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Giovanni Bistoni,
Mario Calvitti,
Francesca Mancuso,
Iva Arato,
Giulia Falabella,
Rosa Cucchia,
Francesca Fallarino,
Alessio Becchetti,
Tiziano Baroni,
Stefania Mazzitelli, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Maria Bodo,
Ennio Becchetti,
Don F Cameron,
Giovanni Luca,
Riccardo Calafiore
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ABSTRACT: Skin rejection remains a major hurdle in skin reconstructive transplantation surgery. In fact, 85% of the grafted patients experience at least one episode of acute skin rejection in the first year. It has been observed that Sertoli cells (SC), when co-transplanted with allo- or xenogeneic cell/tissues, can induce graft acceptance in the absence of systemic immunosuppression. A method aimed at significantly prolonging skin allografts in rats transplanted with barium alginate-based microencapsulated xenogeneic porcine SC (SC-MCs) is described. Results demonstrated that intraperitoneal (IP) transplantation of SC-MCs with high cellular viability and function can significantly prolong allogeneic skin grafts when compared to transplantation controls receiving only empty alginate capsules (E-MCs). Lymphocytic infiltration at the skin graft site was not observed in 80% of the SC-MCs transplanted rats and these recipient animals showed a significant increased expression of T regulatory (Tregs) cells when compared to E-MCs transplantation controls. The findings of this report further substantiate the positive therapeutic effects of SC on transplantation technology mediated by Sertoli cell-induced alterations of the host's immune system and indicate new perspectives and new strategies for successful skin tissue allografts.
Biomaterials 05/2012; 33(21):5333-40. · 7.40 Impact Factor
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Ulf Prüsse,
Luca Bilancetti,
Marek Bučko,
Branko Bugarski,
Jozef Bukowski,
Peter Gemeiner,
Dorota Lewińska,
Verica Manojlovic,
Benjamin Massart, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Viktor Nedovic,
Denis Poncelet,
Swen Siebenhaar,
Lucien Tobler,
Azzurra Tosi,
Alica Vikartovská,
Klaus-Dieter Vorlop
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ABSTRACT: This paper describes the results of the round robin experiment “Bead production technologies” carried out during the COST
840 action “Bioencapsulation Innovation and Technologies” within the 5th Framework Program of the European Community. In this
round robin experiment, calcium alginate hydrogel beads with the diameter of (800 ± 100) μm were produced by the most common
bead production technologies using 0.5–4 mass % sodium alginate solutions as starting material. Dynamic viscosity of the alginate
solutions ranged from less than 50 mPa s up to more than 10000 mPa s. With the coaxial air-flow and electrostatic enhanced
dropping technologies as well as with the JetCutter technology in the soft-landing mode, beads were produced from all alginate
solutions, whereas the vibration technology was not capable to process the high-viscosity 3 % and 4 % alginate solutions.
Spherical beads were generated by the electrostatic and the JetCutter technologies. Slightly deformed beads were obtained
from high-viscosity alginate solutions using the coaxial airflow and from the 0.5 % and 2 % alginate solutions using the vibration
technology. The rate of bead production using the JetCutter was about 10 times higher than with the vibration technology and
more than 10000 times higher than with the coaxial air-flow and electrostatic technology.
Chemical Papers- Slovak Academy of Sciences 04/2012; 62(4):364-374. · 1.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This paper describes a method for the production of lipid microparticles (SLM) based on microfluidics using a newly designed modular device constituted of three main parts: a temperature control, a co-flow dripping element and a congealing element. The presented data demonstrated that the microfluidic approach resulted in the production of SLM with narrow size distribution and optimal morphological characteristics in term of sphericity, surface smoothness and absence of defects (i.e. partial coalescence or irregular shape). The optimization of SLM production was performed by screening the effect of different experimental parameters and device configurations by a classical intuitive approach COST (Changing One Separate factor a Time). This process allowed selecting the proper value for a number of parameters including, (i) the congealing element geometry, (ii) the presence and concentration of a stabilizer, (iii) the temperature of water and oil phases and (iv) the water and oil flow rates. In addition, the interplay between oil phase and water phase flow rates, in controlling the size and morphology of SLM, was investigated by a statistical "Design of the Experiments" approach (DoE). The combined use of COST and DoE studies allowed the production of optimized SLM for the encapsulation of dye/drugs. The obtained results demonstrated that the guest molecules did not affect the general characteristics of SLM, confirming the robustness of the microfluidic procedure in view of the production of SLM for biopharmaceutical and biotech protocols.
Journal of Controlled Release 04/2012; 160(3):409-17. · 5.73 Impact Factor
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Giovanni Luca,
Riccardo Calafiore,
Giuseppe Basta,
Maurizio Ricci,
Mario Calvitti,
Luca Neri, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Ennio Becchetti,
Silvano Capitani,
Paolo Brunetti,
Carlo Rossi
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to assess whether Sertolis cells would improve functional performance of homologous pancreatic
islets within microcapsules. Purified rat Sertoli's cells were co-enveloped with islets in microcapsules that had been fabricated
with alginic acid and poly-L-ornithine Confocal laser microscopy was used to determine any mitogenic effects of Sertoli's
cells on islets ß-cells. Insulin secretion from islets, with or without Sertoli's cells, was examined and grafts of Sertoli's
cells with islets in microcapsules into diabetic mice were carried out. Co-incubation of Sertoli's cells with islets resulted
in a significant increase in the islet ß-cell mitotic rate, which was coupled with significantly higher insulin release under
glucose stimulation, as compared to controls. Grafts of co-microencapsulated Sertoli's cells with islets resulted in prolongation
of the achieved normoglycemia in the animals receiving Sertoli's cells with islets as compared to controls that received islets
only. Sertoli's cells do promote mitogenic activities upon in vitro co-incubation with islets, whose in vitro functional and
in vivo post-transplant consequences were evident. Sertoli's cells could, therefore, be comicroencapsulated with islets for
transplantation in diabetic recipients.
AAPS PharmSciTech 04/2012; 2(3):48-54. · 1.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the formulation and operating conditions on pellet preparation
by pan technique. To this end, a new pelletization process, typified by the application of powdered drug on sugar-based cores
using the GS coating system was studied. Inert cores were intermittently treated with micronized drug powder and adhesive
solution. This treatment led to the formation of multiple layers of drug particles around an inert core resulting in the production
of pellets that can further be coated by different polymers to obtain modified release formulations. Different procedures
have been used to evaluate a series of important parameters such as initial core weight; speed of powder application; speed,
type, and position of the atomizers; atomization degree: temperature; and air cap.
Good yield of drug layering was obtained by adjusting the quantity of both the drug powder to apply and the binder solution.
Pellets obtained following the optimal operating conditions (defined in a pre-formulation study) were film coated with the
acrylic polymer Eudragit L30D in order to produce a model formulation consisting of enteric polymer-coated pellets containing
ibuprofen. During its preparation, the formulation showed no degradation of the drug, moreover, a low percentage of residual
humidity was obtained, indicating that this system is very efficient for the production of highly stable formulations. This
study showed the good performance of the GS automated pan-coating system in obtaining enteric coated pellets prepared by powder
layering technique using aqueous solutions.
AAPS PharmSciTech 04/2012; 1(2):14-25. · 1.43 Impact Factor
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[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: This report shows that the DNA-binding drug, mithramycin, can be efficiently encapsulated in polymeric micelles (PM-MTH), based on Pluronic® block copolymers, by a new microfluidic approach. The effect of different production parameters has been investigated for their effect on PM-MTH characteristics. The compared analysis of PM-MTH produced by microfluidic and conventional bulk mixing procedures revealed that microfluidics provides a useful platform for the production of PM-MTH with improved controllability, reproducibility, smaller size, and polydispersity. Finally, an investigation of the effects of PM-MTH, produced by microfluidic and conventional bulk mixing procedures, on the erythroid differentiation of both human erythroleukemia and human erythroid precursor cells is reported. It is demonstrated that PM-MTH exhibited a slightly lower toxicity and more pronounced differentiative activity when compared to the free drug. In addition, PM-MTH were able to upregulate preferentially γ-globin messenger ribonucleic acid production and to increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF) accumulation, the percentage of HbF-containing cells, and their HbF content without stimulating α-globin gene expression, which is responsible for the clinical symptoms of ß-thalassemia. These results represent an important first step toward a potential clinical application, since an increase in HbF could alleviate the symptoms underlying ß-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. In conclusion, this report suggests that PM-MTH produced by microfluidic approach warrants further evaluation as a potential therapeutic protocol for ß-thalassemia.
International Journal of Nanomedicine 01/2012; 7:307-324. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: This report shows that the DNA-binding drug, mithramycin, can be efficiently encapsulated in polymeric micelles (PM-MTH), based on Pluronic(®) block copolymers, by a new microfluidic approach. The effect of different production parameters has been investigated for their effect on PM-MTH characteristics. The compared analysis of PM-MTH produced by microfluidic and conventional bulk mixing procedures revealed that microfluidics provides a useful platform for the production of PM-MTH with improved controllability, reproducibility, smaller size, and polydispersity. Finally, an investigation of the effects of PM-MTH, produced by microfluidic and conventional bulk mixing procedures, on the erythroid differentiation of both human erythroleukemia and human erythroid precursor cells is reported. It is demonstrated that PM-MTH exhibited a slightly lower toxicity and more pronounced differentiative activity when compared to the free drug. In addition, PM-MTH were able to upregulate preferentially γ-globin messenger ribonucleic acid production and to increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF) accumulation, the percentage of HbF-containing cells, and their HbF content without stimulating α-globin gene expression, which is responsible for the clinical symptoms of β-thalassemia. These results represent an important first step toward a potential clinical application, since an increase in HbF could alleviate the symptoms underlying β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. In conclusion, this report suggests that PM-MTH produced by microfluidic approach warrants further evaluation as a potential therapeutic protocol for β-thalassemia.
International Journal of Nanomedicine 01/2012; 7:307-24. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The development and the optimization of novel culture systems of mesenchymal osteoprogenitors are some of the most important challenges in the field of bone tissue engineering (TE). A new combination between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM)-scaffold, containing ECM has here been analyzed. As source for osteoprogenitors, mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly (hWJMSCs), were used. As ECM-scaffold, a powder form of isolated and purified porcine urinary bladder matrix (pUBM), was employed. The goals of the current work were: (1) the characterization of the in vitro hWJMSCs behavior, in terms of viability, proliferation, and adhesion to ECM-scaffold; (2) the effectiveness of ECM-scaffold to induce/modulate the osteoblastic differentiation; and (3) the proposal for a possible application of cells/ECM-scaffold construct to the field of cell/TE. In this respect, the properties of the pUBM-scaffold in promoting and guiding the in vitro adhesion, proliferation, and three-dimensional colonization of hWJMSCs, without altering viability and morphological characteristics of the cells, are here described. Finally, we have also demonstrated that pUBM-scaffolds positively affect the expression of typical osteoblastic markers in hWJMSCs.
Journal of Cellular Physiology 08/2011; 227(2):857-66. · 3.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Entrapment of mammalian cells in natural or synthetic biomaterials represents an important tool for both basic and applied research in tissue engineering. For instance, the encapsulation procedures allow to physically isolate cells from the surrounding environment, after their transplantation maintaining the normal cellular physiology. The first part of the current paper describes different microencapsulation techniques including bulk emulsion technique, vibrating-nozzle procedure, gas driven mono-jet device protocol and microfluidic based approach. In the second part, the application of a microencapsulation procedure to the embedding of IB3-1 cells is also described. IB3-1 is a bronchial epithelial cell line, derived from a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient. Different experimental parameters of the encapsulation process were analyzed, including frequency and amplitude of vibration, polymer pumping rate and distance between the nozzle and the gelling bath. We have found that the microencapsulation procedure does not alter the viability of the encapsulated IB3-1 cells. The encapsulated IB3-1 cells were characterized in term of protein secretion, analysing the culture medium by Bio-Plex strategy. The analyzed factors include members of the interleukin family (IL-6), chemokines (IL-8 and MCP-1) and growth factors (G-CSF). The experiments demonstrated that most of the analyzed proteins, were secreted both by the free and encapsulated cells, even if in a different extent.
Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling 06/2011; 5(2):157-65.
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ABSTRACT: This paper describes a method for the production of alginate microfibres using glass-based microfluidic chips fabricated by a photolithography-wet etching procedure. The main focus of the work is the fabrication of a cell containing multifunctional microfibres which have great potential for applications in drug release formulations and tissue engineering scaffolds (to guide the regeneration of tissues in predefined sizes and shapes) providing cell structural support and immunoisolation. The key parameters, which critically influence the formation of microfibres and their geometries, were identified by a classical intuitive approach COST (Changing One Separate factor a Time). In particular, their effects on the microfibre diameter were investigated, which are directly associated with their functionalities relating to the implantation site, the nutrient availability and diffusion/transport of oxygen, essential nutrients, growth factors, metabolic waste and secretory products. The interplay between the alginate solution concentration, pumping rate and gelling bath concentration in controlling the diameter of the produced microfibres was investigated with a statistical approach by means of a "design of the experiments" (DoEs) optimization and screening. Finally, the processing impacts on cell viability, the cellular effect of wall thickness consistency and the spatial distribution of cells within the alginate microfibre were examined. We provide an approach for the production of alginate microfibres with controlled shape and content, which could be further developed for scaling up and working towards FDA approval.
Lab on a Chip 04/2011; 11(10):1776-85. · 5.67 Impact Factor
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Giovanni Luca,
Francesca Fallarino,
Mario Calvitti,
Francesca Mancuso, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Iva Arato,
Giulia Falabella,
Ursula Grohmann,
Ennio Becchetti,
Paolo Puccetti,
Riccardo Calafiore
[show abstract]
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ABSTRACT: Sertoli cells (SCs) provide an immunoprotective environment to pancreatic islet grafts for treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes. Aim of this work was to verify whether intraperitoneal graft of SCs, enveloped in barium alginate-based microcapsules, would reverse overt spontaneous diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice by eliciting generation of newly formed functional islets β-cells.
Microcapsules were prepared, according to our method, by a mono air-jet device system and thereafter examined as far as (a) SC morphology by light microscopy; (b) SC viability by fluorescence microscopy; (c) SC in vitro function; and (d) SC in vivo function, as quoted by diabetes reversal in the NOD mice, were concerned.
SCs containing microcapsules exhibited excellent morphology, viability, and function, and when grafted into the NOD's, they induced stable reversion of the disease in 81% of the cases. The treated mice showed dramatic increase in regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) when compared with control diabetic NOD's treated with empty capsules only. Histologic examination of pancreata retrieved from the SC-transplanted animals showed total disappearance of insulitis, with appearance of new islets, as shown by immunocytochemistry; restored ability of the islets to produce insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin; and finally, increased expression of key transcriptional factors such as neurogenin 3.
SCs, enveloped in barium alginate-based microcapsules, showed no long-term loss of their functional and morphological properties in vitro or in vivo. Xenograft of microencapsulated-SC-induced reversal of spontaneous diabetes in the majority of the treated NOD mice, based on SC-related powerful immunomodulatory and pro-β-cell regeneration properties.
Transplantation 12/2010; 90(12):1352-7. · 4.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A method for the production of engineered alginate-based microparticles, containing extracellular matrix and neonatal porcine Sertoli cells (SCs), is described. As a source for extracellular matrix, a powder form of isolated and purified urinary bladder matrix (UBM) was employed. We demonstrated that the incorporation of UBM does not significantly alter the morphological and dimensional characteristics of the microparticles. The alginate microparticles were used for SC encapsulation as an immunoprotective barrier for transplant purposes, while the co-entrapped UBM promoted retention of cell viability and function. These engineered microparticles could represent a novel approach to enhancing immunological acceptance and increasing the functional life-span of the entrapped cells for cell/tissue engineering applications. In this respect, it is noteworthy that isolated neonatal porcine SCs, administered alone in highly biocompatible microparticles, led to diabetes prevention and reversion in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.
Acta biomaterialia 10/2010; 7(3):1050-62. · 3.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This article describes the preparation of starch particles, by spray drying, for possible application to a dry powder coating process. Dry powder coating consists of spraying a fine powder and a plasticizer on particles. The efficiency of the coating is linked to the powder morphological and dimensional characteristics. Different experimental parameters of the spray-drying process were analyzed, including type of solvent, starch concentration, rate of polymer feeding, pressure of the atomizing air, drying air flow, and temperature of drying air. An optimization and screening of the experimental parameters by a design of the experiment (DOE) approach have been done. Finally, the produced spray-dried starch particles were conveniently tested in a dry coating process, in comparison to the commercial initial starch. The obtained results, in terms of coating efficiency, demonstrated that the spray-dried particles led to a sharp increase of coating efficiency value.
AAPS PharmSciTech 09/2010; 11(3):1257-67. · 1.43 Impact Factor
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Francesca Mancuso,
Mario Calvitti,
Giovanni Luca, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Tiziano Baroni,
Stefania Mazzitelli,
Ennio Becchetti,
Iva Arato,
Carlo Boselli,
Monique D Ngo Nselel,
Riccardo Calafiore
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ABSTRACT: The limited availability of cadaveric human donor pancreata as well as the incomplete success of the Edmonton protocol for human islet allografts fasten search for new sources of insulin the producing cells for substitution cell therapy of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Starting from isolated neonatal porcine pancreatic islets (NPIs), we have obtained cell monolayers that were exposed to microencapsulated monolayered Sertoli cells (ESCs) for different time periods (7, 14, 21 days). To assess the development of the cocultured cell monolayers, we have studied either endocrine cell phenotype differentiation markers or c-kit, a hematopoietic stem cell marker, has recently been involved with growth and differentiation of β-cell subpopulations in human as well as rodent animal models. ESC which were found to either accelerate maturation and differentiation of the NPIs β-cell phenotype or identify an islet cell subpopulation that was marked positively for c-kit. The insulin/c-kit positive cells might represent a new, still unknown functionally immature β-cell like element in the porcine pancreas. Acceleration of maturation and differentiation of our NPI cell monolayers might generate a potential new opportunity to develop insulin-producing cells that may suite experimental trials for cell therapy of T1DM.
Stem cells international. 01/2010; 2010:587213.
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ABSTRACT: We have developed a microencapsulation procedure for the entrapment and manipulation of IB3-1 cystic fibrosis cells. The applied method is based on generation of monodisperse droplets by a vibrational nozzle. Different experimental parameters were analyzed, including frequency and amplitude of vibration, polymer pumping rate and distance between the nozzle and the gelling bath. We have found that the microencapsulation procedure does not alter the viability of the encapsulated IB3-1 cells. The encapsulated IB3-1 cells were characterized in term of secretomic profile, analyzing the culture medium by Bio-Plex strategy. The experiments demonstrated that most of the analyzed proteins, were secreted both by the free and encapsulated cells, even if in a different extent. In order to determine the biotechnological applications of this procedure, we determined whether encapsulated IB3-1 cells could be induced to pro-inflammatory responses, after treatment with TNF-α. In this experimental set-up, encapsulated and free IB3-1 cells were treated with TNF-α, thereafter the culture media from both cell populations were collected. As expected, TNF-α induced a sharp increase in the secretion of interleukins, chemokines and growth factors. Of great interest was the evidence that induction of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 occurs also by encapsulated IB3-1 cells.
Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology 01/2010; 2010. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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Francesca Fallarino,
Giovanni Luca,
Mario Calvitti,
Francesca Mancuso, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Maria C Fioretti,
Ursula Grohmann,
Ennio Becchetti,
Anne Burgevin,
Roland Kratzer,
Peter van Endert,
Louis Boon,
Paolo Puccetti,
Riccardo Calafiore
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ABSTRACT: Type I diabetes mellitus is caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, and effective treatment of the disease might require rescuing beta cell function in a context of reinstalled immune tolerance. Sertoli cells (SCs) are found in the testes, where their main task is to provide local immunological protection and nourishment to developing germ cells. SCs engraft, self-protect, and coprotect allogeneic and xenogeneic grafts from immune destruction in different experimental settings. SCs have also been successfully implanted into the central nervous system to create a regulatory environment to the surrounding tissue which is trophic and counter-inflammatory. We report that isolated neonatal porcine SC, administered alone in highly biocompatible microcapsules, led to diabetes prevention and reversion in the respective 88 and 81% of overtly diabetic (nonobese diabetic [NOD]) mice, with no need for additional beta cell or insulin therapy. The effect was associated with restoration of systemic immune tolerance and detection of functional pancreatic islets that consisted of glucose-responsive and insulin-secreting cells. Curative effects by SC were strictly dependent on efficient tryptophan metabolism in the xenografts, leading to TGF-beta-dependent emergence of autoantigen-specific regulatory T cells and recovery of beta cell function in the diabetic recipients.
Journal of Experimental Medicine 10/2009; 206(11):2511-26. · 13.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Polysaccharides (e.g. alginate or agarose) represent a class of polymers commonly employed for the preparation of microparticles for cell entrapment and tissue engineering applications. The present work describes the production and characterization, by a microfluidic approach, of microbeads constituted of alginate and alginate/agarose blends, for the encapsulation of eukaryotic cells. The general production strategy is based on the formation of water-in-oil multiphase flow by a "Y" junction squeezing mechanism. The presented data demonstrate that the gelation step represents the crucial point for the production of morphologically excellent microbeads. In this respect, microfluidic methods appear to be an effective procedure for the production of microbeads intended for cell encapsulation, as proved by the high viability and maintenance of functional capability demonstrated by the encapsulated Sertoli cells.
Acta biomaterialia 09/2009; 6(2):429-35. · 3.98 Impact Factor
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Letizia Penolazzi,
Elisa Tavanti,
Renata Vecchiatini,
Elisabetta Lambertini,
Fortunato Vesce,
Roberto Gambari,
Stefania Mazzitelli,
Francesca Mancuso,
Giovanni Luca, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Roberta Piva
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ABSTRACT: The description of a microencapsulation procedure for Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) is reported. The applied method is based on the generation of monodisperse droplets by a vibrational nozzle. An ionic alginate encapsulation procedure was utilized for the microbeads hardening. Different experimental parameters were analyzed, including frequency and amplitude of vibration, polymer pumping rate, and distance between the nozzle and the gelling bath. The produced barium-alginate microbeads were characterized by excellent morphological characteristics as well as a very narrow size distribution. The microencapsulation procedure did not alter the morphology and viability of the encapsulated WJMSCs. In addition, the current paper reports the functional properties in terms of secretive profiles of both free and encapsulated WJMSCs. The analyzed factors were members of the family of interleukins, chemokines, growth factors, and soluble forms of adhesion molecules. These experiments showed that despite encapsulation, most of the proteins analyzed were secreted both by the free and encapsulated cells, even if in a different extent. In conclusion, the described encapsulation procedure represents a promising strategy to utilize WJMSCs for possible in vivo applications in tissue engineering and biomedicine.
Tissue Engineering Part C Methods 05/2009; 16(1):141-55. · 4.64 Impact Factor
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Enrica Fabbri,
Monica Borgatti,
Nicolò Manaresi,
Gianni Medoro, Claudio Nastruzzi,
Silvia Di Croce,
Azzurra Tosi,
Stefania Mazzitelli,
Irene Mancini,
Roberto Guerrieri,
Roberto Gambari
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ABSTRACT: Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a very valuable approach for designing and developing laboratory-on-a-chip (lab-on-a-chip) devices that are able to manipulate microparticles and cells. Lab-on-a-chip technology will enable laboratory testing to move from laboratories using complex equipment to nonlaboratory settings. We used a lab-on-a-chip device, the SmartSlide, which carries 193 parallel electrodes and generates up to 50 cylinder-shaped DEP cages able to entrap microparticles and cells within DEP cages and move them along the chip. For lab-on-a-chip technology, the characterization of microparticles exhibiting a differential ability to be DEP-caged, levitated, and moved is important for the development of both diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. We determined whether the SmartSlide could be used to levitate and move tripalmitin-based lipospheres carrying increasing concentrations of dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DHDAB) as a cationic surfactant. The data obtained with this DEP-based platform showed that DEP caging, levitation, and movement of the cationic lipospheres depended on the percentage of DHDAB. Tripalmitin lipospheres containing 6% DHDAB could be DEP-caged and manipulated. On the contrary, lipospheres containing 12% DHDAB did not exhibit an efficient ability to be DEP-caged and moved throughout the chip. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the possible use of a DEP-based lab-on-a-chip device for guided manipulation of lipospheres. This information might be of interest in the fields of drug discovery, delivery, and diagnosis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Journal of Applied Polymer Science 06/2008; 109(6):3484 - 3491. · 1.29 Impact Factor
