Molecular dynamics at cell-biomaterial interface

Research Topics

What cells recognize, secret or remodel at the biomaterials interface is the provisional extracellular matrix. How it relates to the biocompatibility of materials and how we can control the matrix dynamics from the materials site is the main topic of research in the group.

We perform systematic studies in the following directions:

- Spontaneous assembly of ECM proteins at cell-biomaterials interface and their interaction with living cells;
- Electrospinning of nanofibres from natural and synthetic polymers for guided cellular behaviour;
- Cellular interaction with biomimetic hydroxiapatite nanocristals and protein composite coatings;
- Remodelling of ECM proteins at the cell-biomaterials interface.

A novel type of hybrid PLA-Fibrinogen nanofibres developed in our lab. They are deposited as random (a) or aligned (b) shown to induce distinct functional response of endothelial cells acquiring either stelate (c) or elongated (d) morphology, respectively (Gugutkov et al, 2010, in preparation)

 

 

 

 

Recently we have employed distinct silane chemistry and co-polymer compositions to create model substrates with controlled density of OH, COOH, NH2 and CH3 groups, thus varying their chemical composition, charge and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. Combining AFM, SEM and other nanoindentation techniques we examined the early protein adsorption events at the nanoscale, corroborating them with the microscopic response of endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Apart from the paradigm that cellular interaction depends mainly on the adsorption of soluble matrix proteins, we followed the surface behaviour of other important ECM constituents (nonsoluble), such as type IV collagen and laminin-unique multifunctional matrix proteins that play a crucial role in the organization of the basement membrane. In a series of recent communications we have described a novel phenomena – substratum-induced protein assembly – involving the behaviour of fibronectin, fibrinogen, vitronectin, collagen IV and laminin. Furthermore we show that varying with the density of OH groups, one can tailor living cell–protein interaction. In general, proteins can form objects of various shapes and one fascinating possibility is to use them for guiding cellular behaviour. Recently, nanotechnology has made it possible to produce biomimetic nanofibers; using our own device we successfully electrospun nanofibres from various natural and synthetic polymers and employed them in our ongoing research projects: EULANEST (international) and MAT 2009-1440 (national).

AFM images of adsorbed native collagen type IV in hydrophilic (A) and hydrophobic (B) environments. Adsorption concentration of 50 mg/ml for 30 minutes and magnification increasing from left to right (Coelho et al, 2010)

• Prof. Dr. George Altankov | Group Leader
• Dr. Marco Cantini | Postdoctoral Researcher
• Gianvito Lovero | Visiting Student

• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2011). Arrangement of type IV collagen and laminin on substrates with controlled density of -OH groups. Tissue Eng Part A., 17(17-18), 2245-57.
• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2011). Arrangement of type IV collagen on NH2 and COOH functionalized surfaces. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 108(12), 3009–3018.
• Perez, R., Del Valle, S., Altankov, G. & GInebra, M.-P. (2011). Porous hydroxyapatite and gelatin/hydroxyapatite microspheres obtained by calcium phosphate cement emulsion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 97B(1), 156–166.
• Gugutkov, D., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Altankov, G. & Salmeron-Sanchez, M. (2011). Fibrinogen organization at the cell-material interface directs endothelial cell behavior. Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 26(4), 375-387.
• Hristova, K., Pecheva, E., Pramatarova, L. & Altankov, G. (2011). Improved interaction of osteoblast-like cells with apatite-nanodiamond coatings depends on fibronectin. J Mater Sci Mater Med., 22(8), 1891-900.
• Perez, R., Del Valle, S., Altankov, G. & Ginebra, M. (2011). Porous hydroxyapatite and gelatin/hydroxyapatite microspheres obtained by calcium phosphate cement emulsion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B-Applied Biomaterials, 97B(1), 156-166.
• Coelho, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, C., Planell, J. A., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2010). Different assembly of type IV collagen on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrata alters endothelial cells interaction. Eur Cell Mater., 19, 262-272.
• Pegueroles, M., Aparicio, C., Bosio, M., Engel, E., Gil, F. J., Planell, J. A. & Altankov, G. (2010). Spatial organization of osteoblast fibronectin matrix on titanium surfaces: Effects of roughness, chemical heterogeneity and surface energy. Acta Biomaterialia, 6(1), 291 - 301.
• Gugutkov, D., Altankov, G., Hernández, J. C., Pradas, M. M. & Sánchez, M. S. (2010). Fibronectin activity on substrates with controlled -OH density. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 92A(1), 322-331.
• Shastri, V. P., Altankov, G. & Lendlein, A. (2010). Advances in regenerative medicine: Role of nanotechnology, and engineering principles. Dortrecht, The Netherlands. Springer..
• Salmeron-Sanchez, M. & Altankov, G. (2010). Cell-Protein-Material interaction in tissue engineering.. Tissue Engineering (ed. Eberli, D.). Vukovar,Croatia, Intech(524).
• Altankov, G., Groth, T., Engel, E., Gustavsson, J., Pegueroles, M., Aparicio, C., Gil, F. J., Ginebra, M.-P. & Planell, J. A (2010). Development of Provisional Extracellular Matrix on Biomaterials Interface: Lessons from In Vitro Cell Culture. In Shastri, Prasad, V., Altankov, George, Lendlein & Andreas (editors), Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology, and Engineering Principles. Springer Netherlands.
• Toromanov, G., González-García, C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2010). Vitronectin activity on polymer substrates with controlled –OH density. Polymer(51), 2329-2336.
• Toromanov, G., González-García, C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2010). Vitronectin activity on polymer substrates with controlled -OH density. Polymer, 51(11), 2329 - 2336.
• Groth, T., Liu, Z.-M., Niepel, M., Peschel, D., Kirchhof, K., Altankov, G. & Faucheux, N (2010). Chemical and Physical Modifications of Biomaterial Surfaces to Control Adhesion of Cells. Advances in Regenerative Medicine: Role of Nanotechnology, and Engineering Principles. Springer Netherlands.
• Keranov, I., Vladkova, T. G., Minchev, M., Kostadinova, A., Altankov, G. & Dineff, P. (2009). Topography characterization and initial cellular interaction of plasma-based Ar+ beam-treated PDMS surfaces. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 111(5), 2637-2646.
• Gugutkov, D., González-García, C., Hernández, J. C., Altankov, G. & Salmerón-Sánchez, M. (2009). Biological Activity of the Substrate-Induced Fibronectin Network: Insight into the Third Dimension through Electrospun Fibers. Langmuir, 25(18), 10893-10900.
• Rico, P., Hernandez, J. C., Moratal, D., Altankov, G., Pradas, M. M. & Salmeron-Sanchez, M. (2009). Substrate-Induced Assembly of Fibronectin into Networks: Influence of Surface Chemistry and Effect on Osteoblast Adhesion. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, 15(11), 3271-3281.
• Kirchhof, K., Hristova, K., Krasteva, N., Altankov, G. & Groth, T. (2009). Multilayer coatings on biomaterials for control of MG-63 osteoblast adhesion and growth. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 20, 897-907.
• Maneva-Radicheva, L., Ebert, U., Dimoudis, N. & Altankov, G. (2008). Fibroblast remodeling of collagen type IV is altered in contact with cancer cells. Histology&Histopathology(23), 833-841.
• Gustavsson, J., Altankov, G., Errachid, A., Samitier, J., Planell, J. A. & Engel, E. (2008). Surface modifications of silicon nitride for cellular biosensor applications. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19, 1839-1850.
• Keranov, I., Vladkova, T., Minchev, M., Kostadinova, A. & Altankov, G. (2008). Preparation, characterization, and cellular interactions of collagen-immobilized PDMS surfaces. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 110(1), 321-330.
• Engel, E., del Valle, S., Aparicio, C., Altankov, G., Asín, L., Planell, J. A. & Ginebra, M. (2008). Discerning the role of topography and ion exchange in cell response of bioactive tissue engineering scaffolds.. Tissue Eng Part A. 14, 8, 1341-51.
• Manara, S., Paolucci, F., Palazzo, B., Marcaccio, M., Foresti, E., Tosi, G., Sabatini, S., Sabatino, P., Altankov, G. & Roveri, N. (2008). Biomimetic hydroxiapatite coating electrochemically deposited on titanium plate. Inorganic Chimica Acta, 361(6), 1634-1645.
• Spasova, M., Stoilova, O., Manolova, N., Rashkov, I. & Altankov, G. (2007). Preparation of PLLA/PEG Nanofibers by Electrospinning and Potential Applications. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 22(1), 62-76.
• Dimitrova, M., Pramatarova, L., Pecheva, E., Laquerriere, P., Montgomery, P., Petrova, A. & Altankov, G. (2007). Osteoblast cell activity on calcium phosphate layers grown on glass by a laser-liquid-solid interaction. J Optoelectron Adv M 9, 240-243.
• Pecheva, E., Pramatarova, L. & Altankov, G. (2007). Hydroxyapatite Grown on a Native Extracellular Matrix:  Initial Interactions with Human Fibroblasts. Langmuir, 23(18), 9386-9392.
• Valtcheva-Sarker, R., Stephanova, E., Hristova, K., Altankov, G., Momchilova, A. & Pankov, R. (2007). Halothane affects focal adhesion proteins in the A 549 cells. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 295, 59-64.
• Manara, S., Paolucci, F., Palazzo, B., Marcaccio, M., Foresti, E., Tosi, G., Sabatini, S., Sabatino, P., Altankov, G. & Roveri, N. (2007). Electrochemically-assisted deposition of biomimetic hydroxyapatite–collagen coatings on titanium plate. Inorg Chim Acta (in press).
• Kostadinova, A., Seifert, B., Albrecht, W., Malsch, G., Groth, T., Lendlein, A. & Altankov, G. Novel Polymer Blends for the Preparation of Membranes for Biohybrid Liver Systems. Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 20, 821-839(19).

Projects

• Electrospinning of nanofibres from natural and synthetic polymers for tissue engineering application George Altankov
• Quantitative studies on the strength of cell adhesion George Altankov
• Cellular interaction with biomimetic hydroxiapatite nanocristals and protein composites George Altankov
• MATIX DYNAMICS Dinámica de las proteínas de la matriz en la interfase célula-material (2009-2012). George Altankov
• FIBROGEL Bioinspired Nanofibrous Gel for Tissue Engineering of Cartilage and Bone (2010- ). George Altankov

Collaborations

• National University of la Plata, Buenos Aires (Argentina).


• Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).


• Center for Biomaterials, Technical University of Valencia, Spain


• University of Bologna, LEBSC (Laboratorio di Strutturistica Chimica Ambientale e Biologica), Bologna


• Institute for Biophysics and Institute of Solid State Physics at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofi


• Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany


• GKSS Research Centrum Institute of Chemistry, Teltow, Germany

• Equipment for advanced cell culturing
• Experimental electrospining devicedesigned for the production of nanofibres from natural and synthetic polymers
• Flow chamber

  for measuring the strength of cell adhesion

29/09/2010

Spanning continents: tissue regeneration project wins EU funding

A multidisciplinary research project coordinated at IBEC by group leader George Altankov has been selected for funding by the EU as part of the European-Latin American Network for Science and Technology (EULANEST).