Partner: Amir Nasajpour

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)

Recent publications
1.Nasajpour A., Mostafavi A., Chlanda A., Rinoldi C., Sharifi S., Ji M.S., Ye M., Jonas S.J., Święszkowski W., Weiss P.S., Khademhosseini A., Tamayol A., Cholesteryl ester liquid crystal nanofibers for tissue engineering applications, ACS Materials Letters, ISSN: 2639-4979, DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.0c00224, Vol.2, No.9, pp.1067-1073, 2020
Abstract:

Liquid-crystal-based biomaterials provide promising platforms for the development of dynamic and responsive interfaces for tissue engineering. Cholesteryl ester liquid crystals (CLCs) are particularly well suited for these applications, due to their roles in cellular homeostasis and their intrinsic ability to organize into supramolecular helicoidal structures on the mesoscale. Here, we developed a nonwoven CLC electrospun scaffold by dispersing three cholesteryl ester-based mesogens within polycaprolactone (PCL). We tuned the ratio of our mesogens so that the CLC would be in the mesophase at the cell culture incubator temperature of 37°C. In these scaffolds, the PCL polymer provided an elastic bulk matrix while the homogeneously dispersed CLC established a viscoelastic fluidlike interface. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the 50% (w/v) cholesteryl ester liquid crystal scaffold (CLC-S) exhibited a mesophase with topographic striations typical of liquid crystals. Additionally, the CLC-S favorable wettability and ultrasoft fiber mechanics enhanced cellular attachment and proliferation. Increasing the CLC concentration within the composites enhanced myoblast adhesion strength promoted myofibril formationin vitrowith mouse myoblast cell lines.

Affiliations:
Nasajpour A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Mostafavi A.-other affiliation
Chlanda A.-Warsaw University of Technology (PL)
Rinoldi C.-other affiliation
Sharifi S.-other affiliation
Ji M.S.-other affiliation
Ye M.-other affiliation
Jonas S.J.-other affiliation
Święszkowski W.-other affiliation
Weiss P.S.-other affiliation
Khademhosseini A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Tamayol A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
2.Nasajpour A., Ansari S., Rinoldi C., Rad A.S., Aghaloo T., Shin S.R., Mishra Y.K., Adelung R., Święszkowski W., Annabi N., Khademhosseini A., Moshaverinia A., Tamayol A., A Multifunctional Polymeric Periodontal Membrane with Osteogenic and Antibacterial Characteristics, Advanced Functional Materials, ISSN: 1616-301X, DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201703437, Vol.28, No.3, pp.1703437-1-8, 2017
Abstract:

Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic, destructive inflammatory disease affecting tooth‐supporting tissues in humans. Guided tissue regeneration strategies are widely utilized for periodontal tissue regeneration generally by using a periodontal membrane. The main role of these membranes is to establish a mechanical barrier that prevents the apical migration of the gingival epithelium and hence allowing the growth of periodontal ligament and bone tissue to selectively repopulate the root surface. Currently available membranes have limited bioactivity and regeneration potential. To address such challenges, an osteoconductive, antibacterial, and flexible poly(caprolactone) (PCL) composite membrane containing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles is developed. The membranes are fabricated through electrospinning of PCL and ZnO particles. The physical properties, mechanical characteristics, and in vitro degradation of the engineered membrane are studied in detail. Also, the osteoconductivity and antibacterial properties of the developed membrane are analyzed in vitro. Moreover, the functionality of the membrane is evaluated with a rat periodontal defect model. The results confirmed that the engineered membrane exerts both osteoconductive and antibacterial properties, demonstrating its great potential for periodontal tissue engineering.

Keywords:

electrospinning, guided tissue regeneration, osteoconductive, periodontal regeneration, zinc oxide

Affiliations:
Nasajpour A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Ansari S.-University of California (US)
Rinoldi C.-other affiliation
Rad A.S.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Aghaloo T.-University of California (US)
Shin S.R.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Mishra Y.K.-Kiel University (DE)
Adelung R.-Kiel University (DE)
Święszkowski W.-other affiliation
Annabi N.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Khademhosseini A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Moshaverinia A.-University of California (US)
Tamayol A.-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)