title: Bio-fabrication and physiological self-release of tissue equivalents using smart peptide amphiphile templates.
abstract: In this study we applied a smart biomaterial formed from a self-assembling, multi-functional synthetic peptide amphiphile (PA) to coat substrates with various surface chemistries. The combination of PA coating and alignment-inducing functionalised substrates provided a template to instruct human corneal stromal fibroblasts to adhere, become aligned and then bio-fabricate a highly-ordered, multi-layered, three-dimensional tissue by depositing an aligned, native-like extracellular matrix. The newly-formed corneal tissue equivalent was subsequently able to eliminate the adhesive properties of the template and govern its own complete release via the action of endogenous proteases. Tissues recovered through this method were structurally stable, easily handled, and carrier-free. Furthermore, topographical and mechanical analysis by atomic force microscopy showed that tissue equivalents formed on the alignment-inducing PA template had highly-ordered, compact collagen deposition, with a two-fold higher elastic modulus compared to the less compact tissues produced on the non-alignment template, the PA-coated glass. We suggest that this technology represents a new paradigm in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, whereby all processes for the bio-fabrication and subsequent self-release of natural, bio-prosthetic human tissues depend solely on simple template-tissue feedback interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Ricardo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AD, UK.
authors.forename: Ian W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Hamley
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK. che.connon@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Che J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Connon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D010455:Peptides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D003094:Collagen