Extracellular Ca2+-sensing fluorescent protein biosensor based on a collagen-binding domain

By -
Our group published new research article, focused on further development of the 'biosensor scaffold' concept for advanced tissue engineering applications, such as imaging-assisted organoid engineering. Here, we collaborated with colleagues from Agilent Technologies and University of Tubingen (Laboratory of Professor Katja Schenke-Layland, Germany) to develop and functionally evaluate recombinant extracellular Ca2+-specific protein biosensors that can bind collagen- and cellulose-based tissue engineering scaffold materials. Using confocal and two-photon FLIM, and Matrigel-based 3D culture of mouse intestinal organoids, we evaluated performance of the collagen-binding biosensor and found that 3D culture of the intestinal epithelium can regulate extracellular Ca2+, potentially through the function of lipid droplets.

The article published in ACS Applied Bio Materials journal can be assessed here.
Twitter link. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New publication: evaluation of GelMA as a Matrigel replacement for small intestinal organoids

By -
Image
      In our new study (collaboration between Ghent University and Rousselot BV) we report application of GelMA (gelatin methacryloyl) hydrogels with tuneable mechanical properties and added laminin to the culture of the small intestinal organoids. We found that mechanical properties alone are not sufficient for basement membrane support, resulting in polarity reversion, in contrast to the Matrigel-grown cultures. Altogether, observed polarity reversion phenomenon highlights importance of the further research in biochemical factors, directing cell polarity in the epithelial cells, while it also provides a tractable way for producing 'apical-out' organoids. Congratulations to Lenie (for her work on this MSc research project), Irina (for her supervision and driving force), Thomas and Ruben for expertise with gelatins and Bert for expertise with pig intestinal organoids. The work has been published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering (Open Access): https://journals.sagepub...
Read more

New synthetic hydrogels for tumour spheroids and intestinal organoid cultures (publication)

By -
Image
  We collaborated with groups of Prof. Richard Hoogenboom and Prof. Devriendt (Ghent University) and tested application of poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) hydrogels (PAOx) for 3D cell cultures of cancer and stem cells. We found that encapsulation of small intestinal organoids into PAOx hydrogels results in polarity reversion, i.e. transition from basal to apical-out phenotype. This is useful for studying drug delivery, nutrient absorption and host-microbiota interactions within this model.  This figure shows dramatic differences of mitochondrial polarisation (TMRM) and appearance (transmission light) in small intestinal organoids, observed after apical-out transition (PAOx), in contrast to conventional Matrigel-grown culture: Since the PAOx hydrogels can show variable mechanical properties, we tested if encapsulation into stiff and soft hydrogels can affect behaviour of cancer cells in 3D: indeed, with HCT116 spheroids we found that stiffness of the hydrogels affect cell migration f...
Read more

Lab Photo: June 2025

By -
Image
Up to date photo of our team!   Nore, Irina, Johanna, Magali, Angela, Michele, Gabriele, Teresa*, Sara* and Hang First row: Ruslan  *Sara and Teresa are visiting PhD students funded by MSCA-DN Horizon project FLIMagin3D. 
Read more