized by quality and quantity issues. Differentiated cells are often scarce with respect to starting undifferentiated population, and the differentiation process is usually quite long, with high risk of contamination and low yield efficiency. Here, we describe a novel simple method to induce direct differentiation of MSCs into neuronal cells, without neurosphere formation. Differentiated cells are characterized by clear morphological changes, expression of neuronal specific markers, showing functional response to depolarizing stimuli and electrophysiological properties similar to those of developing neurons. The method described here represents a valuable tool for future strategies aimed at personalized screening of therapeutic agents in vitro.
  Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 03/2013; · 2.50 Impact Factor
• Article: Overflow microfluidic networks: application to the biochemical analysis of brain cell interactions in complex neuroinflammatory scenarios.

  Fabio Bianco, Noemi Tonna, Robert D Lovchik, Rosa Mastrangelo, Raffaella Morini, Ana Ruiz, Emmanuel Delamarche, Michela Matteoli
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  ABSTRACT: Neuroinflammation plays a central role in neurodegenerative diseases and involves a large number of interactions between different brain cell types. Unraveling the complexity of cell-cell interaction in neuroinflammation is crucial for both clarifying the molecular mechanisms involved and increasing efficacy in drug development. Here, we provide a versatile analytical method for specifically addressing cell-to-cell communication, using primary brain cells, a microfluidic device and a multiparametric readout approach. Different cell types are plated in separate chambers of a microfluidic network so that culturing conditions can be independently controlled and single cell types can be selectively primed with different stimuli. When chambers are microfluidically connected, the specific contribution of each cell type can be finely monitored by analyzing morphology, vitality, calcium dynamics and electrophysiology parameters. We exemplify this approach by examining the role of astrocytes derived from two different brain regions (cortex and hippocampus) on neuronal viability in two types of neuroinflammatory insults, namely metabolic stress and exposure to amyloid beta fibrils, and demonstrate regional differences in glial control of neuronal physiopathology. In particular, we show that during metabolic stress, cortical but not hippocampal astrocytes play a neuroprotective role; also, in an exacerbated inflammatory scenario consisting in the exposure to Aβ + IL-1β, hippocampal but not cortical astrocytes play a detrimental role on neurons. Aside from bringing novel insights into the glial role in neuroinflammation, the method presented here represents a promising tool for addressing a wide range of biological and biochemical phenomena, characterized by a complex interaction of multiple cell types.
  Analytical Chemistry 10/2012; · 5.86 Impact Factor
• Article: Controlled deposition of cells in sealed microfluidics using flow velocity boundaries.

  Robert D Lovchik, Fabio Bianco, Michela Matteoli, Emmanuel Delamarche
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  ABSTRACT: We present a method for depositing cells in a sealed microfluidic device. The device consists of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic network (MFN) sealed with a Si chip. The Si chip has vias and ports that are connected to high-precision motorized pumps. The surfaces of the PDMS MFN are homogeneously coated with fibronectin cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Flow velocity boundaries are created between vicinal microfluidic structures to prevent or permit deposition of cells in specific regions of the MFN. In narrow flow paths, cells experience a wall shear stress from the fast-moving liquid that overcomes the initial adhesion of the cells with CAMs. Conversely, cells can adhere to CAMs in larger flow paths such as cell chambers inside which the velocity of the liquid and the shear stress are reduced. Interactively changing pumping rates makes the critical velocity (the velocity at which cells deposit in the chamber but not elsewhere) easy to find. The transparent PDMS MFN allows both real-time visualization of the deposition process and cellular assays. We illustrate this method using N9 mouse microglia cells. In one experiment, approximately 75 microglia are deposited per min in a approximately 0.5 microL chamber. The deposited cells remain viable, as assessed from staining and biofunctional assays. This method is simple, reliable, fast, and flexible, and therefore is an attractive technique for depositing cells in microfluidic systems for numerous applications.
  Lab on a Chip 06/2009; 9(10):1395-402. · 5.67 Impact Factor
• Article: Gene delivery systems for gene therapy in tissue engineering and central nervous system applications.

  C Giordano, F Causa, F Bianco, G Perale, P A Netti, L Ambrosio, A Cigada
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  ABSTRACT: The present review aims to describe the potential applications of gene delivery systems to tissue engineering and central nervous system diseases. Some key experimental work has been done with interesting results, but the subject is far from being fully explored. The combined approach of gene therapy and material science has a huge potential to improve the therapeutic approaches now available for a wide range of medical applications. Focus is given to this multidisciplinary strategy in neurodegenerative pathologies, where the use of polymeric matrices as gene carriers might make a crucial difference.
  The International journal of artificial organs 01/2009; 31(12):1017-26. · 1.86 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Roberto Furlan

  Article: Microglial microvesicle secretion and intercellular signaling.

  Elena Turola, Roberto Furlan, Fabio Bianco, Michela Matteoli, Claudia Verderio
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  ABSTRACT: Microvesicles (MVs) are released from almost all cell brain types into the microenvironment and are emerging as a novel way of cell-to-cell communication. This review focuses on MVs discharged by microglial cells, the brain resident myeloid cells, which comprise ∼10-12% of brain population. We summarize first evidence indicating that MV shedding is a process activated by the ATP receptor P2X(7) and that shed MVs represent a secretory pathway for the inflammatory cytokine IL-β. We then discuss subsequent findings which clarify how IL-1 β can be locally processed and released from MVs into the extracellular environment. In addition, we describe the current understanding about the mechanism of P2X(7)-dependent MV formation and membrane abscission, which, by involving sphingomyelinase activity and ceramide formation, may share similarities with exosome biogenesis. Finally we report our recent results which show that microglia-derived MVs can stimulate neuronal activity and participate to the propagation of inflammatory signals, and suggest new areas for future investigation.
  Frontiers in physiology. 01/2012; 3:149.