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The food enzyme microbial collagenase (EC 3.4.24.3) is produced with the genetically modified Streptomyces violaceoruber strain pCol by Nagase (Europa) GmbH. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism and its DNA. It is intended to be used in two food manufacturing processes: the production of modified meat and fish products and the production of protein hydrolysates from meat and fish proteins. The dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 1.098 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not indicate a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 940 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested, which, when compared with the estimated dietary exposure, resulted in a margin of exposure of at least 856. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded, but the likelihood is low. Based on the data provided, the Panel concluded that this food enzyme does not give rise to safety concerns, under the intended conditions of use.

Fournier’s gangrene is an aggressive form of infective necrotizing fasciitis in the perianal and genital area. In this article we discuss the case of a 75-year-old male patient diagnosed with Fournier’s gangrene with the entire perianal region affected. Surgical washings were performed and debridement with multiple flaps were required for reconstruction. Complications in the suture wounds, cavities, and a seroma were observed after 5 weeks, and they were treated with dressings. Treatment with High pbserum recombinant enzymes was initiated after 3 weeks, to accelerate the closure of the wounds. The granulation tissue was irrigated by drip irrigation once every 3 weeks, ensuring good tissue impregnation. We observed that the epithelialization of the affected areas was achieved after the first week, and in 1 month, most of the wounds healed properly without signs of infection. High pbserum is an enzyme cocktail, composed of higher collagenase concentration, lipase, and liase. This study shows how High pbserum improves and accelerates wound healing in a patient with Fournier’s gangrene. Further investigations are needed to conclude treatment recommendations.

Dupuytren disease is a benign, progressive fibroproliferative disorder of the hands. To date, only one pharmacotherapy (clostridial collagenase) has been approved for use in Dupuytren disease. There is a great need for additional nonsurgical methods that can be used to either avoid the risks of invasive treatments or help minimize recurrence rates following treatment. A number of nonsurgical modalities have been discussed in the past and continue to appear in discussions among hand surgeons, despite highly variable and often poor or no long-term clinical data. This article reviews many of the pharmacotherapies discussed in the treatment of Dupuytren disease and novel therapies used in inflammation and fibrosis that offer potential treatment options.

The healthy skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) has several functions including providing structural integrity to myofibers, enabling lateral force transmission, and contributing to overall passive mechanical properties. In diseases such as Duchenne Muscular dystrophy, there is accumulation of ECM materials, primarily collagen, which results in fibrosis. Previous studies have shown that fibrotic muscle is often stiffer than healthy muscle, in part due to the increased number and altered architecture of collagen fibers within the ECM. This would imply that the fibrotic matrix is stiffer than the healthy matrix. However, while previous studies have attempted to quantify the extracellular contribution to passive stiffness in muscle, the outcomes are dependent on the type of method used. Thus, the goals of this study were to compare the stiffness of healthy and fibrotic muscle ECM and to demonstrate the efficacy of two methods for quantifying extracellular-based stiffness in muscle, namely decellularization and collagenase digestion. These methods have been demonstrated to remove the muscle fibers or ablate collagen fiber integrity, respectively, while maintaining the contents of the extracellular matrix. Using these methods in conjunction with mechanical testing on wildtype and D2.mdx mice, we found that a majority of passive stiffness in the diaphragm is dependent on the ECM, and the D2.mdx diaphragm ECM is resistant to digestion by bacterial collagenase. We propose that this resistance is due to the increased collagen cross-links and collagen packing density in the ECM of the D2.mdx diaphragm. Taken altogether, while we did not find increased stiffness of the fibrotic ECM, we did observe that the D2.mdx diaphragm conveyed resistance against collagenase digestion. These findings demonstrate how different methods for measuring ECM-based stiffness each have their own limitations and can produce different results.

This article describes the characterization and application of collagenase-based chitosan nanofiber membranes with rat burns. Electrospun chitosan nanofibers were functionalized with clostridial collagenase using carbodiimide chemistry. The immobilized collagenase was characterized by enzyme activity, kinetic constants, and dry storage stability measurements using a Pz-peptide substrate. The apparent kinetic constants KM and Vmax of immobilized collagenase showed a high affinity for the peptide substrate compared to the free enzyme. Drying of chitosan membranes with immobilized collagenase ensured 98% stability of enzyme activity after rehydration. The effect of collagenase immobilized on chitosan nanofibers on the burn of the rat model was compared with a control treatment with chitosan nanofibers. The healing of the wound with both materials was terminated after 30 days at the same time, although the collagenase wound healed more rapidly during healing. The scar area size after the application of collagenase-containing chitosan nanofiber membranes was 31.6% smaller than when only chitosan nanofibers were used., Tento článek popisuje charakterizaci a aplikaci chitosanových nanovlákenných membrán na bázi kolagenázy na popáleninách potkanů. Elektrospun chitosan nanovlákna byla funkcionalizována klostridiovou kolagenázou s použitím karbodiimidové chemie. Imobilizovaná kolagenáza byla charakterizována měřením enzymatické aktivity, kinetických konstant a měřením stability při skladování za sucha se substrátem Pz-peptid. Zdánlivé kinetické konstanty KM a Vmax imobilizované kolagenázy vykazovaly vysokou afinitu k peptidovému substrátu ve srovnání s volným enzymem. Vysušení chitosanových membrán imobilizovanou kolagenázou zajistilo 98% stabilitu enzymové aktivity po rehydrataci. Účinek kolagenázy imobilizované na chitosanových nanovláknech na popáleniny krysího modelu byl porovnán s kontrolním ošetřením chitosanovými nanovlákny. Hojení rány oběma materiály bylo ukončeno po 30 dnech, i když kolagenázová rána se během hojení hojila rychleji. Velikost plochy jizvy po aplikaci chitosanových nanovlákenných membrán obsahujících kolagenázu byla o 31,6 % menší, než když byla použita pouze chitosanová nanovlákna.

Collagenase from the gram-negative bacterium Grimontia hollisae strain 1706B (Ghcol) degrades collagen more efficiently even than clostridial collagenase, the most widely used industrial collagenase. However, the structural determinants facilitating this efficiency are unclear. Here, we report the crystal structures of ligand-free and Gly-Pro-hydroxyproline (Hyp)-complexed Ghcol at 2.2 and 2.4 Å resolution, respectively. These structures revealed that the activator and peptidase domains in Ghcol form a saddle-shaped structure with one zinc ion and four calcium ions. In addition, the activator domain comprises two homologous subdomains, whereas zinc-bound water was observed in the ligand-free Ghcol. In the ligand-complexed Ghcol, we found two Gly-Pro-Hyp molecules, each bind at the active site and at two surfaces on the duplicate subdomains of the activator domain facing the active site, and the nucleophilic water is replaced by the carboxyl oxygen of Hyp at the P1 position. Furthermore, all Gly-Pro-Hyp molecules bound to Ghcol have almost the same conformation as Pro-Pro-Gly motif in model collagen (Pro-Pro-Gly)₁₀, suggesting these three sites contribute to the unwinding of the collagen triple helix. A comparison of activities revealed that Ghcol exhibits broader substrate specificity than clostridial collagenase at the P2 and P2′ positions, which may be attributed to the larger space available for substrate binding at the S2 and S2′ sites in Ghcol. Analysis of variants of three active-site Tyr residues revealed that mutation of Tyr564 affected catalysis, whereas mutation of Tyr476 or Tyr555 affected substrate recognition. These results provide insights into the substrate specificity and mechanism of G. hollisae collagenase.

The present study aims to identify specific staining methods for acoustic histology. We compared attenuation-of-sound (AOS) images from scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) with light microscopy (LM) images. Ethanol-fixed tissue or cytology samples and formalin-fixed surgical or autopsy specimens were examined. Nuclei, collagen, elastic fibers, and polysaccharides and various antigens, including cell surface, cytoplasmic, nuclear, and stromal substances, were observed. Samples with different fixation methods were used. Hematoxylin staining had significantly higher AOS values in accordance with staining duration. Specific staining for collagen, elastic fibers, and polysaccharides increased the AOS values of the specific substance. . Using diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride in NiCl2 solution as a substrate for horseradish peroxidase increased the AOS values to those suitable for acoustic immunostaining. Collagenase digestion following collagen staining decreased AOS values, reflecting collagen density and distribution. Staining with specific dyes or acoustic immunostaining enabled the histological localization of specific substances by SAM, similar to LM.

Scanning acoustic microscopy reveals information about histology and speed-of-sound (SOS) through tissues. Slower SOS corresponds to lower stiffness. The present study aimed to investigate whether SOS values reflect the degree of degeneration with aging or dissection and whether enzymatic digestion susceptibility is distinct. SOS of media besides the atheromatous areas of normal and surgical dissections was measured and compared using medial degeneration grade (MDG) scores. To evaluate the damage rate, SOS was assessed following collagenase digestion. SOS scores negatively correlated with aging and MDG scores. Dissected aortae showed higher SOS and MDG scores without age correlation. Collagenase digestion was present in all aortae, but older aortae were more injured than younger aortae. Dissected aortae were more vulnerable to collagenase. Older and dissected aortae expressed specific extracellular matrix (ECM) components to compensate for mechanical weakness. The present method can evaluate mechanical weakness corresponding to histology to investigate the cause of rupture.

BackgroundPorcine islet xenotransplantation is a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes as an alternative to human pancreatic islet transplantation and long-term insulin therapy. Several research groups have explored porcine islets as an alternative to the inconsistent and chronic shortage of pancreases from human organ donors. Studies have confirmed successful transplant of porcine islets into non-human primate models of diabetes; however, in most cases, they require more than one adult porcine donor to achieve sufficient viable islet mass for sustained function. The importance of GMP-grade reagents includes the following: specific enzymes utilized in the pancreatic isolation process were identified as a key factor in successful human clinical islet transplantation trials using cadaveric islets. As xenotransplantation clinical research progresses, isolation reagents and digestion enzymes play a key role in the consistency of the product and ultimately the outcome of the islet xenotransplant. In this study, we evaluated several commercially available enzyme blends that have been used for islet isolation. We evaluated their impact on islet isolation yield and subsequent islet function as part of our plan to bring xenotransplantation into clinical xenotransplantation trials.MethodsAdult porcine islets were isolated from 16 to 17-month-old Yucatan miniature pigs following standard rapid procurement. Pigs weighed on average 48.71 ± 2.85 kg, and the produced pancreases were 39.51 ± 1.80 grams (mean ± SEM). After ductal cannulation, we evaluated both GMP-grade enzymes (Collagenase AF-1 GMP grade and Liberase MTF C/T GMP grade) and compared with standard non-GMP enzyme blend (Collagenase P). Islet quality control assessments including islet yield, islet size (IEQ), membrane integrity (acridine orange/propidium iodide), and functional viability (GSIS) were evaluated in triplicate on day 1 post-islet isolation culture.ResultsIslet yield wa

BackgroundPorcine islet xenotransplantation is a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes as an alternative to human pancreatic islet transplantation and long-term insulin therapy. Several research groups have explored porcine islets as an alternative to the inconsistent and chronic shortage of pancreases from human organ donors. Studies have confirmed successful transplant of porcine islets into non-human primate models of diabetes; however, in most cases, they require more than one adult porcine donor to achieve sufficient viable islet mass for sustained function. The importance of GMP-grade reagents includes the following: specific enzymes utilized in the pancreatic isolation process were identified as a key factor in successful human clinical islet transplantation trials using cadaveric islets. As xenotransplantation clinical research progresses, isolation reagents and digestion enzymes play a key role in the consistency of the product and ultimately the outcome of the islet xenotransplant. In this study, we evaluated several commercially available enzyme blends that have been used for islet isolation. We evaluated their impact on islet isolation yield and subsequent islet function as part of our plan to bring xenotransplantation into clinical xenotransplantation trials.MethodsAdult porcine islets were isolated from 16 to 17-month-old Yucatan miniature pigs following standard rapid procurement. Pigs weighed on average 48.71 ± 2.85 kg, and the produced pancreases were 39.51 ± 1.80 grams (mean ± SEM). After ductal cannulation, we evaluated both GMP-grade enzymes (Collagenase AF-1 GMP grade and Liberase MTF C/T GMP grade) and compared with standard non-GMP enzyme blend (Collagenase P). Islet quality control assessments including islet yield, islet size (IEQ), membrane integrity (acridine orange/propidium iodide), and functional viability (GSIS) were evaluated in triplicate on day 1 post-islet isolation culture.ResultsIslet yield wa

BackgroundPorcine islet xenotransplantation is a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes as an alternative to human pancreatic islet transplantation and long-term insulin therapy. Several research groups have explored porcine islets as an alternative to the inconsistent and chronic shortage of pancreases from human organ donors. Studies have confirmed successful transplant of porcine islets into non-human primate models of diabetes; however, in most cases, they require more than one adult porcine donor to achieve sufficient viable islet mass for sustained function. The importance of GMP-grade reagents includes the following: specific enzymes utilized in the pancreatic isolation process were identified as a key factor in successful human clinical islet transplantation trials using cadaveric islets. As xenotransplantation clinical research progresses, isolation reagents and digestion enzymes play a key role in the consistency of the product and ultimately the outcome of the islet xenotransplant. In this study, we evaluated several commercially available enzyme blends that have been used for islet isolation. We evaluated their impact on islet isolation yield and subsequent islet function as part of our plan to bring xenotransplantation into clinical xenotransplantation trials.MethodsAdult porcine islets were isolated from 16 to 17-month-old Yucatan miniature pigs following standard rapid procurement. Pigs weighed on average 48.71 ± 2.85 kg, and the produced pancreases were 39.51 ± 1.80 grams (mean ± SEM). After ductal cannulation, we evaluated both GMP-grade enzymes (Collagenase AF-1 GMP grade and Liberase MTF C/T GMP grade) and compared with standard non-GMP enzyme blend (Collagenase P). Islet quality control assessments including islet yield, islet size (IEQ), membrane integrity (acridine orange/propidium iodide), and functional viability (GSIS) were evaluated in triplicate on day 1 post-islet isolation culture.ResultsIslet yield wa

One of the principal impediments to the broad success of conventional chemotherapy is poor delivery to and transport within the tumor microenvironment (TME), caused by irregular and leaky vasculature, the lack of functional lymphatics, and underscored by the overproduction of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen. Coupled with limited specificity, the high chemotherapeutic doses needed to effectively treat tumors often lead to unacceptable levels of damage to healthy tissues. Bacteria-based cancer therapy (BBCT) is an innovative alternative. Attenuated strains of species such as Salmonella Typhimurium have been shown to preferentially replicate in the TME, competing for cellular resources and imparting intrinsic and immune-mediated cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Nevertheless, the immense successes observed in in vitro and immunocompromised murine models have not translated to the clinic, attributable to the lack of sufficient tumor colonization. Synthetic biology today enables the precision engineering of microbes with traits for improved survival, penetration, and replication in the TME, rationally optimizable through computational modeling. In this dissertation, we explore several facets of rationally engineering of bacteria toward augmenting bacterial penetration and retention in the TME. Namely, we (1) develop a novel assay to interrogate the neutrophil migratory response to pathogens and characterize the effects of modifying the molecular structure of the outer membrane (OM) of S. Typhimurium, (2) develop a mathematical model of bacterial intratumoral transport and growth and explore the effects of nutrient availability and the tumor ECM on colonization, (3) engineer bacteria that constitutively secrete collagenase and show significantly augmented transport in collagen hydrogels and collagen-rich tumor spheroids, and (4) develop computational models to explore control schemes for the programmed behavior of bacteria-based biohybrid systems, wh

Many microorganisms feed on the tissue and recalcitrant bone materials from dead animals, however little is known about the collaborative effort and characteristics of their enzymes. In this study, microbial metagenomes from symbionts of the marine bone-dwelling worm Osedax mucofloris, and from microbial biofilms growing on experimentally deployed bone surfaces were screened for specialized bone-degrading enzymes. A total of 2,043 taxonomically (closest match within 40 phyla) and functionally (1 proteolytic and 9 glycohydrolytic activities) diverse and non-redundant sequences (median pairwise identity of 23.6%) encoding such enzymes were retrieved. The taxonomic assignation and the median identity of 72.2% to homologous proteins reflect microbial and functional novelty associated to a specialized bone-degrading marine community. Binning suggests that only one generalist hosting all ten targeted activities, working in synergy with multiple specialists hosting a few or individual activities. Collagenases were the most abundant enzyme class, representing 48% of the total hits. A total of 47 diverse enzymes, representing 8 hydrolytic activities, were produced in Escherichia coli, whereof 13 were soluble and active. The biochemical analyses revealed a wide range of optimal pH (4.0-7.0), optimal temperature (5-65 °C), and of accepted substrates, specific to each microbial enzyme. This versatility may contribute to a high environmental plasticity of bone-degrading marine consortia that can be confronted to diverse habitats and bone materials. Through bone-meal degradation tests, we further demonstrated that some of these enzymes, particularly those from Flavobacteriaceae and Marinifilaceae, may be an asset for development of new value chains in the biorefinery industry.

For the advancement of porcine xenotransplantation for clinical use in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the concerns of a sustainable and safe digestion enzyme blend must be overcome. Incorporating good manufacturing practices (GMP) can facilitate this through utilizing GMP-grade enzymes. In conjunction, still taking into account the cost-effectiveness, a wide concern. We evaluated how GMP-grade enzyme blends impact our piglet islets and their long-term effects. Preweaned porcine islets (PPIs) were isolated from 8- to 10-day-old pigs. Digestion enzyme blends, collagenase type V (Type V), collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase NB 6 GMP-grade (AF-1 and NB 6), and collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase neutral protease AF GMP-grade (AF-1 and NP AF) were compared. Islet quality control assessments, islet yield, viability, and function, were performed on days 3 and 7, and cell content was performed on day 7. GMP-grade AF-1 and NB 6 (17,209 ± 2,730 islet equivalent per gram of pancreatic tissue [IE/g] on day 3, 9,001 ± 1,034 IE/g on day 7) and AF-1 and NP AF (17,214 ± 3,901 IE/g on day 3, 8,833 ± 2,398 IE/g on day 7) showed a significant increase in islet yield compared to Type V (4,618 ± 1,240 IE/g on day 3, 1,923 ± 704 IE/g on day 7). Islet size, viability, and function showed comparable results in all enzyme blends. There was no significant difference in islet cellular content between enzyme blends. This study demonstrated a comparison of GMP-grade collagenase enzyme blends and a standard crude collagenase enzyme in preweaned-aged porcine, a novel topic in this age. GMP-grade enzyme blends of AF-1 and NB 6 and AF-1 and NP AF resulted in substantially higher yields and as effective PPIs compared to Type V. In the long run, considering costs, integrity, and sustainability, GMP-grade enzyme blends are more favorable for clinical application due to high reproducibility in comparison to undefined manufacturing processes of standard enzymes.

For the advancement of porcine xenotransplantation for clinical use in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the concerns of a sustainable and safe digestion enzyme blend must be overcome. Incorporating good manufacturing practices (GMP) can facilitate this through utilizing GMP-grade enzymes. In conjunction, still taking into account the cost-effectiveness, a wide concern. We evaluated how GMP-grade enzyme blends impact our piglet islets and their long-term effects. Preweaned porcine islets (PPIs) were isolated from 8- to 10-day-old pigs. Digestion enzyme blends, collagenase type V (Type V), collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase NB 6 GMP-grade (AF-1 and NB 6), and collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase neutral protease AF GMP-grade (AF-1 and NP AF) were compared. Islet quality control assessments, islet yield, viability, and function, were performed on days 3 and 7, and cell content was performed on day 7. GMP-grade AF-1 and NB 6 (17,209 ± 2,730 islet equivalent per gram of pancreatic tissue [IE/g] on day 3, 9,001 ± 1,034 IE/g on day 7) and AF-1 and NP AF (17,214 ± 3,901 IE/g on day 3, 8,833 ± 2,398 IE/g on day 7) showed a significant increase in islet yield compared to Type V (4,618 ± 1,240 IE/g on day 3, 1,923 ± 704 IE/g on day 7). Islet size, viability, and function showed comparable results in all enzyme blends. There was no significant difference in islet cellular content between enzyme blends. This study demonstrated a comparison of GMP-grade collagenase enzyme blends and a standard crude collagenase enzyme in preweaned-aged porcine, a novel topic in this age. GMP-grade enzyme blends of AF-1 and NB 6 and AF-1 and NP AF resulted in substantially higher yields and as effective PPIs compared to Type V. In the long run, considering costs, integrity, and sustainability, GMP-grade enzyme blends are more favorable for clinical application due to high reproducibility in comparison to undefined manufacturing processes of standard enzymes.

Purpose: To assess enzymatic digestion rate after Riboflavin (RF) and Water-Soluble-Taurine (WST11) based corneal cross-linking (CXL), with or without the addition of high molecular weight dextran (RF-D and WST-D). Methods: Eighty-eight paired porcine corneas were cross-linked by either RF (n = 11) or RF-D (n = 11) and ultraviolet light (UVA), or WST11 (n = 11) or WST-D (n = 11) and near-infrared (NIR) light, or used as paired control (n = 44). Corneal buttons of treated and paired control eyes were placed in a 0.3% collagenase solution. Time to full digestion and remaining dry sample weight after six hours were compared. Results: A strong treatment effect was seen with all four formulations, as all controls had been fully digested whilst all treated samples were still visible at the experiment’s endpoint. After irradiation, central corneal thickness was significantly higher in samples treated with hypo-osmolar formulations, compared to dextran enriched formulations (P < 0.001). Dry sample weight after digestion was nonsignificantly different between corneas treated by the four different formulations (P = 0.102). Average dry sample weight was 1.68 ± 0.6 (n = 10), 2.19 ± 0.50 (n = 8), 1.48 ± 0.76 (n = 11), and 1.54 ± 0.60 (n = 9) mg, for RF, RF-D, WST11, and WST-D treated samples, respectively. Enzymatic resistance was similar for RF and WST based CXL (P = 0.61) and was not affected by the addition of dextran (P = 0.221). Conclusions: Both RF and WST11 based CXL significantly increases resistance to enzymatic digestion, with similar effect for hypo-osmolar and hyperosmolar (dextran enriched) formulations. Translational Relevance: Our findings indicate these formulations are interchangeable, paving the way for the development of novel PACK-CXL protocols for thin corneas and deep-seated infections.

For the advancement of porcine xenotransplantation for clinical use in type 1 diabetes mellitus, the concerns of a sustainable and safe digestion enzyme blend must be overcome. Incorporating good manufacturing practices (GMP) can facilitate this through utilizing GMP-grade enzymes. In conjunction, still taking into account the cost-effectiveness, a wide concern. We evaluated how GMP-grade enzyme blends impact our piglet islets and their long-term effects. Preweaned porcine islets (PPIs) were isolated from 8- to 10-day-old pigs. Digestion enzyme blends, collagenase type V (Type V), collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase NB 6 GMP-grade (AF-1 and NB 6), and collagenase AF-1 GMP-grade with collagenase neutral protease AF GMP-grade (AF-1 and NP AF) were compared. Islet quality control assessments, islet yield, viability, and function, were performed on days 3 and 7, and cell content was performed on day 7. GMP-grade AF-1 and NB 6 (17,209 ± 2,730 islet equivalent per gram of pancreatic tissue [IE/g] on day 3, 9,001 ± 1,034 IE/g on day 7) and AF-1 and NP AF (17,214 ± 3,901 IE/g on day 3, 8,833 ± 2,398 IE/g on day 7) showed a significant increase in islet yield compared to Type V (4,618 ± 1,240 IE/g on day 3, 1,923 ± 704 IE/g on day 7). Islet size, viability, and function showed comparable results in all enzyme blends. There was no significant difference in islet cellular content between enzyme blends. This study demonstrated a comparison of GMP-grade collagenase enzyme blends and a standard crude collagenase enzyme in preweaned-aged porcine, a novel topic in this age. GMP-grade enzyme blends of AF-1 and NB 6 and AF-1 and NP AF resulted in substantially higher yields and as effective PPIs compared to Type V. In the long run, considering costs, integrity, and sustainability, GMP-grade enzyme blends are more favorable for clinical application due to high reproducibility in comparison to undefined manufacturing processes of standard enzymes.

Mature adipocytes have been recently shown to reverse their phenotype into fibroblast-like cells in vitro through a technique called ceiling culture. Mature adipocytes can also be isolated from fresh adipose tissue for depot-specific characterization of their function and metabolic properties. Here, we describe a well-established protocol to isolate mature adipocytes from adipose tissues using collagenase digestion, and subsequent steps to perform ceiling cultures. Briefly, adipose tissues are incubated in a Krebs-Ringer-Henseleit buffer containing collagenase to disrupt tissue matrix. Floating mature adipocytes are collected on the top surface of the buffer. Mature cells are plated in a T25-flask completely filled with media and incubated up-side down for a week. An alternative 6-well plate culture approach allows the characterization of adipocytes undergoing dedifferentiation. Adipocyte morphology drastically changes over time of culture. Immunofluorescence can be easily performed on slides cultivated in 6-well plate as demonstrated 65 by FABP4 immunofluorescence staining. FABP4 protein is present in mature adipocytes but down-regulated through dedifferentiation of fat cells. Mature adipocyte dedifferentiation may represent a new avenue for cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Purpose: To assess enzymatic digestion rate after Riboflavin (RF) and Water-Soluble-Taurine (WST11) based corneal cross-linking (CXL), with or without the addition of high molecular weight dextran (RF-D and WST-D). Methods: Eighty-eight paired porcine corneas were cross-linked by either RF (n = 11) or RF-D (n = 11) and ultraviolet light (UVA), or WST11 (n = 11) or WST-D (n = 11) and near-infrared (NIR) light, or used as paired control (n = 44). Corneal buttons of treated and paired control eyes were placed in a 0.3% collagenase solution. Time to full digestion and remaining dry sample weight after six hours were compared. Results: A strong treatment effect was seen with all four formulations, as all controls had been fully digested whilst all treated samples were still visible at the experiment’s endpoint. After irradiation, central corneal thickness was significantly higher in samples treated with hypo-osmolar formulations, compared to dextran enriched formulations (P < 0.001). Dry sample weight after digestion was nonsignificantly different between corneas treated by the four different formulations (P = 0.102). Average dry sample weight was 1.68 ± 0.6 (n = 10), 2.19 ± 0.50 (n = 8), 1.48 ± 0.76 (n = 11), and 1.54 ± 0.60 (n = 9) mg, for RF, RF-D, WST11, and WST-D treated samples, respectively. Enzymatic resistance was similar for RF and WST based CXL (P = 0.61) and was not affected by the addition of dextran (P = 0.221). Conclusions: Both RF and WST11 based CXL significantly increases resistance to enzymatic digestion, with similar effect for hypo-osmolar and hyperosmolar (dextran enriched) formulations. Translational Relevance: Our findings indicate these formulations are interchangeable, paving the way for the development of novel PACK-CXL protocols for thin corneas and deep-seated infections.

Although human islet transplantation has been established as valid and safe treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, the utilization rates of human pancreases for clinical islet transplantation are still limited and substantially determined by the quality and composition of collagenase blends. While function and integrity of collagenase has been extensively investigated, information is still lacking about the most suitable supplementary neutral proteases. The present study compared islet isolation outcome after pancreas digestion by means of collagenase used alone or supplemented with either neutral protease (NP), clostripain (CP), or both proteases. Decent amounts of islet equivalents (IEQ) were isolated using collagenase alone (3090 +/- 550 IEQ/g), or in combination with NP (2340 +/- 450 IEQ/g) or CP (2740 +/- 280 IEQ/g). Nevertheless, the proportion of undigested tissue was higher after using collagenase alone (21.1 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.05) compared with addition of NP (13.3 +/- 2.2%) or CP plus NP (13.7 +/- 2.6%). Likewise, the percentage of embedded islets was highest using collagenase only (13 +/- 2%) and lowest adding NP plus CP (4 +/- 1%, P < 0.01). The latter combination resulted in lowest post-culture overall survival (42.7 +/- 3.9%), while highest survival was observed after supplementation with CP (74.5 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01). An insulin response toward glucose challenge was present in all experimental groups, but the stimulation index was significantly decreased using collagenase plus NP (2.0 +/- 0.12) compared with supplementation with CP (3.16 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to isolate significant numbers of human islets combining collagenase only with CP. The supplementation with CP is an effective means to substantially reduce NP activity, which significantly decreases survival and viability after culture. This will facilitate the manufacturing of enzyme blends with less harmful characteris

Although human islet transplantation has been established as valid and safe treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, the utilization rates of human pancreases for clinical islet transplantation are still limited and substantially determined by the quality and composition of collagenase blends. While function and integrity of collagenase has been extensively investigated, information is still lacking about the most suitable supplementary neutral proteases. The present study compared islet isolation outcome after pancreas digestion by means of collagenase used alone or supplemented with either neutral protease (NP), clostripain (CP), or both proteases. Decent amounts of islet equivalents (IEQ) were isolated using collagenase alone (3090 +/- 550 IEQ/g), or in combination with NP (2340 +/- 450 IEQ/g) or CP (2740 +/- 280 IEQ/g). Nevertheless, the proportion of undigested tissue was higher after using collagenase alone (21.1 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.05) compared with addition of NP (13.3 +/- 2.2%) or CP plus NP (13.7 +/- 2.6%). Likewise, the percentage of embedded islets was highest using collagenase only (13 +/- 2%) and lowest adding NP plus CP (4 +/- 1%, P < 0.01). The latter combination resulted in lowest post-culture overall survival (42.7 +/- 3.9%), while highest survival was observed after supplementation with CP (74.5 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01). An insulin response toward glucose challenge was present in all experimental groups, but the stimulation index was significantly decreased using collagenase plus NP (2.0 +/- 0.12) compared with supplementation with CP (3.16 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to isolate significant numbers of human islets combining collagenase only with CP. The supplementation with CP is an effective means to substantially reduce NP activity, which significantly decreases survival and viability after culture. This will facilitate the manufacturing of enzyme blends with less harmful characteris

Although human islet transplantation has been established as valid and safe treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, the utilization rates of human pancreases for clinical islet transplantation are still limited and substantially determined by the quality and composition of collagenase blends. While function and integrity of collagenase has been extensively investigated, information is still lacking about the most suitable supplementary neutral proteases. The present study compared islet isolation outcome after pancreas digestion by means of collagenase used alone or supplemented with either neutral protease (NP), clostripain (CP), or both proteases. Decent amounts of islet equivalents (IEQ) were isolated using collagenase alone (3090 +/- 550 IEQ/g), or in combination with NP (2340 +/- 450 IEQ/g) or CP (2740 +/- 280 IEQ/g). Nevertheless, the proportion of undigested tissue was higher after using collagenase alone (21.1 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.05) compared with addition of NP (13.3 +/- 2.2%) or CP plus NP (13.7 +/- 2.6%). Likewise, the percentage of embedded islets was highest using collagenase only (13 +/- 2%) and lowest adding NP plus CP (4 +/- 1%, P < 0.01). The latter combination resulted in lowest post-culture overall survival (42.7 +/- 3.9%), while highest survival was observed after supplementation with CP (74.5 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01). An insulin response toward glucose challenge was present in all experimental groups, but the stimulation index was significantly decreased using collagenase plus NP (2.0 +/- 0.12) compared with supplementation with CP (3.16 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to isolate significant numbers of human islets combining collagenase only with CP. The supplementation with CP is an effective means to substantially reduce NP activity, which significantly decreases survival and viability after culture. This will facilitate the manufacturing of enzyme blends with less harmful characteris

Antioxidants were any substance that can inhibit oxidation that causes collagen disintegration, lipid breakdown, DNA damage and protein unfolding in the aging process. The ingredients in the cosmetics has a toxin effect in human body. To investigate the bioactive compound, an antioxidant and antiaging activity particularly as collagenase inhibitor of the tomatoes. This study used phytochemical screening for the bioactive compounds, DPPH scavenging activity for antioxidant assay and collagenase inhibition activity for the antiaging property. The phytochemical screening shows that the Solanum lycopersicum L. extract (SLE) has flavonoid, phenol, saponin, tannin and alkaloid. The lycopene (79.45 ± 1.01) has an antioxidant activity better than SLE (147.20 ± 16.97) from DPPH scavenging activity. Lycopene (85,09 ± 1,81 ?g/mL) also has the higher antiaging activity than SLE (236,74 ± 9,74 ?g/mL) particularly as collagenase inhibitor. In conclusion flavonoid was the most common in the SLE. SLE has a higher antioxidant activity through DPPH scavenging activity and antiaging activity particularly as a collagenase inhibitor.

Although human islet transplantation has been established as valid and safe treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, the utilization rates of human pancreases for clinical islet transplantation are still limited and substantially determined by the quality and composition of collagenase blends. While function and integrity of collagenase has been extensively investigated, information is still lacking about the most suitable supplementary neutral proteases. The present study compared islet isolation outcome after pancreas digestion by means of collagenase used alone or supplemented with either neutral protease (NP), clostripain (CP), or both proteases. Decent amounts of islet equivalents (IEQ) were isolated using collagenase alone (3090 +/- 550 IEQ/g), or in combination with NP (2340 +/- 450 IEQ/g) or CP (2740 +/- 280 IEQ/g). Nevertheless, the proportion of undigested tissue was higher after using collagenase alone (21.1 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.05) compared with addition of NP (13.3 +/- 2.2%) or CP plus NP (13.7 +/- 2.6%). Likewise, the percentage of embedded islets was highest using collagenase only (13 +/- 2%) and lowest adding NP plus CP (4 +/- 1%, P < 0.01). The latter combination resulted in lowest post-culture overall survival (42.7 +/- 3.9%), while highest survival was observed after supplementation with CP (74.5 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01). An insulin response toward glucose challenge was present in all experimental groups, but the stimulation index was significantly decreased using collagenase plus NP (2.0 +/- 0.12) compared with supplementation with CP (3.16 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to isolate significant numbers of human islets combining collagenase only with CP. The supplementation with CP is an effective means to substantially reduce NP activity, which significantly decreases survival and viability after culture. This will facilitate the manufacturing of enzyme blends with less harmful characteris

Antioxidants were any substance that can inhibit oxidation that causes collagen disintegration, lipid breakdown, DNA damage and protein unfolding in the aging process. The ingredients in the cosmetics has a toxin effect in human body. To investigate the bioactive compound, an antioxidant and antiaging activity particularly as collagenase inhibitor of the tomatoes. This study used phytochemical screening for the bioactive compounds, DPPH scavenging activity for antioxidant assay and collagenase inhibition activity for the antiaging property. The phytochemical screening shows that the Solanum lycopersicum L. extract (SLE) has flavonoid, phenol, saponin, tannin and alkaloid. The lycopene (79.45 ± 1.01) has an antioxidant activity better than SLE (147.20 ± 16.97) from DPPH scavenging activity. Lycopene (85,09 ± 1,81 ?g/mL) also has the higher antiaging activity than SLE (236,74 ± 9,74 ?g/mL) particularly as collagenase inhibitor. In conclusion flavonoid was the most common in the SLE. SLE has a higher antioxidant activity through DPPH scavenging activity and antiaging activity particularly as a collagenase inhibitor.

Antioxidants were any substance that can inhibit oxidation that causes collagen disintegration, lipid breakdown, DNA damage and protein unfolding in the aging process. The ingredients in the cosmetics has a toxin effect in human body. To investigate the bioactive compound, an antioxidant and antiaging activity particularly as collagenase inhibitor of the tomatoes. This study used phytochemical screening for the bioactive compounds, DPPH scavenging activity for antioxidant assay and collagenase inhibition activity for the antiaging property. The phytochemical screening shows that the Solanum lycopersicum L. extract (SLE) has flavonoid, phenol, saponin, tannin and alkaloid. The lycopene (79.45 ± 1.01) has an antioxidant activity better than SLE (147.20 ± 16.97) from DPPH scavenging activity. Lycopene (85,09 ± 1,81 ?g/mL) also has the higher antiaging activity than SLE (236,74 ± 9,74 ?g/mL) particularly as collagenase inhibitor. In conclusion flavonoid was the most common in the SLE. SLE has a higher antioxidant activity through DPPH scavenging activity and antiaging activity particularly as a collagenase inhibitor.

Although human islet transplantation has been established as valid and safe treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, the utilization rates of human pancreases for clinical islet transplantation are still limited and substantially determined by the quality and composition of collagenase blends. While function and integrity of collagenase has been extensively investigated, information is still lacking about the most suitable supplementary neutral proteases. The present study compared islet isolation outcome after pancreas digestion by means of collagenase used alone or supplemented with either neutral protease (NP), clostripain (CP), or both proteases. Decent amounts of islet equivalents (IEQ) were isolated using collagenase alone (3090 +/- 550 IEQ/g), or in combination with NP (2340 +/- 450 IEQ/g) or CP (2740 +/- 280 IEQ/g). Nevertheless, the proportion of undigested tissue was higher after using collagenase alone (21.1 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.05) compared with addition of NP (13.3 +/- 2.2%) or CP plus NP (13.7 +/- 2.6%). Likewise, the percentage of embedded islets was highest using collagenase only (13 +/- 2%) and lowest adding NP plus CP (4 +/- 1%, P < 0.01). The latter combination resulted in lowest post-culture overall survival (42.7 +/- 3.9%), while highest survival was observed after supplementation with CP (74.5 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01). An insulin response toward glucose challenge was present in all experimental groups, but the stimulation index was significantly decreased using collagenase plus NP (2.0 +/- 0.12) compared with supplementation with CP (3.16 +/- 0.4, P < 0.001). This study demonstrates for the first time that it is possible to isolate significant numbers of human islets combining collagenase only with CP. The supplementation with CP is an effective means to substantially reduce NP activity, which significantly decreases survival and viability after culture. This will facilitate the manufacturing of enzyme blends with less harmful characteris

Nanofibers biofunctionalized with enzymes are materials of interest in the biomedical field due to their potential application in wound healing. This work describes the production and characterisation of electrospun chitosan nanofibers biofunctionalized with a microbial collagenase. The morphology and microstructure of the chitosan nanofibers prepared with Nanospider technology were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Amino groups of a chitosan nanofiber were connected with the carboxylic acid groups of the collagenase using EDAC and sulfo-NHS methodology. Collagenase enzymatic activity was evaluated with a peptidic substrate (Pz-peptide, 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-D-Arg) in order to estimate the ability of this biomaterial to be used as an enzymatic debriding wound dressing. The characterisation of collagenase chitosan nanofibers in terms of measuring apparent Michaelis-Menten constants (KM(app) and vmax) revealed a higher enzyme to substrate affinity than with the soluble form of the collagenase. The resulting novel collagenase chitosan nanofibers exhibited excellent operational stability and long shelf life for at least 6 weeks. Therefore, the novel collagenase chitosan nanofibers are expected to be a potential scaffold for wound healing applications, such as e.g. enzymatic debridement.

Purpose To study the epidemiology of Dupuytren disease and evaluate treatment outcome of collagenase injections using a modified method.Patients and methods Paper I is a register-based study. From the general population of Skåne region (1.3 million) in southern Sweden, we identified all residents aged ≥20 years who had been diagnosed with Dupuytren disease during a 16-year period and identified treatments associated with the diagnosis. Papers II-V are prospective cohort studies assessing patients with Dupuytren disease treated with collagenase injections using a modified method. Treatment indication was a palpable cord and an active extension deficit (AED) ≥20° in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and/or proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. In Paper II, 146 patients were evluated for skin tear occurrence and short-term treatment outcome. In Paper III, 187 patients were divided into 3 groups, comparing collagenase injection-related pain with or without prior local anesthesia (LA) using the the visual analog scale (VAS). In Paper IV, 86 patients were evaluated 3 years after treatment with the proportion of joints that demonstrated contracture recurrence (AED worsening ≥20°) as the primary outcome. In Paper V, 157 patients were examined by 3 hand therapists, investigating possible examiner-related difference between AED and passive extension deficit (PED) measurements. Paper VI is an ongoing randomized controlled trial of surgical fasciectomy versus collagenase injection for recurrent Dupuytren disease. Results The overall prevalence of doctor-diagnosed Dupuytren disease was 0.92%, peaking in men ≥70 years at 4.6%. 56% of diagnosed individuals underwent treatment. Skin tears, mostly minor, occurred in 40% of hands treated with collagenase injection. Greater severity of MCP joint contracture was a risk factor for skin tear. All skin tears healed with open-wound treatment, with no infections or surgical interventions required. Mean short-term contracture improvement in tota

Antioxidants were any substance that can inhibit oxidation that causes collagen disintegration, lipid breakdown, DNA damage and protein unfolding in the aging process. The ingredients in the cosmetics has a toxin effect in human body. To investigate the bioactive compound, an antioxidant and antiaging activity particularly as collagenase inhibitor of the tomatoes. This study used phytochemical screening for the bioactive compounds, DPPH scavenging activity for antioxidant assay and collagenase inhibition activity for the antiaging property. The phytochemical screening shows that the Solanum lycopersicum L. extract (SLE) has flavonoid, phenol, saponin, tannin and alkaloid. The lycopene (79.45 ± 1.01) has an antioxidant activity better than SLE (147.20 ± 16.97) from DPPH scavenging activity. Lycopene (85,09 ± 1,81 ?g/mL) also has the higher antiaging activity than SLE (236,74 ± 9,74 ?g/mL) particularly as collagenase inhibitor. In conclusion flavonoid was the most common in the SLE. SLE has a higher antioxidant activity through DPPH scavenging activity and antiaging activity particularly as a collagenase inhibitor.

RESEARCHER ID V-7077-2017 (María Rocío Villegas Díaz) ORCID 0000-0002-1297-2355 (María Rocío Villegas Díaz) RESEARCHER ID K-8193-2014 (Alejandro Baeza) ORCID 0000-0002-2026-6266 (Alejandro Baeza) RESEARCHER ID M-3378-2014 (María Vallet Regí) ORCID 0000-0002-6104-4889 (María Vallet Regí), Fibrosis is a common lesion in different pathologic diseases and defined by the excessive accumulation of collagen. Different approaches have been used to treat different conditions characterized by fibrosis. The FDA and EMA approved the use of collagenase to treat palmar fibromatosis (Dupuytren’s contracture). The EMA approved additionally its use in severe Peyronie’s disease, but it has been used off label in other conditions [1,2]. The approved treatment includes up to three (in palmar fibromatosis) or up to eight (in penile fibromatosis) injections followed by finger extension or penile modeling procedures, typically causing severe pain. Frequent single injections are adequate to treat palmar fibromatosis [3]. The need to repeatedly inject doses of this enzyme can be due to the labile nature of collagenase, which exhibits a complete activity loss after a short period of time. This study presents a novel strategy to manage this enzyme based on the synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules that contain collagenase encapsulated within their matrix. These nanocapsules have been engineered for achieving a gradual release of the encapsulated enzyme for a longer time, which can be up to ten days. The efficacy of these nanocapsules has been tested in a murine model of local dermal fibrosis, and the results demonstrate a reduction in fibrosis greater than that with the injection of free enzyme; this type of treatment showed a significant improvement compared to conventional therapy of free collagenase. Statement of Significance The use of proteins as therapeutic molecules has recently attracted great interest. Collagenase injection is the current treatment for fibrotic diseases. Unfortunately, proteins have a low stability and presume several repetition cycles to obtain an effective treatment. This article describes a novel treatment for these types of diseases using collagenase nanocapsules designed to exhibit a sustainable release of the encapsulated enzyme, which maintains, Unión Europea, Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa (España), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Investigación en Inflamación y Enfermedades Reumáticas, Depto. de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Fac. de Farmacia, TRUE, pub

Liposomes featuring a lipid bilayer surrounding an aqueous core, have been utilized as carriers for drugs and macromolecules since the 1970s. Liposomal drug encapsulation improves the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamics of drugs. This research has culminated in over ten approved liposomal therapies, including Doxil® for the treatment of Kaposi’s sarcoma. Despite the longevity, further clinical adoption of liposomes and nanomaterials has been limited due to a lack of effective targeting, undesired drug release kinetics, or inadequate drug penetration. In this dissertation, we present strategies to improve nanoparticle drug delivery through synthetic modifications of the particle or alterations of the target tissue. Our initial efforts centered on synthesizing novel lipids to focus the release of drugs or augment nanoparticle stability. Specifically, we detail the synthesis and characterization of sulfolipids with the potential for triggered-release of drug cargo in the tumor microenvironment through the use of sulfatases. These sulfolipids formed highly stable aggregates that were unable to form vesicles. Next, we describe the synthesis and biophysical characteristics of a modified polyethylene glycol (PEG), a key component for extending the circulation of nanomaterials. We anchored PEG to cholesterol to improve the interactions with neighboring lipids. These sterol-anchored PEG molecules exhibited an array of canonical liposome behaviors including the formation of vesicles, encapsulation of drugs, and limited non-specific protein adhesion. Subsequently, we turned our focus to approaches to make the target tissue more receptive to drug delivery. We communicate procedures to recombinantly purify matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), a key enzyme for tissue remodeling. We demonstrate methods to utilize MMPs in drug delivery through the attachment to the surface of liposomes. These procedures enabled the use of MMP-8 to improve the permeability of cart

Collagen fibre remodelling is a strain dependent process which is stimulated by the degradation of existing collagen. To date, literature has focussed on strain dependent degradation of pure collagen or structurally simple collagenous tissues, often overlooking degradation within more complex, heterogenous soft tissues. The aim of this study is to identify, for the first time, the strain dependent degradation behaviour and mechanical factors influencing collagen degradation in arterial tissue using a combined experimental and numerical approach. To achieve this, structural analysis was carried out using small angle light scattering to determine the fibre level response due to strain induced degradation. Next, strain dependent degradation rates were determined from stress relaxation experiments in the presence of crude and purified collagenase to determine the tissue level degradation response. Finally, a 1D theoretical model was developed, incorporating matrix stiffness and a gradient of collagen fibre crimp to decouple the mechanism behind strain dependent arterial degradation. SALS structural analysis identified a strain mediated degradation response in arterial tissue at the fibre level not dissimilar to that found in literature for pure collagen. Interestingly, two distinctly different strain mediated degradation responses were identified experimentally at the tissue level, not seen in other collagenous tissues. Our model was able to accurately predict these experimental findings, but only once the load bearing matrix, its degradation response and the gradient of collagen fibre crimp across the arterial wall were incorporated. These findings highlight the critical role that the various tissue constituents play in the degradation response of arterial tissue. Statement of Significance: Collagen fibre architecture is the dominant load bearing component of arterial tissue. Remodelling of this architecture is a strain dependent process stimulated by the degradatio

Liposomes featuring a lipid bilayer surrounding an aqueous core, have been utilized as carriers for drugs and macromolecules since the 1970s. Liposomal drug encapsulation improves the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamics of drugs. This research has culminated in over ten approved liposomal therapies, including Doxil® for the treatment of Kaposi’s sarcoma. Despite the longevity, further clinical adoption of liposomes and nanomaterials has been limited due to a lack of effective targeting, undesired drug release kinetics, or inadequate drug penetration. In this dissertation, we present strategies to improve nanoparticle drug delivery through synthetic modifications of the particle or alterations of the target tissue. Our initial efforts centered on synthesizing novel lipids to focus the release of drugs or augment nanoparticle stability. Specifically, we detail the synthesis and characterization of sulfolipids with the potential for triggered-release of drug cargo in the tumor microenvironment through the use of sulfatases. These sulfolipids formed highly stable aggregates that were unable to form vesicles. Next, we describe the synthesis and biophysical characteristics of a modified polyethylene glycol (PEG), a key component for extending the circulation of nanomaterials. We anchored PEG to cholesterol to improve the interactions with neighboring lipids. These sterol-anchored PEG molecules exhibited an array of canonical liposome behaviors including the formation of vesicles, encapsulation of drugs, and limited non-specific protein adhesion. Subsequently, we turned our focus to approaches to make the target tissue more receptive to drug delivery. We communicate procedures to recombinantly purify matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), a key enzyme for tissue remodeling. We demonstrate methods to utilize MMPs in drug delivery through the attachment to the surface of liposomes. These procedures enabled the use of MMP-8 to improve the permeability of cart

Collagen and hyaluronan are the most abundant components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and their overexpression in tumors is linked to increased tumor growth and metastasis. These ECM components contribute to a protective tumor microenvironment by supporting a high interstitial fluid pressure and creating a tortuous setting for the convection and diffusion of chemotherapeutic small molecules, antibodies, and nanoparticles in the tumor interstitial space. This review focuses on the research efforts to deplete extracellular collagen with collagenases to normalize the tumor microenvironment. Although collagen synthesis inhibitors are in clinical development, the use of collagenases is contentious and clinically untested in cancer patients. Pretreatment of murine tumors with collagenases increased drug uptake and diffusion 2-10-fold. This modest improvement resulted in decreased tumor growth, but the benefits of collagenase treatment are confounded by risks of toxicity from collagen breakdown in healthy tissues. In this review, we evaluate the published in vitro and in vivo benefits and limitations of collagenase treatment to improve drug delivery.

Collagen fibre remodelling is a strain dependent process which is stimulated by the degradation of existing collagen. To date, literature has focussed on strain dependent degradation of pure collagen or structurally simple collagenous tissues, often overlooking degradation within more complex, heterogenous soft tissues. The aim of this study is to identify, for the first time, the strain dependent degradation behaviour and mechanical factors influencing collagen degradation in arterial tissue using a combined experimental and numerical approach. To achieve this, structural analysis was carried out using small angle light scattering to determine the fibre level response due to strain induced degradation. Next, strain dependent degradation rates were determined from stress relaxation experiments in the presence of crude and purified collagenase to determine the tissue level degradation response. Finally, a 1D theoretical model was developed, incorporating matrix stiffness and a gradient of collagen fibre crimp to decouple the mechanism behind strain dependent arterial degradation. SALS structural analysis identified a strain mediated degradation response in arterial tissue at the fibre level not dissimilar to that found in literature for pure collagen. Interestingly, two distinctly different strain mediated degradation responses were identified experimentally at the tissue level, not seen in other collagenous tissues. Our model was able to accurately predict these experimental findings, but only once the load bearing matrix, its degradation response and the gradient of collagen fibre crimp across the arterial wall were incorporated. These findings highlight the critical role that the various tissue constituents play in the degradation response of arterial tissue. Statement of Significance: Collagen fibre architecture is the dominant load bearing component of arterial tissue. Remodelling of this architecture is a strain dependent process stimulated by the degradatio

Animal-free (AF) SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and Neutral Protease (NP) AF GMP Grade have recently become available for human islet isolation. This report describes the initial experiences of 3 different islet transplant centers. Thirty-four human pancreases were digested using 1 vial of the 6 different lots of Collagenase AF-1 (2,000-2,583 PZ-U/vial) supplemented with 4 different lots of NP AF in a range of 50 to 160 DMC-U per pancreas. Isolation, culture, and quality assessment were performed using standard techniques as previously described. All data are presented as mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM). Variability of pancreas weight was associated with a wide range of collagenase and NP activities, ranging from 12.7 to 46.6 PZ-U/g (26.0 +/- 1.5 PZ-U/g) and 0.4 to 3.0 DMC-U/g (1.5 +/- 0.1 DMC-U/g), respectively. Postpurification islet yield was 296,494 +/- 33,620 islet equivalents (IEQ) equivalent to 3,274 +/- 450 IEQ/g with a purity of 55.9% +/- 3.2%. Quality assessment performed after 2 to 4 d of culture demonstrated a viability of 88.1% +/- 1.5% and a stimulation index of 3.7 +/- 0.7. Eighteen of the 34 preparations were transplanted into type 1 diabetic patients equivalent to a transplantation rate of 52.9%. Six preparations, which were infused into patients as first transplant, could be analyzed and increased the fasting C-peptide level from 0.11 +/- 0.08 pretransplant to 1.23 +/- 0.24 and 2.27 +/- 0.31 ng/mL 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. Insulin requirements were simultaneously reduced at the same time from 39.2 +/- 3.8 IU/d before transplantation to 10.8 +/- 4.1 and 4.0 +/- 2.3 IU/d, after 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. This study demonstrates the efficiency of AF SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and NP AF for clinical islet isolation and transplantation. The new plant-based production process makes these products a safe new option for the islet field.

Animal-free (AF) SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and Neutral Protease (NP) AF GMP Grade have recently become available for human islet isolation. This report describes the initial experiences of 3 different islet transplant centers. Thirty-four human pancreases were digested using 1 vial of the 6 different lots of Collagenase AF-1 (2,000-2,583 PZ-U/vial) supplemented with 4 different lots of NP AF in a range of 50 to 160 DMC-U per pancreas. Isolation, culture, and quality assessment were performed using standard techniques as previously described. All data are presented as mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM). Variability of pancreas weight was associated with a wide range of collagenase and NP activities, ranging from 12.7 to 46.6 PZ-U/g (26.0 +/- 1.5 PZ-U/g) and 0.4 to 3.0 DMC-U/g (1.5 +/- 0.1 DMC-U/g), respectively. Postpurification islet yield was 296,494 +/- 33,620 islet equivalents (IEQ) equivalent to 3,274 +/- 450 IEQ/g with a purity of 55.9% +/- 3.2%. Quality assessment performed after 2 to 4 d of culture demonstrated a viability of 88.1% +/- 1.5% and a stimulation index of 3.7 +/- 0.7. Eighteen of the 34 preparations were transplanted into type 1 diabetic patients equivalent to a transplantation rate of 52.9%. Six preparations, which were infused into patients as first transplant, could be analyzed and increased the fasting C-peptide level from 0.11 +/- 0.08 pretransplant to 1.23 +/- 0.24 and 2.27 +/- 0.31 ng/mL 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. Insulin requirements were simultaneously reduced at the same time from 39.2 +/- 3.8 IU/d before transplantation to 10.8 +/- 4.1 and 4.0 +/- 2.3 IU/d, after 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. This study demonstrates the efficiency of AF SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and NP AF for clinical islet isolation and transplantation. The new plant-based production process makes these products a safe new option for the islet field.

Animal-free (AF) SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and Neutral Protease (NP) AF GMP Grade have recently become available for human islet isolation. This report describes the initial experiences of 3 different islet transplant centers. Thirty-four human pancreases were digested using 1 vial of the 6 different lots of Collagenase AF-1 (2,000-2,583 PZ-U/vial) supplemented with 4 different lots of NP AF in a range of 50 to 160 DMC-U per pancreas. Isolation, culture, and quality assessment were performed using standard techniques as previously described. All data are presented as mean +/- standard error of the mean (SEM). Variability of pancreas weight was associated with a wide range of collagenase and NP activities, ranging from 12.7 to 46.6 PZ-U/g (26.0 +/- 1.5 PZ-U/g) and 0.4 to 3.0 DMC-U/g (1.5 +/- 0.1 DMC-U/g), respectively. Postpurification islet yield was 296,494 +/- 33,620 islet equivalents (IEQ) equivalent to 3,274 +/- 450 IEQ/g with a purity of 55.9% +/- 3.2%. Quality assessment performed after 2 to 4 d of culture demonstrated a viability of 88.1% +/- 1.5% and a stimulation index of 3.7 +/- 0.7. Eighteen of the 34 preparations were transplanted into type 1 diabetic patients equivalent to a transplantation rate of 52.9%. Six preparations, which were infused into patients as first transplant, could be analyzed and increased the fasting C-peptide level from 0.11 +/- 0.08 pretransplant to 1.23 +/- 0.24 and 2.27 +/- 0.31 ng/mL 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. Insulin requirements were simultaneously reduced at the same time from 39.2 +/- 3.8 IU/d before transplantation to 10.8 +/- 4.1 and 4.0 +/- 2.3 IU/d, after 3 and 6 mo posttransplant (P < 0.05), respectively. This study demonstrates the efficiency of AF SERVA Collagenase AF-1 and NP AF for clinical islet isolation and transplantation. The new plant-based production process makes these products a safe new option for the islet field.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors most of the body's immune cells and is also a major HIV reservoir in ART-treated patients. To achieve a cure, most HIV-infected cells must be identified and eliminated. While obtaining gut biopsies is a relatively noninvasive method of sampling relevant tissue for monitoring HIV activity, immune cell isolation from these limited tissue samples has proven to be challenging. Enzymatic tissue digestion is required for maximal immune cell isolation from gut biopsies. However, these enzymatic digestions can also be detrimental for preservation of cellular surface markers that are required for accurate identification of various subsets of leukocytes. In this study, we describe an optimized protocol for isolation of lymphocytes from human gut biopsies. We also discuss our validation results, which show that compared with several other collagenase preparations, the use of CSLPA maintains high lymphocyte recovery while preserving the integrity of most cellular surface antigens that we tested. Importantly, chemokine receptors that are used to characterize various subsets of T cells, which are notorious for being digested during a typical enzymatic tissue digestion, are highly preserved using this protocol.

Collagenolytic proteases have many potential applications in different areas of science, industry, and medicine. The determination of the activity of such proteins is paramount to their application. Here, we describe methods which can be applied to determine the activity and some basic characteristics of potential collagenases. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media LLC.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors most of the body's immune cells and is also a major HIV reservoir in ART-treated patients. To achieve a cure, most HIV-infected cells must be identified and eliminated. While obtaining gut biopsies is a relatively noninvasive method of sampling relevant tissue for monitoring HIV activity, immune cell isolation from these limited tissue samples has proven to be challenging. Enzymatic tissue digestion is required for maximal immune cell isolation from gut biopsies. However, these enzymatic digestions can also be detrimental for preservation of cellular surface markers that are required for accurate identification of various subsets of leukocytes. In this study, we describe an optimized protocol for isolation of lymphocytes from human gut biopsies. We also discuss our validation results, which show that compared with several other collagenase preparations, the use of CSLPA maintains high lymphocyte recovery while preserving the integrity of most cellular surface antigens that we tested. Importantly, chemokine receptors that are used to characterize various subsets of T cells, which are notorious for being digested during a typical enzymatic tissue digestion, are highly preserved using this protocol.