Applications of Cell and Tissue Mechanics in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 7406

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
Interests: cardiovascular mechanics; stem cells; cardiovascular regenerative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite several technological advances, the worldwide mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases continue to occur at a staggering rate. The last 10 years have seen a particular focus and emphasis on regenerative approaches towards restoring cardiovascular function. These include but are not limited to one or more of the following: exosomal biology, stem cells, mechanical conditioning, novel biomaterials, proteomics and genomics. The field of regenerative medicine has the potential to facilitate a major breakthrough in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The intent of this Special Issue in the journal Bioengineering, entitled “Cell and Tissue Mechanics in Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine”, is to encourage you and your team to contribute your recent findings on this topic. Kindly refer to the Keywords and Manuscript Submission Information below. I look forward to receiving your submission to this Special Issue of Bioengineering.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Sharan Ramaswamy
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Cardiovascular tissue regeneration 
  • Cardiovascular tissue engineering 
  • Stem cells 
  • Exosomes 
  • Mechanics and materials 
  • Cardiac biomechanics 
  • Mechanical stimuli/conditioning

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5629 KiB  
Article
De Novo Valve Tissue Morphology Following Bioscaffold Mitral Valve Replacement in a Juvenile Non-Human Primate Model
by Brittany A. Gonzalez, Marcos Perez Gonzalez, Frank Scholl, Steven Bibevski, Elena Ladich, Jennifer Bibevski, Pablo Morales, Jesus Lopez, Mike Casares, Vincent Brehier, Lazaro Hernandez and Sharan Ramaswamy
Bioengineering 2021, 8(7), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8070100 - 16 Jul 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3385
Abstract
The utility of implanting a bioscaffold mitral valve consisting of porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS) in a juvenile baboon model (12 to 14 months old at the time of implant; n = 3) to assess their in vivo tissue remodeling responses was investigated. [...] Read more.
The utility of implanting a bioscaffold mitral valve consisting of porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS) in a juvenile baboon model (12 to 14 months old at the time of implant; n = 3) to assess their in vivo tissue remodeling responses was investigated. Our findings demonstrated that the PSIS mitral valve exhibited the robust presence of de novo extracellular matrix (ECM) at all explantation time points (at 3-, 11-, and 20-months). Apart from a significantly lower level of proteoglycans in the implanted valve’s annulus region (p < 0.05) at 3 months compared to the 11- and 20-month explants, there were no other significant differences (p > 0.05) found between any of the other principal valve ECM components (collagen and elastin) at the leaflet, annulus, or chordae tendinea locations, across these time points. In particular, neochordae tissue had formed, which seamlessly integrated with the native papillary muscles. However, additional processing will be required to trigger accelerated, uniform and complete valve ECM formation in the recipient. Regardless of the specific processing done to the bioscaffold valve, in this proof-of-concept study, we estimate that a 3-month window following bioscaffold valve replacement is the timeline in which complete regeneration of the valve and integration with the host needs to occur. Full article
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15 pages, 1283 KiB  
Article
Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Primary Adipose Stromal Cells Induce Elastin and Collagen Deposition by Smooth Muscle Cells within 3D Fibrin Gel Culture
by Eoghan M. Cunnane, Aneesh K. Ramaswamy, Katherine L. Lorentz, David A. Vorp and Justin S. Weinbaum
Bioengineering 2021, 8(5), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8050051 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3289
Abstract
Macromolecular components of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly elastic fibers and collagen fibers, are critical for the proper physiological function of arteries. When the unique biomechanical combination of these fibers is disrupted, or in the ultimate extreme where fibers are completely lost, [...] Read more.
Macromolecular components of the vascular extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly elastic fibers and collagen fibers, are critical for the proper physiological function of arteries. When the unique biomechanical combination of these fibers is disrupted, or in the ultimate extreme where fibers are completely lost, arterial disease can emerge. Bioengineers in the realms of vascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine must therefore ideally consider how to create tissue engineered vascular grafts containing the right balance of these fibers and how to develop regenerative treatments for situations such as an aneurysm where fibers have been lost. Previous work has demonstrated that the primary cells responsible for vascular ECM production during development, arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs), can be induced to make new elastic fibers when exposed to secreted factors from adipose-derived stromal cells. To further dissect how this signal is transmitted, in this study, the factors were partitioned into extracellular vesicle (EV)-rich and EV-depleted fractions as well as unseparated controls. EVs were validated using electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and protein quantification before testing for biological effects on SMCs. In 2D culture, EVs promoted SMC proliferation and migration. After 30 days of 3D fibrin construct culture, EVs promoted SMC transcription of the elastic microfibril gene FBN1 as well as SMC deposition of insoluble elastin and collagen. Uniaxial biomechanical properties of strand fibrin constructs were no different after 30 days of EV treatment versus controls. In summary, it is apparent that some of the positive effects of adipose-derived stromal cells on SMC elastogenesis are mediated by EVs, indicating a potential use for these EVs in a regenerative therapy to restore the biomechanical function of vascular ECM in arterial disease. Full article
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