Abstract
Nanomaterials have attracted the interest of tissue engineers for the last two decades. Their unique properties make them promising for de novo fabrication of bio-inspired hybrid/composite materials with improved regenerative properties, including, for example, the capacity for electric conductivity and the provision of antimicrobial properties. However, to this day, the use of such materials in medical applications is rather limited and most of the studies have only reached the archetypical proof-of-concept stage. Herein, we present a review on the use of nanomaterials in tissue engineering for regenerative therapies of heart, skin, eye, skeletal muscle, and nervous system. The advantages and limitations of nano-engineering materials are presented in this review alongside with the future challenges and milestones nanotechnology must overcome to make an impact in biomedical applications.
Introduction
In the early 2000s, it seemed that materials with improved regenerative properties would come from the combination of biocompatible platforms and nanometric materials (size scale 10
−9m) (Morrow et al.,
2007). However, to this day, a relatively small number of materials based on or containing nanoparticles (NPs) are being used in medicine (Morrow et al.,
2007; Etheridge et al.,
). Some examples of nanomaterials used in the clinic are listed in Table
1. For example, the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) in a joint effort with two pharmaceutical companies (AstraZeneca and Pfizer) (Pan,
2015) has supported the development of new nanotechnologies for cancer therapeutics (Morrow et al.,
2007). However, despite the considerable improvement in product manufacturing practices over the past years, safety concerns for human use remain the biggest obstacle for effective translational applications. One of the main reasons for this is the limited amount of reliable, and sometimes contradictory, scientific literature regarding the toxicity of nanomaterials in living organisms, which is due in part to:
Poor standardization for NP production, which in turn limits reproducibility and scale-up production, particularly in batch-to-batch consistency (Franca et al., ).
Limited knowledge of long-term effects of nanomaterials in living organisms (Buzea et al., ; De Jong and Borm, ; Bondarenko et al., ).
Most materials are mainly tested at the proof-of-concept stage in vitro, and follow-up publications are rarely seen [see (Pedrosa et al., 2015) for a specific discussion on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)].
Table 1
| Category | In development | Currently approved |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular system | – ReZolve, ReZolve2, and Fantom scaffolds (O’Brien et al., 2015) (bioresorbable stent, phase I/II) – NOX-E36: L-RNA with 3′ PEG aptamer (Keefe et al., ) (type II diabetes, phase I) | – Stratus® CS System (Nanjwade et al., 2009) (in vitro cardiac marker detection) |
| Epidermis/surface applications | – | – Acticoat (Westaim Biomedical Corp., Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada) (Yin et al., 1999) (wound dressing with antimicrobial properties containing silver) |
| Neurological applications | – CNTF-producing cells encapsulated in polymers (Orive et al., 2009) (macular degeneration, Huntington disease) | – NeuraGen and NeuroMatrix (Seil and Webster, 2010; Daly et al., ) (collagen type I – peripheral nerve repair) – Neurolac (Daly et al., ) (PCLC – peripheral nerve repair) |
| Skeletal muscle reconstitution | – SIS and UBM ECM scaffolds (Grasman et al., ) (VML defect recovery, small clinical study) | – Vitoss (Ventola, 2012; Etheridge et al., ) (scaffold for bone regeneration) |
| Ocular therapeutics | – Nanoceria (CeO2 NPs) injection (Walkey et al., 2015) (anti-inflammatory activity, SOD mimic) | – Nanoemulsions (Chaurasia et al., ) [Restasis (2002), Durezol (2008)] – Pegaptanib/Macugen (Morrow et al., 2007; Keefe et al., ) (RNA-aptamer therapy for age-related macular degeneration) |
| Non-specific diagnosis/imaging | – Nanochips (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012; Etheridge et al., ) (biomarker detection) – Implantable devices (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012) (point-of-care detection/in vivo regulation) – Quantum dots (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012; Etheridge et al., ) (diagnostic imaging/targeted delivery) – Iron oxide NPs (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012; Etheridge et al., ) (MRI contrast agents) | – Omniscan (Ventola, 2012) (NP MRI contrast agent) – Combidex (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012) (NP MRI contrast agent, approved: Europe, pending: U.S.) – Verigene (Morrow et al., 2007; Ventola, 2012) (functionalized gold NPs, diagnostics) |
| Non-specific therapeutics | – DEP™ docetaxel (Nanjwade et al., 2009) (cancer drug delivery, phase I) – Cationic liposomes (Smith et al., 2013) (immunostimulation/vaccination) – Nanoemulsions: W805EC (Smith et al., 2013) (antimicrobial activity/adjuvant activity) | – Cervarix/Gardasil (Smith et al., 2013; Herreros et al., ) (VLP vaccine for HPV) – Euvax B (Smith et al., 2013; Herreros et al., ) (VLP vaccine for Hepatitis B) – CellSearch (Morrow et al., 2007; Arya et al., ; Etheridge et al., ) (NP-antibody detection for circulating tumor cells) – SilvaGard (Ventola, 2012) (AgNP coating for medical device sterilization) (Mehta et al., 2015) |
Selected nanotechnologies in development or approved for use in clinical applications.
These issues have severely impacted the translation of nano-engineered materials for clinical uses, where incorporation of NPs within the 3D structure, see Figure
1, of the scaffold could help overcoming some of the most important limitations of regenerative scaffolds and therapies that include:
Enhancement, or modulation, of the mechanical properties of the template (Banquy et al., ; Gaharwar et al., ).
Manufacturing of environment responsive scaffolds (pH, ionic strength) see review by Gaharwar et al. ().
Support of electrical conductivity (Dvir et al., ; Balint et al., ).
Improved resistance to bacterial colonization (Alarcon et al., , ).
Figure 1
Despite the increasing number of publications using hybrid/composite materials for biomedical applications seen in the past decade, the field is in its infancy in terms of understanding the complexity of nanoscale interactions between biopolymers and NPs. However, before we can fully understand, and eventually manipulate these interactions, we need to review the state-of-the-art on hybrid/composite materials for tissue engineering. Thus, herein, we discuss some relevant advances in regenerative materials/scaffolds that have employed nano-engineered components in their fabrication. We have further targeted inorganic NPs, and peptides reported for use in regeneration of the following organs: heart (see Nano-Engineered Materials for Cardiac Tissue Regeneration), skin (see Nano-Engineered Materials for Skin Wound Healing), eye (Section Nanomaterial Therapeutics for Eye Regeneration), skeletal muscle (SM; see Nano-Engineered Materials for Skeletal Muscle Repair), and nervous system (see Nanomaterials for Peripheral and Central Nervous System Regeneration). Additionally, we focused our literature selection on studies that included in vivo assessment of the materials, which we hope will help the reader to gain a more complete picture of the potential translational application of nano-engineered materials.
Nano-Engineered Materials for Cardiac Tissue Regeneration
Nanoparticle-Based Materials for Cardiac Tissue and Vascular Repair
Cardiovascular tissue engineering strategies have been investigated in order to regenerate or repair scar tissue and/or hibernating myocardium following ischemic injury, in particular myocardial infarction (MI) (Pfeffer and Braunwald,
1990). Heart failure following MI continues to be a prevalent complication, in spite of current surgical revascularization techniques, due to the limited regenerative capacity of cardiac muscle (Sutton and Sharpe,
2000). Nanomaterials have been incorporated as critical components of experimental tissue engineering strategies for regeneration and repair of cardiac tissue (see Nguyen et al.,
2015b). Nanomaterials can convey many benefits to cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration strategies including:
Metal NPs and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can increase the conductivity of biomaterial scaffolds (Shin et al., 2013; Shevach et al., 2014; Zhou et al., 2014).
Nanofibers can be used to more closely mimic the nanotopography of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM), which allows for better cell connections, differentiation and organization (Davis et al., ; Mukherjee et al., 2011).
Some NPs have inherent antioxidant properties, which could be beneficial for cell survival under conditions of oxidative stress within the infarct region (Niu et al., 2007).
In this section, we will review some representative examples for the use of nanomaterials in cardiac regenerative therapeutic applications. Table 2 presents a summary of the main findings of the technologies discussed in this section and in Figure 2, we schematically depicted some of the technologies discussed in this review.
Table 2
| Nanoparticle | Application | Dimensions | Animal Model | Treatments | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super-paramagnetic microspheres (SPM), composed of iron oxides | Magnetic targeting of CDCs to the infarct region to improve retention of transplanted cells in cellular cardiomyoplasty | D = 900 nm | WKY rats, F, 8 weeks old, MI: LAD ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 1 × 106 CDC-SPM or CDCs alone ±10 min magnet placed over apex, 100 μL sample injected | 3 weeks post-MI CDC-SPM+ magnet: ↑ LVEF, ↓ scar size, ↓ LV expansion, ↑ viable myocardium, ↑ infarct thickness compared to CDC, or CDC-SPM -magnet | ↑ CDC retention due to magnetic targeting at 24 h and 3 weeks post-MI, ↑ α-SA+ myocytes both from CDCs and paracrine effects on endogenous precursors | Cheng et al. () |
| Iron oxide nanocubes | Taken up by CMB cell line to prime MSCs to develop a cardiac lineage to improve regenerative potential for MI | Le = 22 nm | SD rats, 8 weeks old, MI: LADligation | IM 1 h post-MI surgery, 60 μL of PBS ± 1 × 106 MSCs or IONP primed MSCs | 2 weeks post-MI primed MSCs: ↑ EF, ↑ FS, ↓ LVIDd/s, ↓ fibrosis, ↓ infarct size as compared to MSCs or PBS | IONP-CM priming of MSCs: ↑ JNK mediated Cx43 gap junction expression, ↑ βMHC, MLC2a/v expression, ↑ VEGF, HGF, bFGF secretion, ↓ apoptosis, ↑ capillary density | Han et al. () |
| Cerium oxide nanoparticles | Free radical scavenger to reduce oxidative stress and prevent heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy | D = 7 nm | FVB/N mice with over-expression of MCP-1 in cardiac tissue | 5-week-old WT or MCP-1 mice: IV injection of 100 μL PBS ± 0.15 mM CeO2 twice/week for 2 weeks | 6 months: ↑ FS, ↓ LVEDD, ↓ HW/BW, ↓ fibrosis in MCP-1 mice treated with CeO2 compared to PBS | ↓ monocyte/macrophage infiltration, ↓ apoptosis, ↓ pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), ↓ MCP-1 and CRP levels in plasma, ↓ ROS, ↓ myocardial ER stress | Niu et al. (2007) |
| Reduced graphene oxide flakes (RGO) | Improve efficacy of MSC cell therapy for regeneration post-MI by incorporating RGO into MSC spheroids | L = 2–5 μm H = 1–2 nm | BALB/c nude mice, M, 8 weeks old, MI: LCA ligation | IM 1 week post-MI: 50 μL PBS ±5 μg/mL RGO, 3 × 105 MSC or both | 2 weeks post-treatment RGO-MSC: ↑ EF, ↑ FS, ↓ LVIDs, ↓ fibrosis compared to all other groups, LVIDd no change | ↑ capillary density, ↑ Cx43 gap junction density, RGO ↑ MSC integrin β1-fibronectin interaction, ↑ FAK and ERK signaling, and ↑ VEGF, FGF2, and HGF secretion | Park et al. (2015a) |
| Graphene oxide (GO) flakes | Reduce MSC cell death due to ROS from I/R injury post-MI and improve regenerative benefits of cellular cardiomyoplasty | L = 1–6 μm H = 1.5 nm | SD rats, 8 weeks old, I/R LAD ligation 1 h | IM after I/R: 60 μL of PBS ± 1 × 106 MSCs alone or MSC +10 μg/mL GO | 14 days post-I/R: ↓ LVIDs, ↑ EF, ↑ FS, ↓ fibrosis and ↓ infarct area in MSC-GO group compared to all other groups | ↑ number, ↓ apoptosis MSCs, ↑ arteriole/capillary density, GO ↑ survival and maintains VEGF/FGF2 expression of MSCs subjected to ROS and loss of ECM attachment, ↑ integrin β1-FAK inhibition of caspase 3 | Park et al. (2015b) |
Nanoparticles in treatment strategies for heart failure prevention: effects on cardiac function and infarct repair in vivo.
CDC, cardiosphere-derived cells; D, diameter; WKY, Wistar Kyoto; LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery; MI, myocardial infarction; IM, intramyocardial; MSC, mesenchymal stem cells; CMB, cardiomyoblast; Le, edge length; SD, Sprague-Dawley; F, female; M, male; IONP, ion oxide nanoparticle; LCA, left coronary artery; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein; WT, wild type; IV, intravenous; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; H, height; I/R, ischemia reperfusion; LV, left ventricular; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; EF, ejection fraction; FS, fractional shortening; LVIDd, left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole; LVIDs, left ventricular internal diameter at end systole; LVEDD, left ventricular end diastolic diameter; HW/BW, heart weight to body weight ratio; α-SA, alpha sarcomeric actin; JNK, c-jun N-terminal kinase; Cx43, connexin 43; βMHC, myosin heavy chain beta; MLC2a, atrial myosin light chain 2; MLC2v, ventricular myosin light chain 2; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; bFGF, basic fibroblast growth factor; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; IL, interleukin receptor; CRP, c-reactive protein; ROS, reactive oxygen species; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; FAK, focal adhesion kinase; ERK, extracellular signal related kinase; FGP, fibroblast growth factor.
Figure 2
Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) occupy a special place in cardiovascular therapies as diagnosis agents; however, they have also recently sparked interest in the field of regenerative therapies for cardiac tissue by allowing the manipulation of cells containing IONP with an external applied magnetic force (Ito et al.,
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) have been investigated in biomaterial scaffolds to boost conductivity in an effort to improve propagation of electrical signals through an engineered cardiac tissue, which will ultimately enhance in vivo integration. AuNRs were incorporated into alginate hydrogels to improve the electrical conductivity of the material and aid in the coupling of cardiomyocytes seeded within the scaffolds (Dvir et al.,
The toxicity of AuNPs in vivo is controlled by many factors including: size, capping agents, and dosage (Khlebtsov and Dykman,
Nanomaterial allotropes of carbon, in particular CNTs and graphene oxide (GO) sheets, have received interest in the design of tissue engineering strategies to regenerate functional myocardium following infarction due to their high conductivity. CNTs have been investigated in vitro by Shin et al. who incorporated CNTs into a gelatin methylacrylate (GelMA) cross-linked hydrogel (Shin et al., 2013). The authors observed that CNTs provided electrical connections, similar to native Purkinje fibers in the heart and allowed conduction in a material that previously was an insulator (Shin et al., 2013). In addition, CM retention, viability, expression of contractile proteins, established striations, and functional gap junctions were enhanced on the scaffolds containing CNTs as compared to hydrogels alone. Furthermore, hydrogels containing CNTs were used as a substrate for the growth of 3D artificial tissues that exhibit beating under pulsatile stimulation (Shin et al., 2013). CNTs have also been investigated as a growth substrate, as they exhibit a topography similar to the native ECM with the ability to relay signals between myocytes (Martinelli et al., 2012). Cardiomyocytes grown on CNT substrates had increased viability, entrance into the cell cycle, and more negative resting membrane potential as compared to standard culture conditions (Martinelli et al., 2012). In vivo evidence in mice indicated that therapeutically relevant concentrations of CNTs are non-toxic; thus, there is promise for further in vivo studies with this nanomaterial (Schipper et al., 2008). Lastly, an engineered cardiac tissue consisting of neonatal rat cardiac cells in a gelatin hydrogel with single-walled CNTs (SWNTs) allowed spontaneous contraction and action potentials in vitro in addition to maturation of cardiomyocytes (Zhou et al., 2014). After suturing the graft onto the infarct region in a rat model, with immunosuppression therapy, improved cardiac function 4 weeks post-application and increase in gap junction protein expression was observed (Zhou et al., 2014). It is noted in this study that there was local macrophage upregulation in SWNT-graft treated mice leading to incorporation of SWNTs into the infarct region. As this study is performed with immunosuppression therapy, further investigation of long-term effects of CNTs in vivo, in particular the activation of an immune response in model with healthy immune function, is still needed.
Graphene oxide (GO) sheets are an alternative carbon-based nanomaterial, which have shown biocompatibility with no acute toxic effects in vivo (Paul et al., 2014; Park et al., 2015b). GO sheets and flakes with a thickness on the nanometer scale and length in the area of 1–6 μm are not taken up by cells but can absorb ECM proteins from culture serum (Lee et al., 2011). Studies by Park et al. demonstrated the benefit of incorporating GO or reduced GO flakes into MSC culture, with the following observations: (1) GO adsorbed ECM components (fibronectin) from the serum and formed GO-cell and cell-ECM interactions, which activate both pro-survival pathways and pro-angiogenic cytokine secretion and (2) the conductivity of GO stimulated expression of cardiac specific makers and gap junctions (Park et al., 2015b). The result in vivo in a rodent MI model showed enhanced retention of the MSC + GO in the infarct, reduced sensitivity to oxidative stress following ischemia reperfusion injury, and improvement of heart function by cellular cardiomyoplasty without an immune response to the GO material (Park et al., 2015a). Furthermore, polyehtylenimine functionalized GO sheets have been investigated as a transfection agent for gene therapy approaches to enhance angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression using an injectable GelMA hydrogel (Paul et al., 2014). In a rat MI model, delivery of the composite GO-VEGF hydrogel lead to increased capillary density and decreased infract scar size (Paul et al., 2014). Injectable hydrogel formulations containing GO tethered VEGF plasmid were, therefore, an effective transfection system to enhance VEGF expression in the infarct region. Cerium oxide NPs act as free radical scavengers and have been shown to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression due to reduction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) activated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a murine model of heart failure (Niu et al., 2007). The NPs improved heart function and limited ischemic remodeling. These results have been replicated in in vitro systems, including cardiomyocytes exposed to cigarette smoke extract and cardiac progenitor cells in culture in which CeO2 enhanced survival and maintenance of multi-lineage differentiation (Niu et al., 2007; Pagliari et al., 2012).
Nanofibrous Materials for Cardiac Tissue Repairing
Injectable biomaterials composed of hydrated natural or synthetic polymers solutions have been used as therapy for treating hearts post-MI (Christman and Lee,
Peptide nanofiber injectable hydrogels have been used successfully for both cell and growth factor (GF) delivery in promoting regeneration post-MI (Hynesl et al.,
Table 3
| Peptide | Application | Animal Model | Injection | Degradation | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAD16-II, 1:100 biotinylated:non-biotinylated | Delivery of biotin-IGF-1 (10 ng/mL) and rat nCMs to the infarct | SD rats, M, 250 g, CA ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 80 μL, 1% NF, IGF ± 5 × 105 nCMs | N/A, IGF-1 release detected up to 2 months post-MI | 21 days post-MI: ↑ FS, ↓ ventricle Δvol compared to cells, IGF-1 or NF alone | IGF-1 pro-CM survival signaling through Akt, IGF1-NF ↓ apoptosis, ↑ size | Davis et al. ( |
| RAD16-II, MMP-resistant SDF-1 [S-SDF-1(SV4)] linked to RAD16-II (RAD) | Controlled release of non-degradable SDF-1 to recruit endogenous progenitor cells to the infarct | SD rats, M, 200–230 g, LCA ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 80 μL, 1% NF ±30 nmol/L S-SDF-1(SV4) | SDF-1(SV4) +NF present up to 7 days post-MI | 28 days post-MI: ↑ EF, ↓ LVESV, ↑ CI compared to MI alone | ↑ Capillary density, ↑ CXCR4+/c-kit+/Flk-1+ endothelial progenitors | Segers et al. (2007) |
| RAD16-II conjugated to biotinylated IGF-1 | Cell delivery, to improve engraftment and retention in infarct | Fisher 344 rats, F, 3 months old, LAD ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 5 ng NF-IGF-1, ±1 × 105 CPCs 5 μL each | N/A | 1 month post-MI: ↑ EF, ↑ +dP/dt, ↑ −dP/dt, ↓ wall stress, ↑ mass/chamber volume ↓ infarct size, compared to PBS, NF or IGF-1 alone | ↑ Number/volume of regenerated MC, ↑ arteriole/capillary length density, IGF-1 ↓ apoptosis and ↑ proliferation of remote EC/MC | Padin-Iruegas et al. (2009) |
| RAD16-II | Cell delivery, to improve engraftment and retention in infarct | Mini pigs, 5 months old, LAD ligation | IM post-MI, 2 mL, 1% NF ± 1 × 108 BMNCs | NF still present 28 days post-MI | 28 days post-MI: ↑ EF, ↑ IVS thickness, ↓ LVESV/LVEDV, ↑ ± dP/dt, ↑ AE | ↑ BMNC retention, ↓ necrotic tissue, ↓ fibrosis, ↑ capillary density, NF alone ↑ scar thickness and ↑ diastolic function | Lin et al. (2010) |
| PA with MMP2 degradable and cell adhesive RGDS sequences | Cell delivery, improved engraftment and retention in infarct | Foxn1nu mice, M, LAD ligation | IM, post-MI surgery, PA ±2 × 105 mESC-CMs | Limited amount of NF remain 6 weeks post-MI | 4 and 12 weeks post-MI: ↑ EF, ↑ FS, compared to mESC-CM or NF alone, PBS | ↑ CM retention, engraftment, mESC-CM express MC markers and gap junctions | Ban et al. ( |
| RAD16-II | Controlled release of PDGF-BB to prevent CM apoptosis in the infarct. Limit diffusion of PDGF-BB from infarct to reduce risk of pulmonary hypertension | SD rats, M, 250 g, LAD ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 80 μL, 1% NF ±100 ng PDGF-BB | Controlled release of PDGF-BB for 14 days from NF, significantly greater than PDGF alone | 1 day–3 months post-MI: ↑ FS; 14 days–4 months post-MI ↓ EDV/ESV, 4 months post-MI ↑ −/+ dP/dt, ↑ τ, ↑ EF; as compared to PBS only injection | ↑ Akt activation in CM, ↓ caspase 3 activity, ↓ infarct size/volume, 4 months post-injection/MI ↑ capillary density/blood flow, no evidence of pulmonary hypertension | Hsieh et al. ( |
| RAD16-II | Controlled release of VEGF-165 to the infarct region to stimulate angiogenesis post-MI. | (1) SD rats 250 g, M (2) MerCreMer-ZEG mice, (3) Lanyu mini-pigs (5 months), all LAD ligation | IM post-MI surgery, 80 μL for rat/mice, 2 mL for pigs, 1% NF ± 100 ng VEGF-165 and for mice NF-VEGF ± 5 × 105 BMCs | Controlled release of VEGF from NF up to 14 days, significantly greater than VEGF alone | 28 days post-MI –rat/pig: NF + VEGF ↑ FS, ↓ EDV/ESV, ↓ scar length compared to PBS injection. -Pig: NF alone ↓ infarct length compared to PBS control | NF-VEGF ↑ artery/arteriole density compared to VEGF/NF alone, NF and NF-VEGF ↑ smooth muscle cells recruitment, NF↑BMC retention through β-integrin attachment, NF-VEGF ↑ new cnTNI+ CM precursors, NF-VEGF ↓ systemic vascular leakage compared to VEGF alone | Lin et al. (2012) |
Peptide Nanofibers in treatment strategies for myocardial infarction: effects on cardiac function and infarct repair in vivo.
RAD16-II, (AcN-RARADADARARADADA-CNH2); IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; SDF-1, stromal cell growth factor; SD, Sprague-Dawley; M, male; CA, coronary artery; nCMs, neonatal cardiomyocytes; F, female; LCA, left coronary artery; LAD, left anterior descending coronary artery; IM, intramyocardial; MI, myocardial infarction; NF, peptide nanofibers; CPCs, cardiac progenitor cells; BMNCs, bone marrow mononuclear cell; mESC-CMs, murine embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; FS, fractional shortening; EF, ejection fraction; LVESV, left ventricular end systolic volume; LVEDV, left ventricular end diastolic volume; CI, cardiac index; +dp/dt, rate of left ventricular systolic pressure increase; −dP/dt, rate of left ventricular diastolic pressure decrease; IVS, intraventricular septum; Akt, protein kinase-B, CXCR4, chemokine (C–X–C motif) receptor 4; Flk-1, fetal liver kinase 1; MC, myocyte; EC, endothelial cell; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; τ, arterial elastance; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; BMC, bone marrow cells.
Future Directions for Cardiac and Vascular Tissue Regeneration
In the future, nanomaterials for cardiac regeneration will continue to provide a novel opportunity to enhance the conductivity of biomaterial scaffolds but will require in vivo testing in small and large animal models to test for the possibility of arrhythmias. The development of nanofiber matrices has provided a bottom-up approach to create an ECM-mimicking environment to control cell growth and differentiation. Nanofiber scaffolds as biodegradable vascular grafts could reduce the advent of restenosis and promote regeneration. Nanomaterials, in particular noble metal NPs, are increasingly becoming key components in tissue-engineered materials for cardiac and vascular regeneration in patients with MI, heart failure or coronary artery disease.
Nano-Engineered Materials for Skin Wound Healing
Skin is the largest organ in the human body, which is the natural barrier against external insults and regulates temperature and other vital functions. Wounded skin naturally heals, however, in cases where healing is impaired, as is the case of patients with deficient vascular supply (e.g., diabetic) or those with larger extents of damaged skin (e.g., burns), therapies intended to aid/expedite wound closure are pivotal to reduce morbidity rates (Ulrich, 2014; Uckay et al., 2015). In the following section, we will briefly describe the pathology and medical needs, alongside with the current therapies for two of the most common clinical cases where there is a high demand for regenerative skin scaffolds, which are diabetic foot and burn patients.
Diabetic Foot and Tissue Engineering
Diabetic foot infections (DFI) are part of the pathological profile of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), where factors, such as arterial insufficiency and immunological disturbances, contribute to their chronic nature (O’Loughlin et al., 2010; Andrews et al.,
Wound healing is a complex biological process that involves inflammation, chemotaxis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling (Singer and Clark, 1999; Baum and Arpey,
An assessment of the extent of DFU by a wound care expert is followed by debridement, and sequential revaluation of the wound site for surgical reconstruction. Particularly, soft tissue reconstruction can be as simple as letting the wound heal by itself, a.k.a. secondary intention, or healing assisted by microsurgical flaps. The use of skin substitutes (cadaver skin, xenografts, and artificial substitutes) has exponentially improved in quality and regenerative capacity. They offer, in most cases, a temporary solution, especially for large wounds with truncated geometries. Autologous grafting and/or flap transplantation also present some drawbacks since they require mechanical harvesting of donor skin, which causes morbidities, such as pain, risk of infection, discoloration, and scarring. Furthermore, most autologous grafts use only the epidermal coverage of the skin, which together with leaving a scarred donor site, does not provide a completely functional barrier to the wound (Tam et al., 2013).
Thus, over the past few decades, there has been a rise of the so-called biocompatible healing products intended for skin regeneration in the form of skin grafts and wound dressings (O’Loughlin et al., 2010). Amniotic membranes appear promising candidates; however, the risk of infection, as well as their limited availability, makes their use unrealistic as a viable definitive treatment for DFU (Zelen et al., 2013; Lavery et al., 2014; Cychosz et al.,
Burns and Tissue Engineering
Full-skin functional substitutes remain an elusive problem for skin tissue engineering in burn units. Depending on the burn degree and extent, the surgeon could decide on using split thickness autograft from the patient, which will result in non-functional transplanted tissue (missing sweat glands) (Tam et al., 2013). This treatment is only suitable when there are enough healthy donor sites in the patient. Thus, as similar to the above discussed for DFUs, laboratory engineered materials had been developed to fulfill the need for alternative strategies for wound covering and tissue regeneration in these patients (Ulrich, 2014). Furthermore, the control/prevention of nosocomial infections in burn patients is a pivotal factor for reducing hospital stays and morbidity (Norbury et al., 2016).
In the following sections, we will highlight the progress made regarding nanomaterial use for skin regeneration. Table 4 summarizes some representative examples of hybrid/composites that were tested in vivo for dermal skin tissue regeneration. Figure 3 displays a representative summary of the technologies presented herein.
Table 4
| Nanoparticle | Dimensions | Animal Model | Treatments | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerium oxide nanoparticles | D = 3–5 nm | C57BL/6 mice, M, 3–4 months old, two dorsal full thickness skin wounds D = 4 mm | 10 μL of 10 μM CeO2 nanoceria or water control, applied daily for 13 days post-wounding directly to wound | ↑ Wound closure, CeO2 treated fully healed in 8 days vs. control not fully closed in 13 days, ↓ wound diameter due to CeO2 treatment at 1–13 days post-wounding | ↑ Migration and proliferation of KC, FB, and VECs, ↑ myoFB, MIC and blood vessel density in wound as compared to control 5 days after injury, ↓ HNE protein adducts and ↓ nitrotyrosine in wound due CeO2 ROS scavenging | Chigurupati et al. ( |
| Nitric oxide-silane glass/PEG-chitosan hydrogel nanoparticles (NO-np) | D = 10 nm | Balb/c mice, F 6–8 weeks old, one dorsal full thickness wound D = 5 mm, inoculated ±107 SA 6498 an MRSA S. aureus in PBS | 5 mg of lypholized NO-np, np without NO or untreated control, treatment applied 1 and 72 h post-injury | 7 days post-injury: ↓ scar size in NO-np treated wounds ±MRSA wounds compared to np and untreated controls | ↓ MSRA CFU in NO-np treated mice compared to controls, ↑ bacterial lysis and ↓ in MRSA-mediated collagen degradation, ↓ inflammatory cell infiltrate | Martinez et al. (2009) |
| Gold nanoparticle, EGCG, and ALA antioxidant ointment | D = 5 nm | BALB/c mice, 8 weeks old, two linear 1 cm full thickness dorsal wounds | 1 mg/g EGCG +30 mg/g ALA (EA) ±0.07 mg/g AuNPs (AuEA) or vehicle daily for 7 days | 7 days post-injury: ↓ wound area, length and width AuEA vs. vehicle, ↓ wound area for EA only treated wounds compared to control | ↑ FB and KC proliferation, ↑ VEGF, Ang-1 cytokines, ↓ CD68 macrophages, ↑ SOD1 to reduce ROS in AuEA treated wounds 7 days post-injury compared to vehicle treated mice | Leu et al. (2012) |
| Citrate capped silver nanoparticles | D = 5–15 nm | C57BL/6N mice, 6–8 weeks old, single, full thickness, dorsal wound, A = 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm | Post-injury AgNP-coated dressing, 1% SSD cream, (30 mg Ag in both), or untreated | ↑ rate of wound closure as of 9 days post-injury, ↓ day of full wound closure in AgNP vs. SSD or untreated mice | ↑ KC proliferation and epithelial tongue migration in AgNP-treated mice, ↓ FB proliferation, maintained viability ↑ α-SMA+ contractile myoFB, wound closure | Liu et al. (2010) |
| Nanosilver dressing (Anson Nanotechnology) | D = 14 ± 9.8 nm | (1) BALB/C mice, M, 20 weeks old, 10% of body SA, partial thickness thermal injury 70°C 35 s; (2) C57BLKs/J-m+/db, db/db diabetic, or non-diabetic control, full thickness exicision (1 cm × 1 cm) | Dressing (4 cm × 3 cm) coated with AgNP (0.04777 mg), SSD (0.1502 g) cream (equivalent Ag content) or untreated; changed daily | AgNP vs. SSD and untreated mice: ↑ rate of wound closure, ↓ day of wound closure, limited scarring, thin epidermis and hair follicles in all models of injury | Slower onset of bacterial growth (7 days post-injury), ↑ wound closure compared to antibiotic dressing, ↓ IL-6 (1–30 days), ↓ TGF-β (7–30 days);↑ IL-10, IFN-γ and VEGF (1–30 days), ↓ neutrophils (7 days) and earlier resolution of acute injury-phase proteins HPG, HPx, and SAP | Tian et al. (2007) |
| Titanium dioxide nanorods, pectin-chitosan dressing | L = 20–40 nm | Albino rats, M, 140–180 g, 2 cm × 2cm dorsal excision wounds full thickness | TiO2-chitosan-pectin nanodressing, chitosan only or gauze | Nanodressing treated mice ↑ wound closure rate days 3–14 post-injury vs. chitosan and gauze treated | Nanodressing shows limited scarring, regenerated dermis and epidermis, full healing 14 days post-injury, antibacterial activity gram ±bacteria | Archana et al. ( |
Nanoparticles in treatment strategies that significantly improved dermal wound healing in vivo.
PEG, polyethylene glycol; EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate; ALA, α-lipolic acid; D, diameter; L, length; M, male; F, female; A, area; SSD, silver sulfadiazine; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; KC, keratinocytes; FB, fibroblasts; MIC, mononuclear inflammatory cells; HNE, 4-hydroxynonenal; ROS, reactive oxygen sepecies; CFU, colony forming units; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; Ang-1, angiopoietin-1; SOD1, superoxide dismutase-1; ↑ α-SMA, alpha-smooth muscle actin; IL, interleukin; TGF-β, transforming growth factor β; IFN, interferon; HPG, haptoglobin; Hpx, hemopexin; SAP, serum amyloid protein component P.
Figure 3

Schematic representing advances in nanoparticle and nanofiber-based strategies to reduce infection and enhance wound healing following skin injury. Nanoparticle and nanofibrous wound dressing have demonstrated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can improve traditional wound dressing to expedite healing with minimal scarring. (i) Metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles (AuNP) can be capped with antimicrobial ligands, such as surfactin <SFT) and dodecanethiol (DT) to provide a potent antimicrobial wound dressing [modified with permission from Chen et al. (
Nanomaterials as Therapeutic Agents for Skin Regeneration
Silver as an Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Agent for Skin Regeneration
When thinking about antimicrobial agents, silver should be considered. The history of silver in medicine as antimicrobial agent goes back over 100 years when silver nitrate (a.k.a. ionic silver) was used in eye drops for newborn babies to prevent gonorrheal ophthalmia (Credé,
Functional tissue regeneration requires a balanced orchestration of all the players (e.g., cytokines, macrophages, matrix remodeling) (Eming et al.,
Other Nanomaterials for Skin Tissue Regeneration
Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the immune response as well as the proliferation/regeneration phase of wound healing. Friedman et al. developed a NO-releasing nanoparticle (NO-NP) platform from a glass/hydrogel NPs, which contain antimicrobial polysaccharide chitosan (Friedman et al.,
Gold nanoparticles coated with the antimicrobial peptide surfactin provided a synergistic platform to reduce bacterial burden and enhance wound healing in a rodent model of [MRSA infected wounds (Chen et al.,
Further advancements in nanofiber development have led to new GF and drug eluting dressings for wound healing. For example, epidermal GF immobilized on PCL/polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanofibers enhanced epithelization of a wound in mice (Choi et al.,
Future Directions for Skin Tissue Regeneration and Nanomaterials
The outstanding advancements in nanomaterial therapies for skin regeneration are bringing us closer to the availability of new multi-functional materials that provide multiple wound-healing properties. For example, the incorporation of stable nanosilver to provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties to any given template presents an interesting and appealing strategy. However, better understanding on the nanoscale interactions between biopolymers and nanomaterials is required to allow de novo engineering of tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Nanomaterial Therapeutics for Eye Regeneration
The human eye is a highly organized and complex sensory organ. The structural and functional features of the eye components cooperatively capture, direct, and process light with a fascinating degree of efficiency and clarity, relayed to the central nervous system (CNS) for interpretation. The tear film, comprised of aqueous, mucin, and lipid layers, consistently nourishes the surface of the eye (Rai et al., 2015). Ocular function is variable between individuals, often corrected with optometric methods (e.g., glasses, contact lenses), yet ophthalmological diseases are relatively common around the world. Physical abrasions or trauma in eye injuries, typical in sports, and ocular surface infections can lead to long-term vision problems; conjunctivitis is frequently a problem that can escalate without treatment or if reoccurrence is common. The aging population is at significant risk of age-related macular degeneration (Rosenthal et al., 2012), cataracts, glaucoma, and dysfunction by hypertension and type II diabetes. Nanotechnology opens a new venue for alternative treatments. The unique characteristics of nano-based materials, such as bioactivity, shape and size, mobility, and delivery potential, are of interest for ocular therapy (Sharaf et al., 2014; Rai et al., 2015). Furthermore, biocompatible scaffolds and NPs minimize immunological reaction and irritation, which supports long-term recovery. In particular, the intrinsic properties of noble metal NPs have substantial success (Jo et al.,
Table 5
| Nanomaterial | Application | Animal Model | Administration | Degradation | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peptide-modified LPD nanoparticles, peptides: (NLS) + (TAT) | LPD complexes act as a gene delivery system (Rpe65) for treatment of blindness | BALB/c mice, conditions: non-injection −/−Rpe65 +/+ w/t | Subretinal injection 5 weeks after birth, 1:20 ratio liposomes to DNA optimal | GFP-labeled LPD NPs remained for over 3 months | Injections in −/− Rpe65: functional ↑; fundoscopic + GFP expression, ↑ scotopic b-wave signal, + histological signal for Rpe65 Ab | Delivery of recombinant chicken Rpe65 (↑ enzymatic activity), ↑ availability of 11-cis-retinal (photochemical for vision) | Rajala et al. (2014) |
| Structural ↑; cone plasma membrane preserved, Vision improvements proportionate to viral alts (AAV/lentivirus) | |||||||
| Different shapes of nanosilver with surfaces modified and anchored to collagen matrices | Anti-infective corneal replacements | BALB/c mice | Subcutaneous implants for assessing inflammatory response | N/A | Materials did not produce any inflammation or silver leakage. The materials while biocompatible for human corneal cells showed remarkable ↑ antimicrobial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Antimicrobial mechanism is not known, but the total silver concentration required to produce it was orders of magnitude smaller than ionic silver | Alarcon et al. ( |
| Albuminated PLGA NPs, loaded with bevacizumab (Avastin) | Retinal and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treatment | New Zealand albino rabbit, 2–2.5 kg, sacrificed at 4 h, 1, 3, 7, 21, 42, and 56 days (n = 3/condition) | Intravitreal injection (vitreous and aqueous humor), Avastin–NPs (1 mg) and Avastin (1 mg) | Half-life: vitreous humor – 8.42 min; aqueous humor – 7.79 min | Release: ↑ AUMC and ↑ MRT for injected NPs in vitreous and aqueous humors, toxicity: no sig. difference in electroretinography over 3, 21, and 56 days, Avastin conc. >500 ng mL−1 over 8 weeks | ↑ Avastin (anti-VEGF) leads to ↓ angiogenesis but persistence is low, however NPs ↑ distribution and ↑ availability | Varshochian et al. (2015) |
| Lacritin modified ELP diblock copolymer (LSI-NPs) | Corneal wound healing (corneal epithelium) | Female NOD mice, circular abrasion (right eye) of ~2 mm, sacrificed at 24 h (n = 4/condition) | Topical eye drops, 5 μL of 100 μM LSI applied at 0 and 12 h | N/A – dimensions | 12 h/24 h post-wound: LSI – ↓ Pct Area > LS96, No treat – ↑ Pct Area | Thermo-responsive self-assembly ↑ LSI-NPs, lacritin-specific membrane binding ↑ mitogenic and cytoprotective properties | Wang et al. (2014b) |
| LSI self-assembly superior to LS96 (lacks response) | |||||||
| PA nanofiber scaffolds modified with YIGSR or RGD sequences | Corneal tissue regeneration (corneal opacification) | New Zealand albino rabbit, 2.5–3 kg, corneal stromal pockets ~7–8 mm, sacrificed 3 and 7 weeks later | Intrastromal injection, 1 wt.% PA-YIGSR or PA-RGD/animal | Both PA nanofibers persist in rabbit cornea for 7-week analysis | 3 weeks: YIGSR-PA: ↑ keratinocyte migration, ↑ regeneration; RGD-PA: keratinocyte migration, regeneration | Presence of PA scaffold with YIGSR ↑ migration, accumulated keratinocytes form lamellar stroma from scaffold, bioactive epitope determines efficiency of PA regeneration | Uzunalli et al. (2014) |
| 7 weeks: YIGSR-PA: ↑ keratinocyte migration, ↑ regeneration; RGD-PA: keratinocyte migration, ↑ regeneration | |||||||
| Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) | Treatment for retinal neovascularization, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) | Functional: OIR model mice, begins P 14 with sacrifice at P 17, toxicity: C57BL/6 mice, sacrificed 7 days later | Intravitreal injection, functional: 1 μM GNPs, toxicity: 5 μM GNPs | N/A – dimensions | Functional: GNPs ↓ neovascularization, with sig. ↓ neovascular lumens compared to control, Toxicity: GNPs no sig. difference in retinal thickness, inflammatory markers, or cell death | ↑ GNPs suppresses VEGFR-2 signaling pathway, blocks ERK 1/2 activiation (in vitro assessment5) | Kim et al. (2011) |
| RGD-coated PGLA NPs modified with Flt23k intraceptors (RGD.Flt23k.-NR.NP) | Retinal and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) treatment | sFlt-1 knockdown murine, 4 weeks, laser-induced CNV mice, 2 weeks, laser-induced CNV monkey, 4 weeks | Systemic intravenous injection | Majority of NPs eliminated 30 days post administration | RGD.Flt23k.NR.NP ↓ CNV and ↓ fibrosis volumes in all three models, murine model NPs ↓ secondary CNV lesions and ↑ visual acuity post 2, 4, and 6 weeks of treatment | NPs deliver Flt23k plasmid for VEGF suppression, RGD-NP size and target-specific properties allow for ↓ number of injections and accumulation in CNV lesions | Luo et al. (2013) |
| Toxicity: NPs no sig. difference in morphology, inflammatory markers, or cell death after 30 days |
Nanomaterials for corneal and retinal regeneration: functional effects on eye structure regeneration and potential mechanisms.
LPD, liposomes–protamine–DNA; NLS, nuclear localization signaling; TAT, transactivator of transcription; Rpe65, retinal pigment epithelial protein 65; PLGA, poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid; AUMC, area under the first moment concentration; MRT, mean residence time; ELP, elastin-like polypeptide; NOD, non-obese diabetic; LS96, lacritin ELP w/o thermal mediation; PA, peptide amphiphile; YIGSR, peptide sequence (laminin binding cell-adhesive); RGD, peptide sequence (ECM cell-adhesive); VEGFR-2 - vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinases; Flt23k, anti-VEGF intraceptor plasmid.
Figure 4

Overview of the versatile nanomaterial applications for corneal and retina defects, established by safe, efficient, and long-term rejuvenation of vision, (i) biosynthetic corneal substitute as an alternative to allogeneic tissue for vision restoration. Recombinant human collagen III is cross-linked (EDC/NHS), shaped (patient-match), and implanted (10–0 mattress sutures) onto damaged host tissue. The structural and lunctional properties of the nanomaterial elicit bioactive regeneration [reproduced with permission from Fagerholm et al. (
Corneal Regeneration or Replacement Using Bioactive Materials
The cornea is a transparent layer on the anterior surface of the eye, which overlaps the anterior chamber. In addition to the cornea, the iris, pupil, and lens focus light onto the pigmented interior layer. The human cornea mainly comprises many collagen layers organized to ensure full clarity of light. Furthermore, there are no blood vessels on the corneal epithelial in support of its transparency. However, it is vulnerable to many physical and environmental dangers due to its forefront position. A prominent issue is found with dry eye disease, which directly interferes with corneal function due to tear film imbalances and surface inflammation. Direct damage to the cornea, minor or significant, can have a tremendous effect on vision; thus, a leading cause of blindness, affecting ≈4.9 million individuals who are bilaterally blind, and another ≈ 23 million who are unilaterally blinds (Oliva et al., 2012). The surgical replacement of the damaged cornea by transplantation from a cadaveric donor remains as the gold standard treatment. The severe shortage of donors in most countries, particularly in developing countries, has motivated the search/research for man-made corneal substitutes. Currently, refractive eye surgeries and synthetic corneal replacements (keratoprostheses) are applied to combat this issue but are limited in several ways. Primarily, post-operative complications, such as infection, are rampant for many patients (Griffith et al.,
Biocompatible and bioactive nanomaterials can possibly minimize complications associated with corneal regeneration. Intrastromal injection of peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofiber scaffolds modified with YIGSR (fibronectin peptide) or RGD (laminin peptide) sequences, into rabbit cornea were applied for corneal wound healing. Analysis after 3 and 7 weeks post-injection with RGD displayed significant migration of stromal keratinocytes and enhanced regeneration of the damaged cornea (Uzunalli et al., 2014). Furthermore, the opacity of the cornea was unaffected by the treatment. Also, the incorporation of nanosilver into collagen hydrogels can produce collagen mimetic matrices with antimicrobial properties (Alarcon et al.,
Sometimes point-specific corneal healing is insufficient and replacement is necessary. As appealing as natural scaffolds are for replacement, the structural limitations associated with the size of the material (prone to degradation and fracture) remain a problem. Furthermore, the replacement must ensure full compatibility with the surrounding tissues (nerve and muscle) with acceptable refractive transparency. Fagerholm et al. performed a phase I trial of corneal replacement treatment using biosynthetic recombinant human collagen (rHC) type III. This 10% (w/w) rHC type III is EDC/NHS cross-linked within an appropriately sized corneal mold. The assessment over a 2-year period reported no signs of transplant rejection, infection, or immunological reaction. Visual acuity among patients was similar to normal cornea function across the study (Fagerholm et al.,
NP structures, such as liposomes, can also improve the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs (Chaurasia et al.,
Nanomedicine Impact on Retinal Dysfunction and Associated Blindness
The retina is an expansive neural network, consisting of two layers: a pigmented layer for light absorption and a neural layer dense with photoreceptors. The retinal layers are vital for sensory integration, feedback, and processing of all visual information via chemical and electrical signals. This information is guided by the optic nerve to the brain. Retinal complications are very serious and often are associated with AMD and glaucoma. In addition, genetic abnormalities in photoreceptor function, pigmented cells, and ganglion density can contribute to congenital blindness. A major challenge with current therapies is penetrance of the blood–retina barrier and site-specific distribution of bioactive agents.
Neovascularization of the subretinal space leads to loss of visual acuity. This is treated with continuous intravitreal injections of inhibitors (anti-VEGF) to minimize vascular expansion and thus improve vision. However, the injections are quite costly and invasive. Also many patients experience minimal recovery or vision loss continues to diminish. In a study by Luo et al. (2013), a single injection of RGD-coated PGLA NPs with Flt23k (anti-VEGF plasmid) transcripts was applied to an AMD primate and choroidal neovascularization (CND) murine model. This systemic intravenous injection minimized the administration risk and the NP solution was biocompatible in both animal models. It was found that ~86% of mice displayed a 12.2 ± 5.2% improvement to visual acuity (Luo et al., 2013). Furthermore, CND and fibrotic scar volumes were reduced in both animal models (Luo et al., 2013). In another study, bare titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs were injected into mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy (Jo et al.,
Degeneration associated with AMD is one of the major causes of blindness in the world. Dry AMD is characterized by gradual loss of vision as drusen accumulates between retinal pigment epithelial and Bruch’s membrane (Cai and McGinnis,
Dramatic Changes in Ocular Treatment Closer than Ever
The advances in ophthalmological nanomedicine are staggering, and few challenges seem to remain before the advent of major innovations. The application of biocompatible, biofunctional materials for corneal regeneration or replacement holds great promise. As described, corneal fibrotic scarring and neovascularization are reversible using various methods, or combinations, of nanomaterials, metal NPs, or nanoparticulate structures. A major advantage provided by noble metal or polymeric NPs, dendrimers, and liposomal nanotechnologies is mobility across the blood retina barrier, allowing for accumulation and sustained bioactivity or release of anti-inflammatory and antivascular drugs (Chaurasia et al.,
Nano-Engineered Materials for Skeletal Muscle Repair
Nanomaterials for Skeletal Muscle Injuries
Skeletal muscles are responsible for the majority of the active movements in the body that keep everyone in motion. The SMs are organized as bundled (fascicles), layered muscle fibers (myofibers) integrated with connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels (Grasman et al.,
Table 6
| Nanomaterial | Application | Animal Model | Administration | Degradation Dimensions | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFC NPS loaded with rapamycin (RNPs) | Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or skeletal/cardiac muscle repair | Male mdx mice, forelimb str measured, sacrificed 4 h for histology and 2, 12, 24 h for 19F | 1 mL emulsion/kg body mass, inj. into lateral tail vein (~0.002 mg rapamycin) or oral treatment | 200 ± 25 nm, 181.3 ± 40.7 min half-life by median distribution | ↑ Grip str attributed to RNPs treatment (> 30%), ↓ pS6 and ↑ LC3B-II levels w/RNPs | NPs and RNPs stimulate autophagy pathway in knockout mice, both treatments enhance cell function in varied aged mice | Bibee et al. ( |
| RNPs penetrate muscle tissue and distribute nominally | |||||||
| PCL-MWCNT-PAA/PVA (83/17 or 40/60) scaffolds | Skeletal muscle regeneration | Male SD mice, VL incision, sacrificed 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after treatment | Scaffold segments placed in muscle cavity during VL procedure | 5 mm × 3 mm size, no degradation after 28 days period | ↑ cell attachment to scaffold, ↑ neovascularization with 40/60 vs. 83/17 scaffolds, ↑ inflammation by 7 days, but ↓ inflammation by 28 days | Electrospun scaffolds – inner core of PCL-MWCNT with a PAA/PVA polymer sheath, conductive core allows uniform cell alignment | McKeon-Fischer et al. (2014) |
| PEG-fibrinogen (PF)-based hydrogel w/MPs | Skeletal muscle regeneration | Male RAG2/ychain immunocompro-mised mice, incision injury, sacrificed 30d | PF w/1.5 × 106 MPs implanted subcutaneously into animal back | N/A – 100 μL of PF molded in cylindrical-shaped silicon | ↑ Myogenic capability w/young or aged MPs, +MyHC staining and formation of blood vessels at implant, ↑ cellular organization at implant | PF establishes viable environment for muscle rejuvenation w/young or aged MPs | Fuoco et al. ( |
| PLLA and Gelatin-based scaffolds w/loaded myogenic factors | In situ muscle tissue regeneration | SD mice, TA muscle injury, scaffolds collected at 1, 2, 3, and 4wks | PLLA and Gelatin (w/or w/o myogenic factors) implanted via incision at TA | 150 μm diameter, 50–100 μm pore size, sig. degradation after 4 weeks | ↑ Pax-7 positive cell infiltration into scaffold, sig. ↑ cell infiltration and fiber growth w/IGF-1 scaffolds vs. other factors | PLLA or Gelatin scaffolds reliably provides safe environment for host cells inducing proliferation and differentiation | Ju et al. ( |
| Shape memory alginate scaffold w/myoblasts and GFs (VEGF + IGF-1) | Skeletal muscle regeneration | Male C3H/6J mice, myotoxin and TA muscle injury, sacrificed 2 and 6 weeks | Scaffold implanted w/syringe and inj. of 0.5 × 106 myoblasts and GFs | 13.5 mm × 2.6 mm × 1.1 mm dimensions, complete degradation after 4–6weeks | ↓ Fibrotic area w/scaffold, +cells/GFs, ↑ fiber diameter and ↑ neovascularization (CD31) w/scaffold +GFs | Biodegradable, highly porous scaffold promotes cell survival and attachment in microenvironment | Wang et al. (2014a) |
Nanomaterials for skeletal muscle regeneration: functional effects on SM regeneration and potential mechanisms.
PFC, perfluorocarbon; S6-PCL, poly(ϵ-caprolactone), MWCNT, multi-walled carbon nanotubes; PAA, polyacrylic acid; PVA, polyvinyl alcohol; SD, Sprague-Dawley; VL, vastus lateralis; MPs, muscle-derived pericytes; MyHC, anti-myosin heavy chain; PLLA, poly(L-lactic acid); TA, tibialis anterior; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor, IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1.
Natural/Synthetic Hybrid/Composites Biomimetic Materials
Nanomaterials intended for SM tissue regeneration are often categorized as natural or synthetic scaffolds. Currently, significant interest is placed on novel hybrid/composite scaffolds implementing the best features of both types. Natural-based scaffolds comprise essential ECM proteins, such as collagen, fibrin, and hyaluronic acid or decellularized tissue complexes (Wolf et al., 2015). The ECM maintains healthy organ function; thus, scaffolds of this origin are biocompatible, biodegradable, and bioactive for regenerative uses (Kin et al., 2007; Klumpp et al., 2010; Sicari et al., 2014). Furthermore, the inherent nature of these materials can enhance cell-based therapies. However, preparation inconsistencies and material degradation (Koning et al., 2009; Sicari et al., 2014) are frequent issues, in addition to human translational limitations for animal-based natural scaffolds. These materials are manufactured primarily as 2-D sheets from their natural constitutes, designed for external applications. In addition, hydrogel soft materials can develop unique 3D shapes that can be further manipulated with cross-linkers or non-covalent bonding. In a study on in situ muscle regeneration, Ju et al. observed Pax7-positive cells (SCs) infiltrate gelatin-based scaffold implanted in the tibias anterior (TA) of mice (Ju et al.,
Synthetic scaffolds are reputable for their customization of physical and chemical features and ease of manufacturing process. Nonetheless, these materials are often toxic to cells in vitro and require modifications (coatings, surface proteins) to promote biocompatibility (Grasman et al.,
Composite scaffolds integrating natural/synthetic properties are showing promise for SM tissue regeneration. These materials are developed with a combination of the individual methods discussed above, usually represented by dual-layered fiber scaffolds or interior/exterior interplay. ECM-derived surface coatings can minimize the foreign body reaction by synthetics. In addition, incorporated PEG or PCL polymers enhance mechanical durability for degradable natural polymers. An electrospun PCL/collagen composite scaffold, seeded with human SM cells, was biocompatible and promoted cellular adhesion and proliferation. In addition, the orientation of scaffold fibers influenced the alignment of muscle cells and facilitated myotube formation (Choi et al.,
Nanoparticle-Based Carriers and Active Agents in Regeneration
There is a relatively expansive outlook on the role NPs can play in SM tissue regeneration. However, the majority of studies are confined to physical/chemical characteristic assessments and in vitro display of biocompatibility, release-kinetics, and cellular functional response. Nonetheless, progress is apparent as our understanding of the structural and functional features these NPs contribute is elucidated. NPs are frequently used as imaging agents (Fang and Zhang,
Notably, noble metal NPs impart electrical conductive and catalytic functions useful for enhancing nanomaterial effectiveness (Arvizo et al.,
The majority of studies on SM regeneration focus on physical injury and loss of SM tissue; however, it may be beneficial to aim at biochemical and molecular dysfunction as well. The role of AuNPs in oxidative stress for exercised-induced muscle damage was evaluated in rats over a 21-day period. Inflammation is active in the presence of ROS, which contributes to SM damage. Phonophoresis (ultrasound-guided delivery) of AuNPs was found to reduce inflammation, denoted by a decrease in many pro-inflammatory markers and oxidative stress markers (superoxide and NO), and an increase in total glutathione levels (Zortea et al., 2015). In addition, it was found that a gold embedded, decellularized porcine diaphragm scaffold promoted fibroblast proliferation and attachment, yet high Au concentration increased free radical levels (Cozad et al.,
It seems that NPs in SM regenerative applications are in the early stages of development in terms of their potential. The coming years will show how valuable metal NPs features are to modulating scaffold functions and influencing physical/chemical characteristics when based on their extensive foundational study.
Future Directions for Skeletal Muscle Regenerative Materials
Key functional effects prioritized in recent SM regeneration studies include cell migration into/onto nanomaterials, alignment of neighboring cells or newly proliferative cells, and electrical stimulation of scaffolds. Furthermore, elucidation of material–cell–tissue interactions in vivo is vital for facilitating the transition from proof-of-concept design to pre-clinical or FDA-phase trials (Grasman et al.,
Skeletal muscle regeneration is a multifaceted endeavor. In order to meet this demand, substantial tissue replacement/healing must be induced by facilitated proliferation and differentiation of neighboring SM cells. Furthermore, promotion of axonal growth and innervation will improve communication with damaged peripheral nerves. In addition to SM regeneration, it will be necessary for nanomaterials to promote both angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Noble metal NPs show promise; however, steps need to be taken to elaborate on their effects in vivo. This advancement will likely involve hybrid/composite materials associated with metal NPs and progenitor cell delivery.
Nanomaterials for Peripheral and Central Nervous System Regeneration
A Gap Bridged by Nanomaterials for Peripheral and Central Nervous System Repair
The nervous system is essential to the functional relay and processing of information outside and within the human body. It is categorized by two divisions: the CNS, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that comprises all other neural tissue in the body (Goldberg and Barres,
Table 7
| Nanomaterial | Application | Animal Model | Administration | Degradation Dimensions | Functional effects | Mechanism | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold nanoparticle-silk-fibroin nanofiber (GNP-SF) w/Schwann cells (SCs) | Treatment for peripheral nerve injuries or neuromuscular defects | Sub-adult SD rats, right sciatic nerve gap 10 mm, 5 conditions – sacrificed 9 and 18 months | NC bridged gap of proximal and distal nerve stumps, sutured closed | NC were structurally intact after 18 months in trials | Post 9 and 18 months: ↑ NCV and CMAP, normal measure of MUP, and enhanced SFI w/gold-silk composite and SCs. No signs of toxicity, immunogenicity, or irritation in animals | Severed axonal connection → SF scaffold promotes growth over material | Das et al. ( |
| Incorporation of GNPs enhances conductivity – 25-fold ↓ electrical resistance w/GNPs | |||||||
| Nanofiber guidance channels (PCL and PGLA) with SAPs | Chronic spinal cord injuries | Adult SD female rats, T10 weight-drop trauma, post-4 weeks animals were sacrificed at 24 weeks | Scar tissue removed, insertion of 10–13 tubes per animal, G1 – w/SAPS and G2 – w/SAPS + GF | Fiber: D = 592 ± 225 nm, L = 2/3 mm, degradation sig. in 24 weeks | ↑ Growth tissue basement membranes, ↑ vascular network; G1/G2 +detection of markers for nerve fibers; G1/G2 ↑ BBB analysis and spinal and cortical responses improved | Imp. axonal growth and myelination over proximal/distal sites of recovering nerve; biomimetic nature of material promotes nerve excitability | Gelain et al. ( |
| SAPNS monitored by MEMRI | Axon regeneration in CNS injury (real-time in vivo measurement system) | Young adult Syrian hamsters, OT injury – BSC transection, injury (105 days) w/treatment 45 days, sacrificed at end | 30 μL of 1% SAPNS inj. at BSC site, 2 μL of 0.2 M MnCl2 inj. in eye virtuous chamber | N/A – fiber images included in study | MEMRI – initial scans indicate clear disruption of BSC via OT; post-SAPNS ↑ wound healing and minimal regeneration BA – pre-/post-SAPNS indicate disconnection Histology – post-SAPNS fully closed gap and ↑ axons in LGN and lesion area | Toxic NCA – refinement of choice imaging agent; SAPNS treatment promotes regeneration, but fiber density low, robust real-time feedback method valuable to future studies | Liang et al. (2011) |
| SAPNS-NC | Treatment for peripheral nerve injuries | Adult SD female rats, right sciatic nerve gap 10 mm, cnds: NNC, ENC, N/T – sacrificed 2 and 16 weeks | NC bridged gap of proximal and distal nerve stumps (~1 mm insertion), sutured closed | N/S – SAPNS degrade in vivo as natural l-amino acids | Post-treatment indicates sig. ↑ myelination, ↑ SC migration, ↑ axon growth (on NC and distal nerve); SAPNS ↑ locomotion in hind limb and ↑ NCAP signal | SAPNS conduit bridged 10-mm gap, remyelination and axonal connections demonstrated by behavioral measure | Zhan et al. (2013) |
Nanomaterials for peripheral and neural nervous system: functional effects on NS regeneration and potential mechanisms.
NNC/NC, nanofiber nerve conduit; SD, Sprague-Dawley Rats; NCV, nerve conduction velocity; CMAP, compound muscle action potential; MUP, motor unit potentials; SFI, sciatic functional index; PCL – poly(ϵ-caprolactone); PGLA – poly(lactic-coglycolic acid); SAPs, self-assembling peptides; BBB, Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan scale; SAPNS, self-assembling nanofiber scaffold; MEMRI, manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; OT, optic tract; BA, behavioral assessment; LGN, lateral geniculate nucleus; NCA, nano contrast agent.
Figure 5

Summary illustration of nanomaterials for central nervous system (top) and peripheral nervous system (bottom) regeneration involving restored structure and function. Top: regenerative medicine for CNS recovery often follows the Four P. (Preserve, Permit, Promote, and Plasticity) as guidelines in developing novel nanomaterials (Ellis-Behnke,
Self-Assembly Peptide Scaffold, Nanoparticles, and Nanofiber Composite Scaffolds for Nerve Regeneration
The nervous system is vulnerable to injury, yet it is surrounded by impressive structural defenses. The skull and surrounding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protects the brain from trauma, and the blood–brain barrier (BBB) semi-permeable membrane guards against ROS and pathogens. The spinal vertebrates encase the vital nerves and provide structural support. The peripheral nerves lack the same protective measures, but have intrinsic regenerative capabilities (Cunha et al.,
Peripheral nerve dysfunction is usually gradual, starting with pain sensations that progress to inconsistent coordination, which can lead to paralysis. In a study by Zhan and colleagues, a self-assembly peptide nanofiber scaffold (SAPNS) with an artery conduit sheath was implanted on the proximal and distal nerve stumps to bridge a 10 mm gap in adult rats (Zhan et al., 2013). It was found that after 16 weeks, the artificial nerve graft promoted myelination, satellite cell migration, and axonal growth over the conduit. In addition, assessment of the injured hindlimb motor function displayed significant improvement just after 6 weeks and followed throughout the 15-week period (Zhan et al., 2013). SAPNS have been of interest for axon regeneration over the last decade, initiated by Ellis-Behnke and colleagues (Ellis-Behnke et al.,
The implications of NPs and NP structures (dendrimers, liposomes) on neural regeneration are showing great promise (Provenzale and Silva, 2009; Paviolo and Stoddart, 2015; Vidal and Guzman, 2015). NPs are very flexible in design ranging from solid or hollow cores, varying shapes and sizes, and different compositions (Jo et al.,
Methods for CNS and PNS neural regeneration share a common goal, but the differences in complexity and injury severity between systems leads to divergence in applicable nanomaterials. Most PNS injury models involve precise incision and removal of segments in sciatic and peroneal nerves (Siemionow et al., 2010). Nanomaterials are designed as nerve conduits or artificial prosthetics that bridge the gap and propagate cellular proliferation, migration, and differentiation at the treated site (Siemionow et al., 2010; Cunha et al.,
Challenges in Nervous Tissue Regeneration and Upcoming Approaches
Treatment for structural and functional nervous tissue restoration is a massive undertaking. There is still much to learn from the biochemical, cellular, and genomic/proteomic mechanisms involving neural regeneration. This is a clear limitation in understanding nanomaterial-tissue interactions. Future studies need to elaborate on the endogenous mechanisms at play on the material interface to properly assert regenerative significance (Orive et al., 2009). Essentially, this understanding can perpetuate the novelty of nanomaterial designs to mimic these mechanisms. In addition, hybrid/composite nanomaterials can hopefully exploit bioelectric cell features and reestablish the myelin sheath. Nonetheless, nanomaterials under in vivo investigation are already complying with necessary properties for clinical translation; biocompatibility, biodegradation, low toxicity and immunogenicity, and functional surfaces/interiors are key for advancing model cases into treatment options.
The progression in nanomedicine for CNS/PNS regeneration is exciting and substantial, yet realistically the gains only permit small-scale clinical relevance. At this time, encapsulated cell-based therapies with neurotrophic factors or GFs are in clinical phase trials for CNS disorders (Orive et al., 2009). Biomaterial nerve guidance conduits for PNIs are clinically approved and in phase trials, yet most are quite short or are quickly degradable (Daly et al.,
Concluding Remarks
The rationale integration of nanomaterials to the current therapies for tissue engineering will bring unprecedented strategies for tissue regeneration. Some examples of the actual potential, and impact, of that engineered materials were discussed in this review for heart, skin, eye, SM, and nervous system. In cardiac regeneration, enhancing the biomaterial conductivity upon incorporation of the nanomaterial presents a unique venue of NPs. However,
in vivotesting in animal models capable to evaluate cardiac tissue regeneration, including onset for arrhythmias, is required. For skin regeneration, the use of multi-functional materials where by incorporating NPs produce materials with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial are appealing strategies for the next generation of tissue scaffolds. The use of biocompatible materials for corneal regeneration including noble metal, polymeric NPs, dendrimers, and liposomal nanotechnologies will allow mobility across the retina barrier, which could act as a reservoir for anti-inflammatory and antivascular drugs. For SM, promotion of axonal growth and innervation are pivotal for improving communication with damaged peripheral nerves. Finally, central and PSS would be benefited from the fabrication of biodegradable scaffolds capable to rapidly integrate within the lesion and promote cell angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. It has to be recognized, however, that better understanding on the nanoscale interactions between biopolymers and nanomaterials is required to more effectively harnessing and
de novoengineering regenerative templates. Additionally, other aspects that to this day still hinder use of nanomaterials in the clinic are:
Lack, or little, regulatory standards to assure stability of engineered nanomaterials prior clinical evaluation. This should also account for evaluating the impact of batch-to-batch variability in the preparation of the nanomaterial. Assuring stability of nanocomposites and/or materials containing them in biological systems is pivotal to assess with precision the regenerative potential of the new materials.
Almost non-existing standards for animal models to be used for assessing the bioactivity of nanomaterials, including biodistribution and accumulation of the nanomaterial. This becomes even more critical for cases where a specific medical lesion/injury has to be mimicked, as the case of MI or corneal wounds. Without clear standards or guidelines, inadequate choice of the in vivo assays in animals can lead to misleading data interpretation.
Although there is still a long way to go to better understanding the real impact of nanotechnology, a elucidating nanoscale interactions, including dynamics of surface oxidation, capping agent replacement, and formation of supramolecular structures of nanomaterials in living organisms will pave the future of tissue engineering. Where macroscopic materials will be engineered from the nanoscale. Thus, once we fully understand those phenomena, we will be able to better design the next generation of tissue scaffolds, or even artificial organs, a Scientific legacy will redefine the field of regenerative medicine.
Statements
Author contributions
Dr. EA and Dr. ES supervised the writing of the review. They also edited the text and guided the trainees in the bibliographical search for literature. Dr. MR and Dr. BM provided with critical revisions and suggestions on the manuscript. They also contributed with their expertise in tissue engineering to the final version. Ms. SM and Mr. JP performed the bibliographical search for the article, wrote sections for the review, and provided their critical vision on the problematic of nanomaterials to tissue engineering. They both are trainees in our research group, and part of their theses are related to nanomaterials in tissue engineering.
Funding
This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Discovery Grants #342107 to EJS and RGPIN-2015-06325 to EA). EA was also supported by UOHI. JP was supported by an Alexander Graham Bell/Canada Graduate Award (CGS-M/NSERC) and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
nanomaterials, tissue regeneration, regenerative therapies
Citation
Mclaughlin S, Podrebarac J, Ruel M, Suuronen EJ, McNeill B and Alarcon EI (2016) Nano-Engineered Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration: What Has Been Achieved So Far?. Front. Mater. 3:27. doi: 10.3389/fmats.2016.00027
Received
16 April 2016
Accepted
09 June 2016
Published
27 June 2016
Volume
3 - 2016
Edited by
Aldo Ferrari, ETH Zürich – Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Switzerland
Reviewed by
Hirak Kumar Patra, Linköping University, Sweden; Ahmed El-Fiqi, Dankook University, South Korea
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Copyright
© 2016 Mclaughlin, Podrebarac, Ruel, Suuronen, McNeill and Alarcon.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Erik J. Suuronen, esuuronen@ottawa.ca; Emilio I. Alarcon, ealarcon@ottawaheart.ca
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Biomaterials, a section of the journal Frontiers in Materials
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