Paper Number
BF27 

Session
Biomaterials and Bio-fluid Dynamics

Title
Shear flow-controlled alignment in 3D neuronal matrices in vitro

Presentation Date and Time
October 12, 2022 (Wednesday) 10:50

Track / Room
Track 4 / Michigan AB

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

  1. Dedroog, Lens M. (KU Leuven)
  2. Deschaume, Olivier (KU Leuven)
  3. Garcia Abrego, Christian J. (KU Leuven)
  4. Koos, Erin (KU Leuven)
  5. De Coene, Yovan (KU Leuven)
  6. Vananroye, Anja (KU Leuven)
  7. Thielemans, Wim (KU Leuven)
  8. Bartic, Carmen (KU Leuven)
  9. Lettinga, Minne P. (Leuven)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Lens M. Dedroog1, Olivier Deschaume1, Christian J. Garcia Abrego1, Erin Koos2, Yovan De Coene3, Anja Vananroye2, Wim Thielemans4, Carmen Bartic1 and Minne P. Lettinga5
1KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 2KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 3KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 4KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; 5Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Speaker / Presenter 
Dedroog, Lens M.

Keywords
experimental methods; biomaterials; directed systems; gels; microscopy; rheometry techniques

Text of Abstract
Mimicking the material anisotropy displayed by natural extracellular matrices is essential for developing clinically relevant tissue constructs [1-2]. Multiple approaches have been proposed in order to obtain aligned (anisotropic) fibrillar matrices suitable for in vitro research, however, controlling fiber alignment in 3D with high tunability and reproducibility, as required for applications, remains highly challenging [3].
In this work, we report a stress-controlled shear flow procedure capable of orienting self-assembling fibrillar hydrogel networks in a controlled manner, while preserving the network integrity and viability of embedded cells. The effects of the most critical parameters (e.g., applied stress, temperature, stiffness, etc.) are studied to infer the mechanisms directing network formation. Furthermore, using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy combined with second harmonic generation microscopy, neurite orientation and migration direction of embedded GFP-expressing SH-SY5Y cells are evaluated in function of the local degree of matrix anisotropy.
Using this approach we will increase our understanding regarding the relationships between flow parameters, network structure, and the phenotype of embedded cells which will allow for significant advances in developing physiologically relevant scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

References:
[1] J. Foolen, S.L. Wunderli, S. Loerakker, J.G. Snedeker, Matrix Biol. 65 (2018) 14–29.
[2] P. Camelliti, J.O. Gallagher, P. Kohl, A.D. McCulloch, Nat. Protoc. 1 (2006) 1379–1391.
[3] A. Ahmed, I.M. Joshi, M. Mansouri, N.N.N. Ahamed, M.C. Hsu, T.R. Gaborski, V. V. Abhyankar, Am. J. Physiol. - Cell Physiol. 320 (2021) C1112–C1124.