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In this study, we cryopreserved pig spermatozoa using carboxylated poly-L-lysine (CPLL) as the cryoprotectant to determine its efficacy. Pig spermatozoa were placed in a freezing extender containing 3% (v/v) glycerol and different CPLL concentrations. The motility indices of the spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% (v/v) CPLL at 6 (59.3), 9 (53.7), and 12 (26.2) h after thawing were significantly higher (P0.01 or P0.05) than those of the spermatozoa cryopreserved without CPLL (53.7, 40.1, and 17.5 at 6, 9, and 12 h after thawing, respectively). The concentration of CPLL in the freezing extender did not affect the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes in vitro. However, the blastocyst formation rate of embryos derived from spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% CPLL (24.6%) was significantly higher (P0.01) than that of embryos derived from spermatozoa cryopreserved without CPLL (11.2%). The conception rate of the sows inseminated with spermatozoa cryopreserved with 0.25% CPLL (72.2%) was not significantly different from that of the sows inseminated with spermatozoa stored at 17°C (81.3%). However, the mean number of total piglets born to the former (10.0) was significantly lower (P0.05) than that of total piglets born to the latter (13.4). The results showed that CPLL in the freezing extender maintained the motility of frozen-thawed pig spermatozoa and improved the in vitro development of embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. In addition, we have demonstrated that piglets could be obtained with artificial insemination using spermatozoa cryopreserved with CPLL.

Antifreeze proteins are biologically active substances which protect living organisms against freezing injuries. The effect of a synthetic antifreeze protein carboxylated poly l -lysine (CPLL) in the extender was evaluated in the presence of a conventional cryoprotective agent, dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO), for freezing rabbit sperm cells. The experiment was conducted according to 2 × 3 factorial design including two Me2SO (5 or 8%) and three CPLL (0, 0.5 or 1%) concentrations. CPLL supplementation improved post-thaw live and live-acrosome intact sperm rates (P 0.05) and live-membrane intact (P>0.05) sperm rates. The most striking effect of CPLL supplementation was seen on the DNA integrity where it reduced DNA fragmentation of sperm cells significantly by interacting Me2SO (P

It has been known that different protocols are used for embryo preservation at different stages due to different sensitivity to the physical and physiological stress caused by vitrification. In this study, we developed a common vitrification protocol using carboxlated ε-poly-l-lysine (COOH-PLL), a new cryoprotective agent for the vitrification of mouse embryos at different stages. The IVF-derived Crl:CD1(ICR) x B6D2F1/Crl pronuclear, 2-cell, 4-cell, and 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stage embryos were vitrified with 15% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) and 10% (w/v) COOH-PLL (E15P15) or 15% (v/v) EG and 15% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (E15D15) using the minimal volume cooling method. The survival of vitrified embryos from pronuclear to blastocyst stages was equivalent between E15P15 and E15D15 groups. However, the rate of development to blastocysts was significantly lower in E15P15 than E15D15. The rates of survival and development to blastocysts were dramatically improved by a slight modification of EG and COOH-PLL concentrations (E20P10). After transferring 17 (E20P10) and 15 (E15D15) vitrified/warmed blastocysts, 8 and 7 pups were obtained (47.1% and 46.7%, respectively). Taken together, these results indicate that our vitrification protocol is appropriate for the vitrification of mouse embryos at different stages.

Microneedle technology has received considerable attention in transdermal drug delivery system research owing to its minimally invasive and convenient self-administration with enhanced transdermal transport. The pre-drug loading microneedle method has been developed for several protein and chemical medicines. However, the protein activity and efficacy are severely affected owing to protein aggregation. Herein, we aim to develop non-degradable hydrogel photocross-linkable microneedles for suppressing protein aggregation. Four-point star-shaped microneedles are fabricated via a photolithography process, and sulfobetaine (SPB) monomer is combined with dextran-glycidyl methacrylate/acrylic acid to form the hydrogel network. Incorporating zwitterionic poly-sulfobetaine (poly-SPB) in the microneedles enables the protection of proteins from denaturation even under external stress, releases the proteins in their native state (without activity loss), and exhibits sufficient mechanical strength to penetrate porcine skin. The microneedles exhibit a high drug loading capacity along with an efficient drug release rate. The rhodamine B drug loading and release model shows that the microneedles can load 8 μg of drugs on one microneedle patch of 41 needles and release nearly 80% of its load within 1 h. We anticipate that this pre-drug loading platform and the advanced features of the microneedles can provide an effective option for administering therapeutic drugs.

Quantum dots (QDs) can be delivered efficiently inside macrophages using a freeze-concentration approach. In this study, we introduced a new, facile, high concentration-based freezing technology of low toxicity. We also developed QD-conjugated new hydrophobic polyampholytes using poly-L-lysine (PLL), a naturally derived polymer, which showed sustained biocompatibility, stability over one week, and enhanced intracellular delivery. When freeze-concentration was applied, the QD-encapsulated hydrophobic polyampholytes showed a higher tendency to adsorb onto the cell membrane than the non-frozen molecules. Interestingly, we observed that the efficacy of adsorption of QDs on RAW 264.7 macrophages was higher than that on fibroblasts. Furthermore, the intracellular delivery of QDs using hydrophobic polyampholytes was higher than those of PLL and QDs. In vitro studies revealed the efficient endosomal escape of QDs in the presence of hydrophobic polyampholytes and freeze-concentration. Collectively, these observations indicated that the promising combination of freeze-concentration and hydrophobic polyampholytes may act as an effective and versatile strategy for the intracellular delivery of QDs, which can be used for biological diagnosis and therapeutic applications.

Graft copolymers consisting of two different zwitterionic blocks were synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. These polymers showed dual properties of thermo- and pH-responsiveness in an aqueous solution. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering were employed to study the phase behavior under varying temperatures and pH values. Unlike the phase transition temperatures of other graft copolymers containing non-ionic blocks, the phase transition temperature of these polymers was easily tuned by changing the polymer concentration. Owing to the biocompatible and stimuli-responsive nature of the polymers, this system was shown to effectively release proteins (lysozyme) while simultaneously protecting them against denaturation. The positively charged lysozyme was shown to bind with the negatively charged polymer at the physiological pH (pH 7.4). However, it was subsequently released at pH 3, at which the polymer exhibits a positive charge. Protein aggregation studies using a residual enzymatic activity assay, circular dichroism, and a Thioflavin T assay revealed that the secondary structure of the lysozyme was retained even after harsh thermal treatment. The addition of these polymers helped the lysozyme retain its enzymatic activity and suppressed its fibrillation. Both polymers showed excellent protein protection properties, with the negatively charged polymer exhibiting slightly superior protein protection properties to those of the neutral polymer. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to develop a graft copolymer system consisting of two different zwitterionic blocks that shows dual thermo- and pH-responsive properties. The presence of the polyampholyte structure enables these polymers to act as protein release agents, while simultaneously protecting the proteins from severe stress.

Wound healing is a complex process involving an intricate cascade of body responses. A composite dressing that would effectively target different stages of wound healing and regeneration is urgently needed. In the current study, we tested the efficacy of a previously prepared micelle-hydrogel composite loaded with two drugs, in full-thickness excision wound model in rat. We found that the composite elicited almost no inflammation and effectively enhanced healing at all stages of the healing process. An initial burst of the first drug, amphotericin B, eliminated any preliminary infection. This burst was followed by a gradual release of curcumin as the healing and anti-inflammatory agent. Better healing was observed in rats treated with the drug-loaded composites than in blank and control groups. Wounds showed up to 80% closure in the treated group, with high collagen deposition. Re-epithelialization and granulation were also better in the treated group than in the non-treated control and blank groups. Histopathological examination revealed that drug-loaded composites improved cutaneous wound healing and regeneration. In conclusion, the micelle-hydrogel composite is an effective dressing and might have major applications in wound healing. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1094-1106, 2019.

Control of cell extension direction is crucial for the regeneration of tissues, which are generally composed of oriented molecules. The scaffolds of highly oriented liquid crystalline polymer chains were fabricated by casting cyanobacterial mega-saccharides, sacran, on parallel-aligned micrometer bars of polystyrene (PS). Polarized microscopy revealed that the orientation was in transverse direction to the longitudinal axes of the PS bars. Swelling behavior of the micropatterned hydrogels was dependent on the distance between the PS bars. The mechanical properties of these scaffolds were dependent on the structural orientation; additionally, the Young's moduli in the transverse direction were higher than those in the parallel direction to the major axes of the PS bars. Further, fibroblast L929 cells were cultivated on the oriented scaffolds to be aligned along the orientation axis. L929 cells cultured on these scaffolds exhibited uniaxial elongation.

To cryopreserve cells, it is essential to avoid intracellular ice formation during cooling and warming. One way to achieve this is to convert the water inside the cells into a non-crystalline glass. It is currently believed that to accomplish this vitrification, the cells must be suspended in a very high concentration (20–40%) of a glass-inducing solute, and subsequently cooled very rapidly. Herein, we report that this belief is erroneous with respect to the vitrification of one-cell rat embryos. In the present study, one-cell rat embryos were vitrified with 5 µL of EFS10 (a mixture of 10% ethylene glycol (EG), 27% Ficoll, and 0.45 M sucrose) in cryotubes at a moderate cooling rate, and warmed at various rates. Survival was assessed according to the ability of the cells to develop into blastocysts and to develop to term. When embryos were vitrified at a 2613 °C/min cooling rate and thawed by adding 1 mL of sucrose solution (0.3 M, 50 °C) at a warming rate of 18 467 °C/min, 58.1 ± 3.5% of the EFS10-vitrified embryos developed into blastocysts, and 50.0 ± 4.7% developed to term. These rates were similar to those of non-treated intact embryos. Using a conventional cryotube, we achieved developmental capabilities in one-cell rat embryos by rapid warming that were comparable to those of intact embryos, even using low concentrations (10%) of cell-permeating cryoprotectant and at low cooling rates.Summary sentenceRapid warming (18 467 °C/min) of vitrified one-cell rat embryos results in high rates of development to blastocysts (58.1%) and pups (50.0%), even with cryotubes.Graphical Abstract

This study was conducted to develop biodegradable cellulose scaffolds by oxidising porous cellulose sponges for tissue engineering applications. Cellulose powder was dissolved in ionic liquid using a salt leaching method, and porous cellulose scaffolds of various pore sizes were prepared. The scaffolds were oxidised with periodate to introduce aldehyde at a rate controlled by the periodate concentration. Oxidised scaffolds exhibited weight loss in cell culture medium, but not in phosphate buffer. Therefore, we confirmed that Schiff base formation between the aldehyde and amino groups through a Maillard reaction triggered cellulose molecular degradation. The degradation rate was controlled by the oxidation degree, whereas the aldehyde content controlled protein adsorption and cell proliferation. Additionally, in vivo implantation tests revealed that optimising the oxidation ratio not only improved biodegradability but also reduced inflammation. In conclusion, our results suggest that simple oxidised cellulose is useful as a low-toxicity biodegradable scaffold.

Despite advances in nanoparticle delivery, established physical approaches, such as electroporation and sonication, result in cell damage, limiting their practical applications. In this study, we proposed a unique freeze concentration-based technique and evaluated the efficacy of the method using two types of nanoparticles: citrate-capped gold nanoparticles and carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles. We further compared the internalisation behaviour of particles of various sizes with and without freezing. Confocal microscopic images showed that the uptake efficacy of 50 nm nanomaterials was greater than that of 100 nm particles. Polystyrene nanoparticles of 50 nm size had more favourable adsorption and internalisation behaviours compared to those of gold nanoparticles after freeze concentration. We also examined the possible endocytic pathways involved in the uptake of gold and polystyrene nanoparticles, and found that the route differed between non-frozen and frozen conditions. Overall, we determined the influence of the freeze concentration strategy on both nanomaterial internalisation and the endocytic uptake pathway. Our findings provide a mechanistic understanding of the internalisation of nanoparticles using a freezing approach and thereby contribute to further developments in nanotherapeutic applications.

Cryopreservation enables long-term preservation of cells at ultralow temperatures. Current cryoprotective agents (CPAs) have several limitations, making it imperative to develop CPAs with advanced properties. Previously, we developed a novel synthetic polyampholyte-based CPA, copolymer of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and methacrylic acid(MAA) (poly(MAA-DMAEMA)), which showed excellent efficiency and biocompatibility. Introduction of hydrophobicity increased its efficiency significantly. Herein, we investigated the activity of other polyampholytes. We prepared two zwitterionic polymers, poly(sulfobetaine) (SPB) and poly(carboxymethyl betaine) (CMB), and compared their efficiency with poly(MAA-DMAEMA). Poly-SPB showed only intermediate property and poly-CMB showed no cryoprotective property. These data suggested that the polymer structure strongly influences cryoprotection, providing an impetus to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cryopreservation. We investigated the mechanism by studying the interaction of polymers with cell membrane, which allowed us to identify the interactions responsible for imparting different properties. Results unambiguously demonstrated that polyampholytes cryopreserve cells by strongly interacting with cell membrane, with hydrophobicity increasing the affinity for membrane interaction, which enables it to protect the membrane from various freezing-induced damages. Additionally, cryoprotective polymers, especially their hydrophobic derivatives, inhibit the recrystallization of ice, thus averting cell death. Hence, our results provide an important insight into the complex mechanism of cryopreservation, which might facilitate the rational design of polymeric CPAs with improved efficiency.

Cryopreservation involves the preservation of biological materials, including cells, embryos, tissues, and organs, at ultra-low temperatures (in a state of suspended animation), for a long period of time, and in a way that allows them to be restored whenever required. Freezing of biological samples is generally accompanied by numerous undesirable outcomes such as intra- and extracellular freezing damage and osmotic stress. To prevent these adverse effects, cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are added to biological materials before freezing. Over the years, a number of CPAs have been identified and developed and have been employed successfully for numerous applications. Here, we review the history and development of cryoprotectants and the current understanding of the cryopreservation process. We conclude with a discussion about the application of cryopreservation for various clinical and academic studies.

Vitrification is a powerful tool for the efficient production of offspring derived from cryopreserved oocytes or embryos in mammalian species including domestic animals. Genome editing technologies such as transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR-associated (Cas)9 are now available even for domestic species, suggesting that the vitrification of embryos at the pronuclear stage (PN) will be more important because they could provide genomic host cells to be targeted by TALENs or CRISPR/Cas9. Although we reported the successful production of piglets derived from vitrified PN embryos by a solid-surface vitrification method with glutathione supplementation, further improvements are required. The cryoprotective agent (CPA) carboxylated ε-poly-L-lysine (COOH-PLL) was introduced in 2009. COOH-PLL reduces the physical and physiological damage caused by cryopreservation in mammalian stem cells and the vitrification of mouse oocytes and embryos. Those results suggested that vitrification of COOH-PLL may help improve the developmental ability of pig embryos vitrified at the PN stage. However, it remains unclear whether COOH-PLL is available as a CPA for the vitrification of embryos in domestic species. In this study, we evaluated COOH-PLL as a CPA with ethylene glycol (EG) and Cryotop as a device for the vitrification of PN pig embryos. Exposure to vitrification solution supplemented with COOH-PLL up to 30% did not decrease developmental ability to the 2-cell stage and the blastocyst stage. After warming, most of the vitrified embryos survived regardless of the concentration of COOH-PLL (76.0 ± 11.8% to 91.8 ± 4.6%). However, the vitrified embryos without COOH-PLL showed a lower development rate up to the blastocyst stage (1.3 ± 1.0%) compared to the fresh embryos (28.4 ± 5.0%) (p

A protein delivery method using freeze concentration was presented with a variety of polyampholyte nanocarriers. In order to develop protein nanocarriers, hydrophobically modified polyampholytes were synthesized by the succinylation of ε-poly-L-lysine with dodecyl succinic anhydride and succinic anhydride. The self-assembled polyampholyte aggregated form nanoparticles through intermolecular hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions when dissolved in aqueous media. The cationic and anionic nanoparticles were easily prepared by changing the succinylation ratio. Anionic or cationic proteins were adsorbed on/into the nanoparticles depending on their surface charges. The protein-loaded nanoparticles were stable for at least 7 d. When L929 cells were frozen with the protein-loaded nanoparticles in the presence of a cryoprotectant, the adsorption of the protein-loaded nanoparticles was enhanced and can be explained by the freeze concentration mechanism. After thawing, proteins were internalized into cells via endocytosis. This was the first report that showed that the efficacy of protein delivery was successfully enhanced by the freeze concentration method. This method could be useful for in vitro cytoplasmic protein or peptide delivery to various cells for immunotherapy or phenotype transformations.

Transgenic animals are generally produced by microinjection of exogeneous DNA into embryos at the pronuclear (PN) stage. PN embryos also can be used for knockout animals because artificial nucleases such as zinc-finger nuclease or transcription activator-like effector nuclease are now available for modification of the targeted gene. If the embryos can be vitrified with multiple rounds, the remaining embryos without microinjection can be reused. In this study, we examined the developmental competence of repetitively vitrified mouse embryos at the PN stage using Cryotop. It was also examined whether a new cryoprotective agent (CPA), carboxylated ε-poly-l-lysine (COOH-PLL), is available for vitrification of mouse embryos. PN embryos were vitrified with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethylene glycol (EG) as CPAs. After warming, some embryos were re-vitrified up to three times. The re-vitrification did not affect survival and in vitro developmental ability. PN embryos were also vitrified with COOH-PLL instead of DMSO up to three times. The embryos re-vitrified with COOH-PLL and EG also maintained high survival and developmental ability. However embryos vitrified with COOH-PLL and EG at three times significantly showed higher developmental ability (61.2±3.1%) than those vitrified with DMSO and EG at three times (44.2±2.7%) which was equivalent to that of fresh embryos (70.0±3.6%). Taken together, our results show that re-vitrification of mouse PN embryos did not have a detrimental effect on the in vitro and in vivo development of the embryos. In addition, COOH-PLL is available as a CPA for vitrification of mouse PN embryos.

A completely synthetic polyampholyte cryoprotectant was developed with cationic and anionic monomers by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The neutralized random polyampholyte, which had an equal composition ratio of monomers, showed high cryoprotective properties in mammalian cells. Introduction of a small amount of hydrophobic monomer enhanced cell viability after cryopreservation, indicating the importance of hydrophobicity. Leakage experiments confirmed that these polyampholytes protected the cell membrane during cryopreservation. Due to low cytotoxicity, this polyampholyte has the potential to replace the convention cryoprotective agent dimethyl sulfoxide. The present study is the first to show that we can design a polymeric cryoprotectant that will protect the cell membrane during freezing using appropriate polymerization techniques.

Here we show a new strategy for efficient freeze concentration-mediated cytoplasmic delivery of proteins, obtained via the endosomal escape property of polyampholyte-modified liposomes. The freeze concentration method successfully induces the efficient internalization of proteins simply by freezing cells with protein and nanocarrier complexes. However, the mechanism of protein internalization remains unclear. Here, we designed a novel protein delivery carrier by modifying liposomes through incorporating hydrophobic polyampholytes therein. These complexes were characterized for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry and microscopic analysis showed that the adsorption and internalization of protein-loaded polyampholyte-modified liposomes after freezing were enhanced compared with that observed in unfrozen complexes. Inhibition studies demonstrated that the internalization mechanism differs between unmodified and polyampholyte-modified liposomes. Furthermore, polyampholyte-modified liposomes exhibited high efficacy in facilitating endosomal escape to enhance protein delivery to the cytoplasm with low toxicity. These results strongly suggest that the freeze concentration-based strategy could be widely utilised for efficient cargo delivery into the cytoplasm in vitro not only in cancer treatment but also for gene therapy as well.

Success of tissue engineering applications in regenerative medicine requires the preservation of tissue-engineered products at a low temperature. This can be successfully achieved by the use of cryoprotective agent (CPA). In this study, we formulated a unique injectable hydrogel for the purpose of cell delivery after cryopreservation by using polyampholyte CPA. The polyampholyte showed excellent post-thaw cell survival, and after thawing, the polymeric CPA did not have to be removed because of its low cytotoxicity. The polyampholyte could be transformed into a hydrogel by mixing with nanosilicates. Previously, nanosilicates were used to improve mechanical properties, but this is the first report of the use of a nanosilicate together with CPA to formulate hydrogels. Inclusion of the nanosilicate led to the formation of thixotropic hydrogels, which can be injected using fine needles. These gels with tunable mechanical properties can be injected into defect sites to form scaffolds for cell growth and tissue repair, and they do not require any separate seeding of cells before injection, thus eliminating the need for cell harvesting and cell maintenance. This is a distinct system in which cells can be cryopreserved until before usage; when required, the cells in the polyampholyte can be revived to their original state and the thixotropic hydrogel can be formed. The combination of thixotropy and cytocompatibility of the gels could enable a wide range of biomedical applications such as cell delivery and orthopedic repair.

Engineered tissues are excellent substitutes for treating organ failure associated with disease, injury, and degeneration. Designing new biomaterials with controlled release profiles, good mechanical properties, and cell adhesion characteristics can be useful for the formation of specific functional tissues. Here, we report the formulation of nanocomposite hydrogels based on carboxylated poly-l-lysine and synthetic clay laponite XLG in which four-arm polyethylene glycol with N-hydroxy succinimide ester (PEG-NHS) was used as the chemical crosslinker. Interestingly, the degradation of this gel could be adjusted from a few days to a few months. Incorporation of laponite XLG resulted in the formation of mechanically tough hydrogels and conferred cytocompatibility. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposite could be modulated by changing the crosslinking density and laponite concentration. The feasibility of using this system for cellular therapies was investigated by evaluating cell adhesion on the nanocomposite surface. Thus, these nanocomposites can serve as scaffolds with tunable mechanical and degradation properties that also provide structural integrity to tissue constructs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1379-1386, 2016.

It is desirable to produce cryopreservable cell-laden tissue-engineering scaffolds whose final properties can be adjusted during the thawing process immediately prior to use. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based solutions provide platforms in which cryoprotected cell suspensions can be turned into a ready-to-use, cell-laden scaffold by a process of cryogelation. In this study, such a PVA system, with DMSO as the cryoprotectant, was successfully developed. Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC)-encapsulated cryogels were investigated under conditions of cyclic strain and in co-culture with vascular endothelial cells to mimic the environment these cells experience in vivo in a vascular tissue-engineering setting. In view of the cytotoxicity DMSO imposes with respect to the production procedure, carboxylated poly-L-lysine (COOH-PLL) was substituted as a non-cytotoxic cryoprotectant to allow longer, slower thawing periods to generate more stable cryogels. Encapsulated vSMC with DMSO as a cryoprotectant responded to 10% cyclic strain with increased alignment and proliferation. Cells were stored frozen for 1 month without loss of viability compared to immediate thawing. SMC-encapsulated cryogels also successfully supported functional endothelial cell co-culture. Substitution of COOH-PLL in place of DMSO resulted in a significant increase in cell viability in encapsulated cryogels for a range of thawing periods. We conclude that incorporation of COOH-PLL during cryogelation preserved cell functionality while retaining fundamental cryogel physical properties, thereby making it a promising platform for tissue-engineering scaffolds, particularly for vascular tissue engineering, or cell preservation within microgels.

ObjectiveIschemia–reperfusion injury is among the most serious problems in cardiac surgery. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a major polyphenolic component of green tea, is thought to be cardioprotective through its antioxidant activities. We investigated cardioprotective effects of oral epigallocatechin-3-gallate pretreatment against ischemia–reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts and considered possible underlying mechanisms.MethodsRats were given epigallocatechin-3-gallate solution orally at 0.1, 1, or 10 mmol/L (n = 12 per group) for 2 weeks; controls (n = 12) received tap water alone for 2 weeks. Subsequently, Langendorff-perfused hearts were subjected to global ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion.ResultsRecoveries at 60 minutes after reperfusion of left ventricular developed pressure and maximum positive and minimum negative first derivatives of left ventricular pressure were significantly higher in 1-mmol/L group than in 0.1-mmol/L (P

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used for several decades as the most efficient cryoprotective agent (CPA) for many types of cells and tissues in spite of its cytotoxicity and its effects on differentiation. Here we report that polyampholytes with an appropriate ratio of amino and carboxyl groups show higher cryopreservation efficiency and lower cytotoxicity than DMSO. Culture medium solutions of epsilon-poly-L-lysine (PLL) with more than 50 mol% of amino groups carboxylated showed excellent post-thaw survival efficiency of 95% murine L929 cells, and rat mesenchymal stem cells fully retained the potential for differentiation without serum. We also found that carboxylated PLLs showed antifreeze protein properties, such as ice recrystallization inhibition, which may contribute to successful cryopreservation by membrane protection. Thus, these polyampholytes can replace DMSO as new materials for CPAs in various preserving functions and will also be useful in studies elucidating the mechanisms of cryopreservation.

Many in vitro studies about green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) focused on its pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects on various types of cancer cells, while less attention has been paid to its incorporation into the cytoplasm and nuclear translocation. This study concentrated on the time-dependent intracellular trafficking of EGCG in L-929 cells. EGCG was conjugated with fluorescein-4-isothiocyanate (FITC) via the 3''-OH or 5''-OH group, as confirmed by NMR analysis, and then treated to either suspended or cultured cells. Confocal microscopic observations revealed that FITC-EGCG was clearly seen onto the membrane of suspended cells as well as into the cytoplasm and nucleus within 1h. As an increase in treatment time, it concentrated on the nucleus and then was located at any places of the cells. The cellular uptake of FITC-EGCG in cultured cells was not observed until 1h of culture, but started to be observed after at least 2h. These results imply that although the cellular sensitivity and response to EGCG would be different from those of FITC-EGCG, it would be incorporated into the cytoplasm of cells and further be translocated into the nucleus in a time-dependent manner.

Green tea polyphenols are known to protect allogenic donor tissues from acute rejection by their recipients. This immunosuppressive effect may be generated by a unique chemical property of the major component, epigallocatechin-o-gallate (EGCG), which can block specific cell surface molecules of the donor tissues. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of EGCG on the murine mixed lymphocyte reactions. EGCG treatment of stimulator cells significantly attenuated the proliferation of responder T cells. The proliferation did not recover upon the secondary stimulations by fresh untreated cells or exogenous IL-2. Flow cytometric analyses showed that EGCG treatment decreased the staining intensities of various cell surface molecules including MHC II, which plays a major role in antigen presentation, and B7.1, B7.2, and their ligand, CD28, which are required for costimulatory signals in T-cell activation. These results suggest that an anergic state of alloreactive T cells may be induced by either weakening of antigen signaling or blockage of costimulatory signals with EGCG. Other possible mechanisms behind the immunosuppressive effect and a potential use of EGCG treatment of donor tissues in transplantation medicine are discussed.

Immunotherapy is an exciting new approach in cancer treatment. Here, we describe the development of a novel freeze-concentration method that could be applicable in immunotherapy. The method involves freezing cells in the presence of pH-sensitive, polyampholyte-modified liposomes with encapsulated ovalbumin (OVA) as the antigen. In RAW 264.7 cells, compared to the non-frozen condition, freeze-concentration of polyampholyte-modified liposomes encapsulating OVA resulted in efficient OVA uptake and also allowed for its delivery to the cytosol. Efficient delivery of OVA to the cytosol was shown to be partly due to the pH-dependence of the polyampholyte-modified liposomes. Cytosolic OVA delivery also resulted in significant up-regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I pathway through a process known as cross-stimulation, as well as an increase in the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Our results demonstrate that the combination of a simple freeze-concentration method and polyampholyte-modified liposomes might be useful in future immunotherapy applications.

A novel adhesive hydrogel consisting of dextran and epsilon-poly(L-lysine) (dextran-PL) with multiple biomedical applications was developed. Periodate oxidation in aqueous media almost stoichiometrically introduces aldehyde groups in dextran molecules, and aldehyde dextran can react with the primary amino groups in epsilon-PL (ɛ-PL) at neutral pH to form a hydrogel. The gelation time of the hydrogel can be easily controlled by the extent of oxidation in dextran and of the acylation in ɛ-PL by anhydrides. The shear adhesion strength of dextran-PL was 10 times higher than that of fibrin glue, when wet collagen sheets were selected as test specimens. The cytotoxicity of aldehyde dextran and ɛ-PL were 1000 times lower than that of glutaraldehyde and poly(allylamine). The considerably low cytotoxicity of aldehyde dextran could be ascribed to its low reactivity with amine species when compared with glutaraldehyde. In contrast, a high reactivity of amino groups in ɛ-PL was observed when compared with glycine, L-lysine, and gelatin, which could be explained by their poor dissociation at neutral pH, thus leading to low cytotoxicity.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) shows diverse chemical and biological activities. We investigated the effects of EGCG in a rat renal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury model. Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg EGCG 48 h, 24 h, and 30 min prior to I/R injury. The animals were subjected to left renal occlusion for 45 min. EGCG treatment suppressed the peak in serum creatinine. EGCG-treated kidneys showed significantly less tubular damage and a decreased number of apoptotic cells. The I/R-induced elevation in the renal MDA level was significantly decreased in the EGCG group. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed that EGCG significantly decreased the expression of MHC class II, TLR2, TLR4, MCP-1, IL-18, TGF-β1, procollagen Ia1, TIMP-1, and Kim-1. ED-1 staining showed reduced macrophage infiltration and α-SMA staining revealed less interstitial expression. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in I/R kidneys was upregulated in the EGCG group based on the results of both RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. Blockade of HO-1 gene induction by SnPP increased renal tubular damage and macrophage infiltration. These findings suggest that EGCG protects the kidneys against I/R injury by reducing macrophage infiltration and decreasing renal fibrosis. These beneficial effects may be mediated, in part, by augmentation of the HO-1 gene.

Cryoprotective agents (CPAs) such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol have been used for the cryopreservation of cells and tissues. DMSO is the most effective CPA but shows high cytotoxicity and can effect differentiation. ∈-Poly-l-lysine (PLL) derivatives show higher cryopreservation efficiency than the conventional CPAs. Culture medium solutions with 7.5 w/w% of PLL whose amino groups of more than 50 mol% were converted to carboxyl groups by succinic anhydride showed higher postthaw survival efficiency of L929 cells than those of current CPAs without the addition of any proteins. In addition, rat mesenchymal stem cells were cryopreserved more effectively than with DMSO and fully retained the potential for proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, many kinds of cells could be cryopreserved with PLL having the appropriate ratio of COOH groups, regardless of the cell types, including adhesive and floating cells, human- and mouse-derived cells, primary cells, and established cell lines. The properties might be associated with the antifreeze protein properties. These results indicate that these polymeric extracellular CPAs may replace current CPAs and the high viability after thawing and nonnecessity of serum ensure that these CPAs may be used in various preservation fields.

Skin grafts can be preserved by cryopreservation and refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) enhances the viability of stored skin grafts and also extends the storage time up to 7 weeks at 4 degrees C. EGCG, the major polyphenolic constituent present in green tea, has potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and free radical scavenging effects. This study examined the effects of EGCG on skin cryopreservation. Skin sample biopsy specimens from GFP rats were previously treated with/without EGCG then moved to -196 degrees C. Skin samples were transplanted to nude mice after 2, 8, and 24 weeks of preservation. Glucose consumption was measured after thawing to assess the metabolic activity. Two weeks later the transplanted skin grafts were excised and histologically analyzed. Histological examinations revealed the degeneration of the epidermal and dermal layers in all groups. In the EGCG groups, the grafts showed higher integrity in the epidermal layer and dermal matrix. The present findings suggest the future clinical usefulness of EGCG for skin preservation; however, the mechanism by which EGCG promotes skin preservation still remains unclear.

A fresh osteochondral allograft is one of the most effective treatments for cartilage defects of the knee. Despite the clinical success, fresh osteochondral allografts have great limitations in relation to the short storage time that cartilage tissues can be well-preserved. Fresh osteochondral grafts are generally stored in culture medium at 4°C. While the viability of articular cartilage stored in culture medium is significantly diminished within 1 week, appropriate serology testing to minimize the chances for the disease transmission requires a minimum of 2 weeks. (–)-Epigallocatechin-3- O-gallate (EGCG) has differential effects on the proliferation of cancer and normal cells, thus a cytotoxic effect on various cancer cells, but a cytopreservative effect on normal cells. Therefore, a storage solution containing EGCG might extend the storage duration of articular cartilages. Rabbit osteochondral allografts were performed with osteochondral grafts stored at 4°C in culture medium containing EGCG for 2 weeks and then the clinical effects were examined with macroscopic and histological assessment after 4 weeks. The cartilaginous structure of an osteochondral graft stored with EGCG was well-preserved with high cell viability and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of the extracellular matrix (ECM). After an osteochondral allograft, the implanted osteochondral grafts stored with EGCG also provided a significantly better retention of the articular cartilage with viability and metabolic activity. These data suggest that EGCG can be an effective storage agent that allows long-term preservation of articular cartilage under cold storage conditions.

One of the key challenges in employing biomaterials is determining how to fix them into the surrounding tissue. To enhance the interaction with surrounding bone, amorphous hydroxyapatite (HA) was coated onto the surface of the bio-inert poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (PVA-H), as an artificial cartilage material, by a pulsed laser deposition technique. Next we examined the binding effects of the HA thin film (300 nm thick) to the underlying bone using osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. A mouse osteoblast cell line, MC3T3E1, was cultured on the HA-coated and noncoated PVA-H with a water content of 33% or 53% for 3 weeks. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and levels of osteocalcin were evaluated for biocompatibility and differentiation. HA coating enhanced the cell proliferation, the ALP activity, and the levels of osteocalcin on both low and high water-content PVA-Hs. The cell growth rates on the PVA-H were lower than on tissue culture dishes even after the HA coating was added; however, osteoblastic differentiation was highly promoted by the HA coating on low water content PVA-H. These results suggested that the HA coating on the PVA-H enhanced the affinity between the bone and the PVA-H as an artificial cartilage material in surface replacement arthroplasty.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) monoesters modified with butanoyl (EGCG-C4), octanoyl (EGCG-C8), palmitoyl groups (EGCG-C16) were synthesized by a lipase-catalyzed transesterification method and their antitumor activities were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro antitumor activities of EGCG-monoester derivatives increased in an alkyl chain length-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of EGCG, EGCG-C4, EGCG-C8 was mainly caused by H{sub 2}O{sub 2} which was generated with their oxidation. On the other hand, EGCG-C16 was more stable than EGCG and it did not generate H{sub 2}O{sub 2} in the cell culture medium. Furthermore, EGCG-C16 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in the presence of catalase. EGCG-C16 was found to inhibit the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is related to various types of tumor growth. EGCG-C16 suppressed tumor growth in vivo in colorectal tumor bearing mice in comparison to an untreated control, vector control (DMSO) and EGCG.

Localized drug delivery from drug-eluting stents has been accepted as one of the most promising treatment methods for preventing restenosis after stenting. However, thrombosis, inflammation, and restenosis are still major problems for the utility of cardiovascular prostheses such as vascular grafts and stents. Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenolic constituent of green tea, has been shown to have anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. It was hypothesized that controlled release of EGCG from biodegradable poly(lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone, PLCL) stent coatings would suppress migration and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) as well as platelet-mediated thrombosis. EGCG-releasing PLCL (E-PLCL) was prepared by blending PLCL with 5% EGCG. The surface morphology, roughness and melting temperature of PLCL were not changed despite EGCG addition. EGCG did, however, EGCG appreciably increase the hydrophilicity of PLCL. EGCG was found to be uniformly dispersed throughout E-PLCL without direct chemical interactions with PLCL. E-PLCL displayed diffusion controlled release of EGCG release for periods up to 34 days. E-PLCL significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of VSMCs as well as the adhesion and activation of platelets. E-PLCL coatings were able to smooth the surface of bare stents with neither cracks nor webbings after balloon expansion. The structural integrity of coatings was sufficient to resist delamination or destruction during 90% dilatation. These results suggest that EGCG-releasing polymers can be effectively applied for fabricating an EGCG-eluting vascular stent to prevent in-stent restenosis and thrombosis.

Green tea polyphenols have recently attracted medical attention as bioactive agents with anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects. We discovered their new usage as preservative agents for tissue transplants. We preserved rat aortas in a DMEM solution containing polyphenols extracted from green tea leaves. The preserved aortas retained original structures and mechanical strength, and were devoid of any undesirable cell secretions for over a month under physiological conditions. In addition, aortas from Lewis rats preserved for a month and transplanted to allogenic ACI rats completely avoided rejection by the host, suggesting that the polyphenols have immunosuppressive actions on the aortic tissues. From these results, we conclude that polyphenol treatment of aortic tissue transplant can maintain its viability for extended periods of time either before or after transplantation, and the method can be applicable to other transplantation situations.

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg) and related polyphenolic compounds found in tea are known to have antioxidative activities. However, they also have pro-oxidative activities such as generation of hydrogen peroxide. In this report, we investigated the effect on cells and showed the potential usage of EGCg in cell preservation. H(2)O(2) was generated from EGCg at concentrations of more than 300 microg/mL for 6 h at 37 degrees C, and high cytotoxicity for L929 cells were shown. In contrast, in the presence of 1 microg/mL catalase, the amount of generated H(2)O(2) was significantly low and cytotoxicity decreased markedly. This indicates that catalase eliminated H(2)O(2) generated by degradation of EGCg. Although H(2)O(2) generation was prevented, L929 cell proliferation was slightly inhibited in proportion to the concentrations of EGCg. L929 was exposed able to be 300 microg/mL to EGCg and 1 microg/mL catalase for maximum 18 days. EGCg inhibited the growth of L929 cells, and cell proliferation was restarted immediately after medium change for removing EGCg. We concluded that EGCg had a reversible growth inhibition when H(2)O(2) was eliminated from cell cultures.

The key problem with artificial joint materials is obtaining quick and firm attachment onto the underlying bone. In developing artificial articular cartilage, composed of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (PVA-H), this problem was solved by using a composite osteo-chondral device (COD). This enables attachment within four weeks post-operation by massive bone ingrowth into the pores. The COD consists of PVA-H as an artificial cartilage and titanium fiber mesh (TFM) as porous artificial bone. In this study, the strength of the shear resistance force at the interface of the PVA-H and the TFM fabricated by injection molding and the changes in the mechanical properties of the PVA-H fabricated by high temperature during the injection-molding process were examined. The shear resistance force was strengthened markedly by using injection molding and no important deterioration of the PVA-H was found. Morphological examination of canine spines, to which artificial intervertebral discs made of the COD were implanted, showed good bonding of the COD with the vertebral bodies for an extended period of 30 months, and encouraged us to use the COD clinically.

Background There is considerable interest in using cell sheets for the treatment of various lesions as part of regenerative medicine therapy. Cell sheets can be prepared in temperature-responsive culture dishes and applied to injured tissue. For example, cartilage-derived cell sheets are currently under preclinical testing for use in treatment of knee cartilage injuries. The additional use of cryopreservation technology could increase the range and practicality of cell sheet therapies. To date, however, cryopreservation of cell sheets has proved impractical. Results Here we have developed a novel and effective method for cryopreserving fragile chondrocyte sheets. We modified the vitrification method previously developed for cryopreservation of mammalian embryos to vitrify a cell sheet through use of a minimum volume of vitrification solution containing 20% dimethyl sulfoxide, 20% ethylene glycol, 0.5 M sucrose, and 10% carboxylated poly-L-lysine. The principal feature of our method is the coating of the cell sheet with a viscous vitrification solution containing permeable and non-permeable cryoprotectants prior to vitrification in liquid nitrogen vapor. This method prevented fracturing of the fragile cell sheet even after vitrification and rewarming. Both the macro- and microstructures of the vitrified cell sheets were maintained without damage or loss of major components. Cell survival in the vitrified sheets was comparable to that in non-vitrified samples. Conclusions We have shown here that it is feasible to vitrify chondrocyte cell sheets and that these sheets retain their normal characteristics upon thawing. The availability of a practical cryopreservation method should make a significant contribution to the effectiveness and range of applications of cell sheet therapy.