Enantiomorphous Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica-Based Nanocomposite Hydrogel Scaffolds for Cell Adhesion and Cell Enrichment

The chemical functionalization of nanomaterials with bioactive molecules has been used as an effective tool to mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) and to study the cell-material interaction in tissue engineering applications. In this respect, this study demonstrates the use of enantiomerically functionalized periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO) for the generation of new multifunctional 3D nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels to control the affinity of cells to the hydrogel surfaces and so to control the enrichment of cells and simultaneous drug delivery in 3D network. The functionalization of PMO with enantiomers of bioactive molecules, preparation of their nanocomposite hydrogels, and the stereoselective interaction of them with selected cell types are described. The results show that the affinity of cells to the respective NC hydrogel scaffolds is affected by the nature of the biomolecule and its enantiomers, which is more pronounced in serum containing media. The differentiation of enantiomorphous NC hydrogels by cells is used to enrich one cell type from a mixture of two cells. Finally, PMO are utilized as nanocontainers to release two different dye molecules as a proof of principle for multidrug delivery in 3D NC hydrogel scaffolds

Oxygen and Drug-Carrying Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas for Enhanced Cell Viability under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions

Over the last decade, inorganic/organic hybrids have been exploited for oxygen-carrying materials and drug delivery. Its low-cost synthesis, controlled shape and size, and stability have made it a viable delivery strategy for therapeutic agents. Rutin (quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) is a bioflavonoid found in fruits and vegetables. Rutin has a variety of pharmaceutical applications, but its low water solubility reduces its stability and bioavailability. As a result, we introduce a new and stable nanosystem for loading a low-soluble drug (rutin) into oxygen-carrying periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO-PFCs). Over the course of 14 days, this nanosystem provided a sustained oxygen level to the cells in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. At different pH values, the drug release (rutin) profile is also observed. Furthermore, the rutin-coated PMO-PFCs interacted with both healthy and malignant cells. The healthy cells have better cell viability on the rutin-coated oxygen-carrying PMO-PFCs, while the malignant cells have a lower cell viability

Janus Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Chirality-Dependent Cell Adhesion and Migration

Recently, there has been much interest in the chirality-dependent cell affinity to enantiomorphous nanomaterials (NMs), since, at the nanoscale level, enantiomers of (bio)­molecules have different effects on cell behaviors. In this respect, this study used enantiomorphous NMs with which to generate the Janus nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels as multifunctional biomaterials for studying chirality-dependent cell adhesion and cell migration. These Janus NC hydrogels possess two enantiomorphous NC hydrogels, in which the different halves of the hydrogel contain the opposite enantiomers of a biopolymer functionalized nanomaterials. Thus, the enantiomers contact each other only at the midline of the hydrogel but are otherwise separated, yet they are present in the same system. This advanced system allows us to simultaneously study the impact that each enantiomer of a biopolymer has on cell behavior under the same reaction conditions, at the same time, and using only a single biomaterial. Our results show that cells have higher affinity for and migrate toward the part of the Janus NC hydrogel containing the biopolymer enantiomer that the cells prefer

Functional Nanomaterials on 2D Surfaces and in 3D Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

An emerging approach to improve the physicobiochemical properties and the multifunctionality of biomaterials is to incorporate functional nanomaterials (NMs) onto 2D surfaces and into 3D hydrogel networks. This approach is starting to generate promising advanced functional materials such as self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and nanocomposite (NC) hydrogels of NMs with remarkable properties and tailored functionalities that are beneficial for a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and developing biosensors. A wide range of NMs, such as carbon-, metal-, and silica-based NMs, can be integrated into 2D and 3D biomaterial formulations due to their unique characteristics, such as magnetic properties, electrical properties, stimuli responsiveness, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, and chemical composition. The highly ordered nano- or microscale assemblies of NMs on surfaces alter the original properties of the NMs and add enhanced and/or synergetic and novel features to the final SAMs of the NM constructs. Furthermore, the incorporation of NMs into polymeric hydrogel networks reinforces the (soft) polymer matrix such that the formed NC hydrogels show extraordinary mechanical properties with superior biological properties

Cell Growth on (“Janus”) Density Gradients of Bifunctional Zeolite L Crystals

Nanoparticle density gradients on surfaces have attracted interest as two-dimensional material surfaces that can mimic the complex nano-/microstructure of the native extracellular matrix, including its chemical and physical gradients, and can therefore be used to systematically study cell–material interactions. In this respect, we report the preparation of density gradients made of bifunctional zeolite L crystals on glass surfaces and the effects of the density gradient and biopolymer functionalization of zeolite L crystals on cell adhesion. We also describe how we created “Janus” density gradient surfaces by gradually depositing two different types of zeolite L crystals that were functionalized and loaded with different chemical groups and guest molecules onto the two distinct sides of the same glass substrate. Our results show that more cells adhered on the density gradient of biopolymer-coated zeolites than on uncoated ones. The number of adhered cells increased up to a certain surface coverage of the glass by the zeolite L crystals, but then it decreased beyond the zeolite density at which a higher surface coverage decreased fibroblast cell adhesion and spreading. Additionally, cell experiments showed that cells gradually internalized the guest-molecule-loaded zeolite L crystals from the underlying density gradient containing bifunctional zeolite L crystals

Roadmap on multifunctional materials for drug delivery

This Roadmap on drug delivery aims to cover some of the most recent advances in the field of materials for drug delivery systems (DDSs) and emphasizes the role that multifunctional materials play in advancing the performance of modern DDS _s in the context of the most current challenges presented. The Roadmap is comprised of multiple sections, each of which introduces the status of the field, the current and future challenges faced, and a perspective of the required advances necessary for biomaterial science to tackle these challenges. It is our hope that this collective vision will contribute to the initiation of conversation and collaboration across all areas of multifunctional materials for DDSs. We stress that this article is not meant to be a fully comprehensive review but rather an up-to-date snapshot of different areas of research, with a minimal number of references that focus upon the very latest research developments