Assaf Shapira

Engineered hybrid cardiac patches with multifunctional electronics for online monitoring and regulation of tissue function

In cardiac tissue engineering approaches to treat myocardial infarction, cardiac cells are seeded within three-dimensional porous scaffolds to create functional cardiac patches. However, current cardiac patches do not allow for online monitoring and reporting of engineered-tissue performance, and do not interfere to deliver signals for patch activation or to enable its integration with the host. Here, we report an engineered cardiac patch that integrates cardiac cells with flexible, free-standing electronics and a 3D nanocomposite scaffold. The patch exhibited robust electronic properties, enabling the recording of cellular electrical activities and the on-demand provision of electrical stimulation for synchronizing cell contraction. We also show that electroactive polymers containing biological factors can be deposited on designated electrodes to release drugs in the patch microenvironment on-demand. We expect that the integration of complex electronics within cardiac patches will eventually provide therapeutic control and regulation of cardiac function.

Toxin-Based Therapeutic Approaches

Protein toxins confer a defense against predation/grazing or a superior pathogenic competence upon the producing organism. Such toxins have been perfected through evolution in poisonous animals/plants and pathogenic bacteria. Over the past five decades, a lot of effort has been invested in studying their mechanism of action, the way they contribute to pathogenicity and in the development of antidotes that neutralize their action. In parallel, many research groups turned to explore the pharmaceutical potential of such toxins when they are used to efficiently impair essential cellular processes and/or damage the integrity of their target cells. The following review summarizes major advances in the field of toxin based therapeutics and offers a comprehensive description of the mode of action of each applied toxin.

Gold nanoparticle-decellularized matrix hybrids for cardiac tissue engineering.

Decellularized matrices are valuable scaffolds for engineering functional cardiac patches for treating myocardial infarction. However, the lack of quick and efficient electrical coupling between adjacent cells may jeopardize the success of the treatment. To address this issue, we have deposited gold nanoparticles on fibrous decellularized omental matrices and investigated their morphology, conductivity, and degradation. We have shown that cardiac cells engineered within the hybrid scaffolds exhibited elongated and aligned morphology, massive striation, and organized connexin 43 electrical coupling proteins. Finally, we have shown that the hybrid patches demonstrated superior function as compared to pristine patches, including a stronger contraction force, lower excitation threshold, and faster calcium transients.

Suppression of hepatitis C virus by the flavonoid quercetin is mediated by inhibition of NS3 protease activity

Summary.  Phytochemicals exert antiviral activity and may play a potential therapeutic role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this work, we aimed to isolate NS3 inhibitors from traditional Indian medicinal plants that were found, in our earlier study, to inhibit HCV NS3 protease activity and to evaluate their potential to inhibit HCV replication. A potent inhibitory effect of NS3 catalytic activity was obtained with Embelia ribes plant extracts. Quercetin, a ubiquitous plant flavonoid, was identified as the active substance in the fractioned extract. It was found to inhibit NS3 activity in a specific dose‐dependent manner in an in vitro catalysis assay. Quercetin inhibited HCV RNA replication as analysed in the subgenomic HCV RNA replicon system. It also inhibited HCV infectious virus production in the HCV infectious cell culture system (HCVcc), as analysed by the focus‐forming unit reduction assay and HCV RNA real‐time PCR. The inhibitory effect of quercetin was also obtained when using a model system in which NS3 engineered substrates were introduced in NS3‐expressing cells, providing evidence that inhibition in vivo could be directed to the NS3 and do not involve other HCV proteins. Our work demonstrates that quercetin has a direct inhibitory effect on the HCV NS3 protease. These results point to the potential of quercetin as a natural nontoxic anti‐HCV agent reducing viral production by inhibiting both NS3 and heat shock proteins essential for HCV replication.

Nanoengineering gold particle composite fibers for cardiac tissue engineering

Gold nanostructures can be incorporated into macroporous scaffolds to increase the matrix conductivity and enhance the electrical signal transfer between cardiac cells. Here we report a simple approach for fabricating 3-dimensional (3D) gold nanoparticle (NP)-based fibrous scaffolds, for engineering functional cardiac tissues generating a strong contraction force. A polycaprolactone-gelatin mixture was electrospun to obtain fibrous scaffolds with an average fiber diameter of 250 nm. In a facile method, gold NPs were evaporated on the surface of the fibers, creating nanocomposites with a nominal gold thickness of 2, 4, and 14 nm. Compared to pristine scaffolds, cardiac cells seeded on the nano-gold scaffolds assembled into more elongated and aligned tissues. The gold NPs on the fibers were able to maintain the ratio of cardiomyocytes to fibroblasts in the culture, to encourage the growth of cardiomyocytes with significantly higher aspect ratio, and promote massive cardiac sarcomeric actinin expression. Finally, engineering cardiac tissues within gold NP-based scaffolds exhibited significantly higher contraction amplitudes and rates, as compared to scaffolds without gold. We envision that cardiac tissues engineered within these gold NP scaffolds can be used to improve the function of the infarcted heart.

Composite biomaterial scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering

Coronary heart diseases result from the blockage of one of the coronary arteries, which nourishes the heart muscle. This process leads to ischaemia of a segment of the heart and death of the contractile tissue. As cardiac tissue is unable to regenerate itself, heart function is impaired. Tissue engineering (TE) is a field of science that integrates knowledge from biology, materials sciences, engineering and medicine to develop artificial, functional tissue constructs to replace defected tissues. In cardiac TE, contracting cells are seeded within supporting biomaterial scaffolds that provide them with the essential microenvironment for functional tissue assembly. Various strategies and methods for fabricating these scaffolds have been proposed and tested in the last decade, some of which combine multiple elements that altogether contribute to the formation of an improved functional tissue. This review summarises the unique properties of various composite biomaterial scaffolds and highlights their advantages over other pristine scaffolds for engineering functional three-dimensional cardiac patches.

An Immunoconjugate of Anti-CD24 and Pseudomonas Exotoxin Selectively Kills Human Colorectal Tumors in Mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS Effective and selective treatment options are needed for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The CD24 mucin-like glycoprotein is overexpressed in CRCs; monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD24 inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Based on the tumor-specific expression of CD24, we investigated the potential of anti-CD24 SWA11 mAb, to deliver a cytotoxic agent into CRC cells. METHODS We conjugated SWA11 to a Pseudomonas exotoxin derivative (PE38) via an Fc-binding ZZ domain from Staphylococcal protein A (which binds the Fc domain of mouse IgG2a immunoglobulins) to generate the immunotoxin SWA11-ZZ-PE38; IgG-ZZ-PE38 was used as control. Human HT-29 and COLO320 (CD24-positive) and HCT116 (CD24-negative) CRC cell lines were assayed for immunotoxin binding, cytotoxicity, viability, and apoptosis. Toxicity and antitumor efficacy were tested in mice. RESULTS The immunotoxin preserved the affinity and specificity of SWA11, bound and selectively killed CD24-expressing CRC cells via apoptosis. IC(50) values ranged from 20 to 50 ng/mL-several orders of magnitude lower than that of the mAb alone. The immunotoxins were not toxic to mice at the maximum dose of 0.75 mg/kg. Growth of HT-29 xenograft tumors was significantly reduced in mice given SWA11-ZZ-PE38 (by 78%) compared to untreated mice. CONCLUSIONS Anti-CD24 SWA11 mAb can deliver a PE exotoxin derivative to CRC cells and cause them to undergo apoptosis, without toxicity to normal tissues. This immunotoxin might be developed as a therapeutic treatment for patients with CRC.

Removal of Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Cells by a Zymogenized Bacterial Toxin

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease and has become a global health threat. No HCV vaccine is currently available and treatment with antiviral therapy is associated with adverse side effects. Moreover, there is no preventive therapy for recurrent hepatitis C post liver transplantation. The NS3 serine protease is necessary for HCV replication and represents a prime target for developing anti HCV therapies. Recently we described a therapeutic approach for eradication of HCV infected cells that is based on protein delivery of two NS3 protease-activatable recombinant toxins we named “zymoxins”. These toxins were inactivated by fusion to rationally designed inhibitory peptides via NS3-cleavable linkers. Once delivered to cells where NS3 protease is present, the inhibitory peptide is removed resulting in re-activation of cytotoxic activity. The zymoxins we described suffered from two limitations: they required high levels of protease for activation and had basal activities in the un-activated form that resulted in a narrow potential therapeutic window. Here, we present a solution that overcame the major limitations of the “first generation zymoxins” by converting MazF ribonuclease, the toxic component of the E. coli chromosomal MazEF toxin-antitoxin system, into an NS3-activated zymoxin that is introduced to cells by means of gene delivery. We constructed an expression cassette that encodes for a single polypeptide that incorporates both the toxin and a fragment of its potent natural antidote, MazE, linked via an NS3-cleavable linker. While covalently paired to its inhibitor, the ribonuclease is well tolerated when expressed in naïve, healthy cells. In contrast, activating proteolysis that is induced by even low levels of NS3, results in an eradication of NS3 expressing model cells and HCV infected cells. Zymoxins may thus become a valuable tool in eradicating cells infected by intracellular pathogens that express intracellular proteases.

Modular assembly of thick multifunctional cardiac patches

Significance Heart disease is the primary cause of death in the United States. Cardiac tissue engineering has evolved with the goal of creating heart patches to treat end-stage patients. Here, we report on a bottom-up approach to assemble a modular cardiac patch that consists of various tissue layers, each performing a different function. One layer was designed to accommodate cardiac cells and promote their organization into a contracting tissue. Another layer enables the organization of endothelial cells into blood vessels, and layers with microparticulate systems enable the controlled release of different biofactors affecting the engineered tissue or the host. We have shown that the patch can be assembled from its building blocks just before transplantation and can perform in the body. In cardiac tissue engineering cells are seeded within porous biomaterial scaffolds to create functional cardiac patches. Here, we report on a bottom-up approach to assemble a modular tissue consisting of multiple layers with distinct structures and functions. Albumin electrospun fiber scaffolds were laser-patterned to create microgrooves for engineering aligned cardiac tissues exhibiting anisotropic electrical signal propagation. Microchannels were patterned within the scaffolds and seeded with endothelial cells to form closed lumens. Moreover, cage-like structures were patterned within the scaffolds and accommodated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticulate systems that controlled the release of VEGF, which promotes vascularization, or dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory agent. The structure, morphology, and function of each layer were characterized, and the tissue layers were grown separately in their optimal conditions. Before transplantation the tissue and microparticulate layers were integrated by an ECM-based biological glue to form thick 3D cardiac patches. Finally, the patches were transplanted in rats, and their vascularization was assessed. Because of the simple modularity of this approach, we believe that it could be used in the future to assemble other multicellular, thick, 3D, functional tissues.

Fabrication of omentum-based matrix for engineering vascularized cardiac tissues

Fabricating three-dimensional, biocompatible microenvironments to support functional tissue assembly remains a key challenge in cardiac tissue engineering. We hypothesized that since the omentum can be removed from patients by minimally invasive procedures, the obtained underlying matrices can be manipulated to serve as autologous scaffolds for cardiac patches. Here we initially characterized the structural, biochemical and mechanical properties of the obtained matrix, and demonstrated that cardiac cells cultivated within assembled into elongated and aligned tissues, generating a strong contraction force. Co-culture with endothelial cells resulted in the formation of blood vessel networks in the patch without affecting its function. Finally, we have validated that omental scaffolds can support mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells culture, thus may serve as a platform for engineering completely autologous tissues. We envision that this approach may be suitable for treating the infarcted heart and may open up new opportunities in the broader field of tissue engineering and personalized regenerative medicine.