Yes / A major challenge in the production of 3D tissue engineered skin is the recreation of the basement membrane region to promote secure attachment and yet segregation of keratinocytes from the dermal substitute impregnated with fibroblasts. We have previously shown that simple electrospun scaffolds provide fibres on which the cells attach, proliferate, and self-sort into epithelium and dermis. In a development of this in this study tri-layered scaffolds were then electrospun from poly L-lactic acid and poly hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate. In these a central layer of the scaffolds comprising nano-porous/nano-fibrous poly hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate fibres was interwoven into the bulk micro-porous poly L-lactic acid microfibers to mimic the basement membrane. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts seeded onto these scaffolds and cultured for 2 weeks showed that neither cell type was able to cross the central nano-porous barrier (shown by SEM, and fluorescence monitoring with CellTracker™) while the micro-fibrous poly L-lactic acid provided a scaffold on which keratinocytes could create an epithelium and fibroblasts could create a dermal substitute depositing collagen. Although cells did not penetrate this barrier the interaction of cells was still evident-essential for epithelial development.

Yes / With an escalating incidence of breast cancer cases all over the world and the deleterious psychological impact that mastectomy has on patients along with several limitations of the currently applied modalities, it's plausible to seek unconventional approaches to encounter such a burgeoning issue. Breast tissue engineering may allow that chance via providing more personalized solutions which are able to regenerate, mimicking natural tissues also facing the witnessed limitations. This review is dedicated to explore the utilization of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for breast tissue regeneration among postmastectomy cases focusing on biomaterials and cellular aspects in terms of harvesting, isolation, differentiation and new tissue formation as well as scaffolds types, properties, material–host interaction and an in vitro breast tissue modeling.

Syftet med studien är att öka kunskapen om på vilka olika sätt användandet av digitala verktyg påverkar undervisningen i ämnet svenska ur ett lärarperspektiv. Metoden är kvalitativ och består av intervjuer med lärare. Ett informationsbrev och en samtyckesblankett skickades ut till respondenterna som deltog i undersökningen. Samtliga respondenter fick ta del av intervjufrågorna i förväg och dessa frågor riktade in sig på positiva aspekter, negativa aspekter och motivation gällande digitala verktyg i svenskundervisningen. Vi har intervjuat åtta legitimerade lärare som undervisar eller har undervisat elever som går i årskurs 4 – 6 för att ta reda hur de tycker och upplever hur digitala verktyg påverkar svenskundervisningen. Resultatet visar att digitala verktyg både har positiv och negativ inverkan på svenskundervisningen och att en medelväg av användandet ofta gynnar undervisningen bäst.

京都大学 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13602号 / 論医博第2312号 / 新制||医||1072(附属図書館) / 広島大学医学部医学科 / (主査)教授 後藤 慎平, 教授 森本 尚樹, 教授 平井 豊博 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) with the use of polymeric scaffolds offers the potential to generate small-diameter (<6 mm) arteries. In this thesis, a degradable polar hydrophobic ionic (D-PHI) polyurethane porous scaffold was synthesized with the objective of demonstrating its potential application for VTE. D-PHI scaffold synthesis was optimized, maximizing isocyanate and methacrylate monomer conversion. Through the incorporation of a lysine-based crosslinker, scaffold mechanical properties and swelling were manipulated. Furthermore, D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated the ability to support the growth and adhesion of A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during two weeks of culture. This study also investigated the effect of a double porogen approach on D-PHI scaffold properties, demonstrating an increase in the total scaffold porosity and pore interconnectivity. Specifically, it was found that the use of 10 wt% polyethylene glycol and 65 wt% sodium bicarbonate porogens resulted in a porous (79±3%) D-PHI scaffold with the mechanical properties (elastic modulus=0.16±0.03 MPa, elongation-at-yield=31±5%, and tensile strength=0.04±0.01 MPa) required to withstand the physiologically-relevant cyclic mechanical strain (CMS) that is experienced by VSMCs in vivo. Furthermore, the effects of uniaxial CMS (10% strain, 1 Hz, 4 weeks) on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs), which were cultured in a porous D-PHI scaffold, were studied using a customized bioreactor. Four weeks of CMS was shown to yield greater DNA mass, more cell area coverage, a better distribution of cells within the scaffold, the maintenance of contractile protein expression and the improvement of tensile mechanical properties. The in vitro and in vivo degradation as well as the in vivo biocompatibility of D-PHI scaffolds were also investigated. Following their subcutaneous implantation in rats (100 days), porous D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated more cell/tissue infiltration within their pores and degraded in a controlled manner and at a faster rate when compared to in vitro studies (120 days), retaining the mechanical integrity required during neo-tissue formation. This thesis provides significant insight into the role of the D-PHI scaffold in combination with physiologically-relevant CMS in modulating VSMC proliferation and phenotype. The findings of this work can be used to tailor vascular tissue regeneration by regulating VSMC function in a directed manner.

Vascular tissue engineering (VTE) with the use of polymeric scaffolds offers the potential to generate small-diameter (<6 mm) arteries. In this thesis, a degradable polar hydrophobic ionic (D-PHI) polyurethane porous scaffold was synthesized with the objective of demonstrating its potential application for VTE. D-PHI scaffold synthesis was optimized, maximizing isocyanate and methacrylate monomer conversion. Through the incorporation of a lysine-based crosslinker, scaffold mechanical properties and swelling were manipulated. Furthermore, D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated the ability to support the growth and adhesion of A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during two weeks of culture. This study also investigated the effect of a double porogen approach on D-PHI scaffold properties, demonstrating an increase in the total scaffold porosity and pore interconnectivity. Specifically, it was found that the use of 10 wt% polyethylene glycol and 65 wt% sodium bicarbonate porogens resulted in a porous (79±3%) D-PHI scaffold with the mechanical properties (elastic modulus=0.16±0.03 MPa, elongation-at-yield=31±5%, and tensile strength=0.04±0.01 MPa) required to withstand the physiologically-relevant cyclic mechanical strain (CMS) that is experienced by VSMCs in vivo. Furthermore, the effects of uniaxial CMS (10% strain, 1 Hz, 4 weeks) on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs), which were cultured in a porous D-PHI scaffold, were studied using a customized bioreactor. Four weeks of CMS was shown to yield greater DNA mass, more cell area coverage, a better distribution of cells within the scaffold, the maintenance of contractile protein expression and the improvement of tensile mechanical properties. The in vitro and in vivo degradation as well as the in vivo biocompatibility of D-PHI scaffolds were also investigated. Following their subcutaneous implantation in rats (100 days), porous D-PHI scaffolds demonstrated more cell/tissue infiltration within their pores and degraded in a controlled manner and at a faster rate when compared to in vitro studies (120 days), retaining the mechanical integrity required during neo-tissue formation. This thesis provides significant insight into the role of the D-PHI scaffold in combination with physiologically-relevant CMS in modulating VSMC proliferation and phenotype. The findings of this work can be used to tailor vascular tissue regeneration by regulating VSMC function in a directed manner.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:02:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3965.pdf: 3863042 bytes, checksum: f995d87531cc46a186a0c566c0be57ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-02 / This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low intensity laser therapy (LLLT) (830nm, 120J/cm2, 100mW) and implantation of Biosilicate® scaffolds, associated or not, in histological aspects, biomechanical properties of the bone callus and immunoexpression of proteins, growth and transcription factors related to different stages of bone repair, at 15, 30 and 45 days after surgery of bone defects induced in the tibia.of rats. For this, three studies were performed in which a total of one hundred and twenty male Wistar rats (3 months ± 280 g) were submitted to bilateral tibial defects and randomly distributed in four experimental groups with 30 animals each. In the first study the effects of the implantation of Biosilicate® scaffolds in bone defects of rats were investigated in two groups: bone defect group (GC) and bone defect treated with Biosilicate® scaffold group (GB). The implantation of the scaffold was performed subsequent to surgery of bone defect. Histological analysis revealed that animals of GB showed newly formed bone better organized at 30 and 45 days after surgery. The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the Biosilicate® scaffold promoted a higher expression of COX-2 on days 15 and 30 after surgery, immunostaining positive of RUNX-2 in all periods, increased expression of RANKL on day 15 and positive immunoexpression of BMP-9 on the 45th day. However, the Biosilicate® scaffold did not increase the mechanical properties of bone callus. Thus, the implantation of Biosilicate® scaffold was effective in stimulating the repair of tibial defects, however, was not able to improve their mechanical properties. In the second study, the spatialtemporal changes in the process of bone healing in defects treated with LLLT were evaluated in two groups: GC and bone defect treated with laser group (GL). The laser treatment started immediately following the surgery of bone defects and have been 8, 15 or 23 sessions with an interval of 48 hours between them. The histological and morphometric analysis revealed that the GL showed better tissue organization at 15 and 30 days after surgery, and biggest area of newly formed bone at day 15. The immunohistochemistry showed that the LLLT promoted higher expression of COX-2 at day 15, immunostaining of RUNX-2 positive in all periods, higher immunoexpression of BMP-9 on day 30 and higher immunoreactivity of RANKL at day 15. However, the LLLT did not increase the biomechanical properties of bone callus. Thus, the LLLT improved the process of bone healing, but was unable to improve its biomechanical properties. In the third study the effects of the association of LLLT with implants of Biosilicate® scaffolds in bone healing were investigated in three experimental groups: GC, GB and Biosilicate® scaffold irradiated with laser group (GBL). The implantation of the scaffold was performed following the surgery of bone defect. The laser treatment started immediately after surgery and were performed 8, 15 or 23 sessions with an interval of 48 hours between them. At 15 days after surgery, the histological analysis revealed granulation tissue and newly formed bone juxtaposed to the surface of scaffolds in GB and GBL. Thirty days after injury, the GB and GBL had better organized newly formed bone compared to the CG. At day 45 was possible to observe granulation tissue in the defects of the GBL. In the GB, the peak of immunoexpression of COX-2 occurred on the 15th day and in the GBL, on the 30th day. The GB and GBL showed positive immunoexpression of BMP-9 up to 45th day after surgery, while RANKL immunoexpression was higher in the GBL at day 30. However, 30 and 45 days after injury, the animals of GB and GBL showed statistically lower values of maximum load compared to the CG. Thus, the association of the scaffold Biosilicate® with laser irradiation has osteogenic activity during the bone repair, however, the scaffold Biosilicate® associated or not with the laser irradiation is not effective to improve mechanical properties of the bone callus. Finally, we concluded that LLLT (&#955; = 830 nm, 120J/cm2) and implantation of Biosilicate® scaffolds, associated or not, were effective to stimulate the bone consolidation by improving the development of newly formed bone and activating immunoexpression of proteins, growth and transcription factors related to different stages of bone healing in tibial defects in rats. However, these therapeutic modalities associated or not, were unable to improve mechanical properties of the bone callus. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da terapia laser de baixa intensidade (LLLT) (830nm, 120J/cm2, 100mW) e do implante de scaffolds de Biosilicato®, associados ou não, nos aspectos histológicos, propriedades biomecânicas do calo ósseo e na imunoexpressão de proteínas, fatores de crescimento e de transcrição relacionados a diferentes etapas do reparo ósseo, ao 15º, 30º e 45º dia após a cirurgia de defeitos ósseos induzidos em tíbias de ratos. Cento e vinte ratos machos da linhagem Wistar (3 meses de idade ± 280 gramas) foram submetidos a defeitos tibiais bilaterais e distribuídos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos experimentais com 30 animais cada. No primeiro estudo investigaram-se os efeitos do implante de scaffolds de Biosilicato® em defeitos ósseos de ratos, a partir de dois grupos experimentais: grupo defeito ósseo controle (GC) e grupo defeito ósseo tratado com scaffold de Biosilicato® (GB). O implante do scaffold foi realizado em seguida à cirurgia de defeito ósseo. A análise histológica revelou que os animais do GB apresentavam osso neoformado mais organizado ao 30º e 45º dia após a cirurgia. A imunoistoquímica demonstrou que o scaffold de Biosilicato® promoveu maior expressão de COX-2 nos dias 15 e 30 de após a cirurgia, imunoexpressão positiva de RUNX-2 em todos os períodos, maior expressão de RANKL no 15º dia e imunoexpressão positiva de BMP-9 no 45º dia. Porém, o scaffold de Biosilicato® não aumentou as propriedades mecânicas do calo ósseo. Assim, o implante de scaffold de Biosilicato® foi eficaz em estimular o reparo de defeitos tibiais, porém, não foi capaz de melhorar suas propriedades mecânicas. No segundo estudo, foram avaliadas as mudanças temporais-espaciais no processo de reparo ósseo em defeitos tratados com LLLT, a partir de dois grupos experimentais: GC e grupo defeito ósseo tratado com laser (GL). O tratamento com laser iniciou-se imediatamente após a cirurgia dos defeitos ósseos e realizaram-se 8, 15 ou 23 sessões, com um intervalo de 48h entre elas. As análises histológica e morfométrica revelaram que o GL apresentou melhor organização tecidual aos 15º e 30º dias após a cirurgia, e maior área de osso neoformado no 15º dia. A imunoistoquímica mostrou que a LLLT promoveu maior expressão de COX-2 no 15º dia, imunoexpressão positiva de RUNX-2 em todos os períodos avaliados, maior imunoexpressão de BMP-9 no 30º dia e maior imunorreatividade do RANKL no 15º dia. Porém, a LLLT não aumentou as propriedades biomecânicas do calo ósseo. Assim, a LLLT melhorou o processo de consolidação óssea, mas não foi capaz de melhorar suas propriedades biomecânicas. O terceiro estudo investigou os efeitos da associação da LLLT com implantes de scaffolds de Biosilicato® na consolidação óssea, a partir de três grupos experimentais: GC, GB e grupo scaffold de Biosilicato® irradiado com laser (GBL). O implante do scaffold foi realizado em seguida à cirurgia de defeito ósseo. O tratamento com laser iniciou-se imediatamente após a cirurgia e foram realizadas 8, 15 ou 23 sessões, com um intervalo de 48h entre elas. Ao 15º dia pós-lesão a análise histológica revelou tecido de granulação e osso neoformado justapostos à superfície dos scaffolds no GB e GBL. Trinta dias após a lesão, o GB e GBL apresentavam osso neoformado mais organizado em comparação ao GC. Ao 45º dia, foi possível observar tecido de granulação nos defeitos do GBL. No GB, o pico de imunoexpressão da COX-2 ocorreu no 15º dia e no GBL, no 30º dia. Os GB e GBL apresentaram imunoexpressão positiva da BMP-9 até o 45º dia após a cirurgia, enquanto que para o RANKL, a imunoexpressão foi maior no GBL no 30º dia. No entanto, 30 e 45 dias após a lesão, os animais dos GB e GBL apresentaram valores estatísticamente menores de carga máxima em comparação ao GC. Assim, a associação do scaffold de Biosilicato® com o laser exerce atividade osteogênica durante o reparo ósseo, no entanto, o scaffold de Biosilicato® associado ou não a irradiação laser não é eficaz em melhorar as propriedades mecânicas do calo ósseo. Finalmente, podemos concluir que a LLLT e o implante de scaffolds de Biosilicato®, associados ou não, foram eficazes em estimular a consolidação óssea, melhorando o desenvolvimento de osso neoformado e ativando a imunoexpressão de proteínas, fatores de crescimento e de transcrição relacionados a diferentes etapas do reparo ósseo em defeitos tibiais em ratos. No entanto, estas modalidades terapêuticas, associadas ou não, não foram capazes de melhorar as propriedades mecânicas do calo ósseo em ensaio de flexão na posição de tração.

Flocktechnologie ist eine im Bereich der Textiltechnik angewandte Methode, bei der kurze Fasern nahezu senkrecht auf ein vorher mit Klebstoff beschichtetes Substrat aufgebracht werden. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die elektrostatische Beflockung als Methode zur Herstellung von porösen, dreidimensionalen Scaffolds für das Tissue Engineering von Knorpel und Knochen etabliert. Dieser neuartige Scaffoldtyp wurde eingehend charakterisiert und in Zellversuchen im Hinblick auf seine Biokompatibilität untersucht. Dabei zeigte sich, dass verschiedene Zellen im Scaffold proliferieren und differenzieren können. Die in der Arbeit beschriebenen Flockscaffolds stellen somit eine vielversprechende Matrix für die Therapie von Gelenkknorpeldefekten dar.

For three decades, the ongoing HIV pandemic has taken the lives of tens of millions of people. Still, more tens of millions are fighting this incurable disease today. Current failures in combating this global problem are caused mainly by the virus's extreme ability of mutation, its very effective molecular shield which repels the immune system's attacks, and its immense variability. A breakthrough, achieved relatively recently, is the discovery of the so-called broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1, which carry a very efficient and broad neutralizing response. So far, it's not known how to elucidate the production of these antibodies in the infected hosts to quell or altogether eliminate the virus. This work deals with experimental results, which led to both in vivo and in vitro proof-of-concept of the so-called protein mimetics, the ability to imitate viral surface epitopes, and therefore stimulate an efficient immune response carried by targeted broadly neutralizing antibodies. This effect is mediated by recombinant binding proteins, based on the Myomedin scaffold. This work describes the selection and characterization of these binding proteins mimicking the epitopes of one of the most effective broadly neutralizing antibodies, 10E8. It shows that the binding affinities of selected...

Cancer immunotherapy has recently made remarkable clinical progress. Adoptive transfer of T-cells engineered with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against CD19 has been successful in treatment of B-cell leukemia. Patient’s T-cells are isolated, activated, transduced with a vector encoding the CAR molecule and then expanded before being transferred back to the patient. However some obstacles restrict its success in solid tumors. This thesis explores different aspects to improve CAR T-cells therapy of cancer. Ex vivo expanded T-cells are usually sensitive to the harsh tumor microenvironment after reinfusion. We developed a novel expansion method for T-cells, named AEP, by using irradiated and preactivated allo-sensitized allogeneic lymphocytes (ASALs) and allogeneic mature dendritic cells (DCs). AEP-expanded T-cells exhibited better survival and cytotoxic efficacy under oxidative and immunosuppressive stress, compared to T-cells expanded with established procedures. Integrating retro/lentivirus (RV/LV) used for CAR expressions randomly integrate in the T-cell genome and has the potential risk of causing insertional mutagenesis. We developed a non-integrating lentiviral (NILV) vector containing a scaffold matrix attachment region (S/MAR) element (NILV-S/MAR) for T-cells transduction. NILV-S/MAR-engineered CAR T-cells display similar cytotoxicity to LV-engineered CAR T-cells with undetectable level of insertional event, which makes them safer than CAR T-cells used in the clinic today. CD19-CAR T-cells have so far been successful for B-cell leukemia but less successful for B-cell lymphomas, which present semi-solid structure with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We have developed CAR T-cells armed with H. pylorineutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP). HP-NAP is a major virulence factor and plays important role in T-helper type 1 (Th1) polarizing. NAP-CAR T-cells showed the ability to mature DCs, attract innate immune cells and increase secretion of Th1 cytokines and chemokines, which presumably leads to better CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma. Allogeneic-DCs (alloDCs) were used to further alter tumor microenvironment. The premise relies on initiation of an allo-reactive immune response for cytokine and chemokines secretion, as well as stimulation of T-cell response by bringing in tumor-associated antigen. We demonstrated that alloDCs promote migration and activation of immune cells and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice by attracting T-cells to tumors and reverse the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment.