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The transition of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype is crucial for the progression of normal wound healing. Persistent M1 macrophages within the injury site may lead to an uncontrolled macrophage-mediated inflammatory response and ultimately a failure of the wound healing cascade, leading to chronic wounds. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been widely reported to promote M1 to M2 macrophage transition; however, it is unclear whether MSCs can drive this transition in the hypoxic environment typically observed in chronic wounds. Here we report on the effect of hypoxia (1% O[Formula: see text] on MSCs’ ability to transition macrophages from the M1 to the M2 phenotype. While hypoxia had no effect on MSC secretion, it inhibited MSC-induced M1 to M2 macrophage transition, and suppressed macrophage expression and production of the anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10). These results suggest that hypoxic environments may impede the therapeutic effects of MSCs.

Biological surgical scaffolds are used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to support structural reinforcement and regeneration of soft tissue defects. Macrophage and fibroblast cell populations heavily regulate scaffold integration into host tissue following implantation. In the present study, the biological host response to a commercially available surgical scaffold (Meso BioMatrix Surgical Mesh (MBM)) was investigated for up to 9 weeks after subcutaneous implantation; this scaffold promoted superior cell migration and infiltration previously in in vitro studies relative to other commercially available scaffolds. Infiltrating macrophages and fibroblasts phenotypes were assessed for evidence of inflammation and remodeling. At week 1, macrophages were the dominant cell population, but fibroblasts were most abundant at subsequent time points. At week 4, the scaffold supported inflammation modulation as indicated by M1 to M2 macrophage polarization; the foreign body giant cell response resolved by week 9. Unexpectedly, a fibroblast subpopulation expressed macrophage phenotypic markers, following a similar trend in transitioning from a proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotype. Also, α-smooth muscle actin-expressing myofibroblasts were abundant at weeks 4 and 9, mirroring collagen expression and remodeling activity. MBM supported physiologic responses observed during normal wound healing, including cellular infiltration, host tissue ingrowth, remodeling of matrix proteins, and immune modulation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 716-725, 2018.

Objective: In diabetes, hyperglycemia causes the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through binding the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). Because exogenous growth factors have had little success in enhancing chronic wound healing, we investigated whether hyperglycemia-induced AGEs interfere with cellular responses to extracellular signals. We used stromal cell–derived factor-1 (SDF-1), an angiogenic chemokine also known to promote stem cell recruitment in skin wounds. Approach: Human leukemia-60 (HL-60) cells and mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which express the SDF-1 receptor CXCR-4, were incubated for 24 h in medium supplemented with 25 mM d-glucose. Soluble RAGE (sRAGE) was used to block RAGE activation. Response to SDF-1 was measured in cellular migration and ROS assays. A diabetic murine excisional wound model measured SDF-1 liposome and sRAGE activity in vivo. Results: Hyperglycemia led to significant accumulation of...

Chronic skin wounds are characterized by poor re-epithelialization, angiogenesis and granulation. Previous work has demonstrated that topical stromal cell-derived growth factor-1 (SDF1) promotes neovascularization, resulting in faster re-epithelialization of skin wounds in diabetic mice. However, the clinical usefulness of such bioactive peptides is limited because they are rapidly degraded in the wound environment due to high levels of proteases. Here, we describe the development of a recombinant fusion protein comprised of SDF1 and an elastin-like peptide that confers the ability to self-assemble into nanoparticles. The fusion protein and recombinant human SDF1 showed similar binding characteristics, as indicated by the measured equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) for the binding of free SDF1 or the fusion protein to the CXCR4 receptor. The biological activity of SDF1-ELP, as measured by intracellular calcium release in HL60 cells was dose dependent, and also very similar to that of free SDF1. In contrast, the biological activity of SDF1-ELP in vivo was significantly superior to that of free SDF1. When applied to full thickness skin wounds in diabetic mice, wounds treated with SDF1-ELP nanoparticles were 95% closed by day 21, and fully closed by day 28, while wounds treated with free SDF1, ELP alone, or vehicle were only 80% closed by day 21, and took 42days to fully close. In addition, the SDF1-ELP nanoparticles significantly increased the epidermal and dermal layer of the healed wound, as compared to the other groups. These results indicate that SDF1-ELP fusion protein nanoparticles are promising agents for the treatment of chronic skin wounds.

Wound healing is a hierarchical process of intracellular and intercellular signaling. Insulin is a potent chemoattractant and mitogen for cells involved in wound healing. Insulin's potential to promote keratinocyte growth and stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblasts is well described. However, there currently lacks an appropriate delivery mechanism capable of consistently supplying a wound environment with insulin; current approaches require repeated applications of insulin, which increase the chances of infecting the wound. In this study, we present a novel cell-based therapy that delivers insulin to the wound area in a constant or glucose-dependent manner by encapsulating insulin-secreting cells in nonimmunogenic poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microspheres. We evaluated cell viability and insulin secretory characteristics of microencapsulated cells. Glucose stimulation studies verified free diffusion of glucose and insulin through the microspheres, while no statistical difference in insulin secretion was observed between cells in microspheres and cells in monolayers. Scratch assays demonstrated accelerated keratinocyte migration in vitro when treated with microencapsulated cells. In excisional wounds on the dorsa of diabetic mice, microencapsulated RIN-m cells accelerated wound closure by postoperative day 7; a statistically significant increase over AtT-20ins-treated and control groups. Histological results indicated significantly greater epidermal thickness in both microencapsulated RIN-m and AtT-20ins-treated wounds. The results suggest that microencapsulation enables insulin-secreting cells to persist long enough at the wound site for a therapeutic effect and thereby functions as an effective delivery vehicle to accelerate wound healing.

Chronic skin wounds are a common complication of diabetes. When standard wound care fails to heal such wounds, a promising approach consists of using decellularized matrices and other porous scaffold materials to promote the restoration of skin. Proper revascularization is critical for the efficacy of such materials in regenerative medicine. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine known to play a key role for angiogenesis in ischemic tissues. Herein we developed nanosized SDF-1 liposomes, which were then incorporated into decellularized dermis scaffolds used for skin wound healing applications. SDF-1 peptide associated with liposomes with an efficiency of 80%, and liposomes were easily dispersed throughout the acellular dermis. Acellular dermis spiked with SDF-1 liposomes exhibited more persistent cell proliferation in the dermis, especially in CD31(+) areas, compared to acellular dermis spiked with free SDF-1, which resulted in increased improved wound closure at day 21, and increased granulation tissue thickness at day 28. SDF-1 liposomes may increase the performance of a variety of decellularized matrices used in tissue engineering.

During wound healing, fibroblasts deposit extracellular matrix that guides angiogenesis and supports the migration and proliferation of cells that eventually form the scar. They also promote wound closure via differentiation into α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-expressing myofibroblasts, which cause wound contraction. Low oxygen tension typical of chronic nonhealing wounds inhibits fibroblast collagen production and differentiation. It has been suggested that hypoxic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) secrete factors that promote wound healing in animal models; however, it is unclear whether these factors are equally effective on the target cells in a hypoxic wound environment. Here we investigated the impact of MSC-derived soluble factors on the function of fibroblasts cultured in hypoxic fibroblast-populated collagen lattices (FPCLs). Hypoxia alone significantly decreased FPCL contraction and α-SMA expression. MSC-conditioned medium restored hypoxic FPCL contraction and α-SMA expression to levels similar to normoxic FPCLs. SB431542, an inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-mediated signaling, blocked most of the MSC effect on FPCL contraction, while exogenous TGF-β1 at levels similar to that secreted by MSCs reproduced the MSC effect. These results suggest that TGF-β1 is a major paracrine signal secreted by MSCs that can restore fibroblast functions relevant to the wound healing process and that are impaired in hypoxia.

Studies have shown that UVB can slightly increase the penetration of nanoparticles through skin and significantly alter skin cell biology, thus it is important to understand if and how UVB may impact subsequent nanoparticle skin cell interactions. The research presented herein evaluates the effect of UVB on quantum dot (QD) uptake and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in primary keratinocytes, primary melanocytes, and related cell lines. QD exposure induced cell type dependent ROS responses increased by pre-exposing cells to UVB and correlated with the level of QD uptake. Our results suggest that keratinocytes may be at greater risk for QD induced ROS generation than melanocytes, and raise awareness about the differential cellular effects that topically applied nanomaterials may have on UVB exposed skin.

Chronic wounds, such as foot ulcers, are a common complication of diabetes. The environment in such wounds is a major factor in the failure of cellular processes that normally repair damaged skin to form a scar. It has been suggested that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may be used to promote the healing of chronic wounds. However, it is not known whether MSCs will be effective in the diabetic environment. This study aimed to set up an in vitro system to investigate the effect of MSCs on keratinocyte migration under a simulated diabetic wound environment, including hypoxia (1% O 2 in the gas phase), infection (emulated by 1µg/ml bacterial endotoxin), and high glucose (25mM) medium. Because serum interferes with MSC-derived products, the effect of serum concentration of keratinocyte proliferation was investigated, and it was found that 1% v/v serum could be used with no adverse effects on keratinocyte proliferation. Keratinocytes were then grown to confluence, and a scratch was used to create a model wound. The effect of these diabetic conditions in conjunction with MSC-derived products on keratinocyte migration in the scratch assay is being measured.

Chronic skin wounds are a common complication of diabetes. When standard wound care fails to heal such wounds, a promising approach consists of using decellularized matrices and other porous scaffold materials to promote the restoration of skin. Proper revascularization is critical for the efficacy of such materials in regenerative medicine. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a chemokine known to play a key role for angiogenesis in ischemic tissues. Herein we developed nanosized SDF-1 liposomes, which were then incorporated into decellularized dermis scaffolds used for skin wound healing applications. SDF-1 peptide associated with liposomes with an efficiency of 80%, and liposomes were easily dispersed throughout the acellular dermis. Acellular dermis spiked with SDF-1 liposomes exhibited more persistent cell proliferation in the dermis, especially in CD31(+) areas, compared to acellular dermis spiked with free SDF-1, which resulted in increased improved wound closure at day 21, and increased granulation tissue thickness at day 28. SDF-1 liposomes may increase the performance of a variety of decellularized matrices used in tissue engineering.

The growing presence of quantum dots (QD) in a variety of biological, medical, and electronics applications means an increased risk of human exposure in manufacturing, research, and consumer use. However, very few studies have investigated the susceptibility of skin to penetration of QD - the most common exposure route- and the results of those that exist are conflicting. This suggests that a technique allowing determination of skin barrier status and prediction of skin permeability to QD would be of crucial interest as recent findings have provided evidence of in vitro cytotoxicity and long-term in vivo retention in the body for most QD surface chemistries. Our research focuses on barrier status of the skin (intact and with ultraviolet radiation induced barrier defect) and its impact on QD skin penetration. These model studies are particularly relevant to the common application condition of NP containing sunscreen and SPF cosmetics to UV exposed skin. Herein we present our initial efforts to develop an in vivo model of nanoparticle skin penetration using the SKH-1 hairless mouse with transepidermal water loss (TEWL) to evaluate skin barrier status and determine its ability to predict QD penetration. Our results show that ultraviolet radiation increases both TEWL and skin penetration of QD. Additionally, we demonstrate cytotoxic potential of QD to skin cells using a metastatic melanoma cell line. Our research suggests future work in specific targeting of nanoparticles, to prevent or enhance penetration. This knowledge will be used to develop powerful therapeutic agents, decreased penetration cosmetic nanoparticles, and precise skin cancer imaging modalities.