Eintrag in der Universitätsbibliographie der TU Chemnitz
Volltext zugänglich unter
URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:ch1-qucosa2-907308
Rajabasadi, Fatemeh
Schmidt, Oliver G. (Prof. Dr.) ; Baraban, Larysa (Prof. Dr.) (Gutachter)
Multifunctional 4D-Printed Sperm-Hybrid Microcarriers for Biomedical Applications
Kurzfassung in englisch
The field of biomedical sciences has been expanded through the introduction of a novel cohort of soft and intelligent microrobots that can be remotely operated and controlled through the use of external stimuli, such as ultrasound, magnetic fields, or electric fields, or internal stimuli, such as chemotaxis. The distinguishing factor of these microrobots lies in their propulsion system, which may encompass chemical, physical, or biohybrid mechanisms. Particularly, microrobots propelled by motile cells or microorganisms have found extensive usage because they combine the control/steerability and image-enhancement capabilities of the synthetic microstructures with the taxis and cell-interaction capabilities of the biological components. Spermatozoa (sperms), among other types of motile microorganisms and cells, are promising biological materials for building biohybrid microrobots because they are inherently designed to swim through complex fluids and organs, like those in the reproductive system, without triggering negative immune responses. Sperms are suitable for a variety of gynecological healthcare applications due to their drug encapsulating capability and high drug-carrying stability, in addition to their natural role of fertilization.One objective of this project is to help sperms reach the site of fertilization in vivo where the sperm count is low (20 million sperm per mL), a condition known as oligospermia. In order to reach this goal, we are developing alternative strategies for transporting a significant number of sperms, as well as improving the functionality of sperm-hybrid microcarriers. Here, we use a thermoresponsive hydrogel made of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and a non-stimuli-responsive polymer (IPS photoresist) to create four dimensional (4D)-printed sperm-hybrid microcarriers via two-photon polymerization (TPP). We present a multifunctional microcarrier that can: i) transport and deliver multiple motile sperms to increase the likelihood of fertilization, ii) capacitate/hyperactivate the sperms in situ through the local release of heparin, and iii) assist the degradation of the hyaluronic acid (HA), present in extracellular matrix (ECM) of oocyte-cumulus surrounded the Egg. HA degradation occurs through the local action of hyaluronidase-loaded polymersomes (HYAL-Psomes) that have been immobilized on the microcarrier's surface. Dual ultrasonic (US)/photoacoustic (PA) imaging technology can also be used to visualize a swarm of microcarriers, making them ideal candidates for upcoming in vivo applications.
In addition, as a second objective, we demonstrate that similar sperm-hybrid microcarriers can be utilized to deliver targeted enzymes and medication for the treatment of gynecological cancer. As proof of concept, we show that combined therapy using enzymes and anti-cancer drugs is an appealing strategy for disrupting the tumor tissue microenvironment and inducing cell apoptosis, thereby offering a more effective cancer therapy. To achieve this, we functionalize the microcarriers with polymersomes loaded with enzymes (such as hyaluronidase and collagenase) and anti-cancer drugs (such as curcumin), respectively, and demonstrate their cargo-release capability, enzyme function, and therapeutic effect for targeting cervical cancer cells in vitro.
| Universität: | Technische Universität Chemnitz | |
| Institut: | Professur Materialsysteme der Nanoelektronik | |
| Fakultät: | Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik | |
| Dokumentart: | Dissertation | |
| Betreuer: | Schmidt, Oliver G. (Prof. Dr.) | |
| URL/URN: | https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:ch1-qucosa2-907308 | |
| SWD-Schlagwörter: | Biomedizin , Mikroroboter , Mikrocarrier | |
| Freie Schlagwörter (Englisch): | 4D-printing lithography , biohybrid micromotors , multifunctional sperm-hybrid microcarriers , targeted cargo-delivery , assisted fertilization , cargo-loaded polymersomes | |
| DDC-Sachgruppe: | Ingenieurwissenschaften | |
| Sprache: | englisch | |
| Tag der mündlichen Prüfung | 06.03.2024 | |
| OA-Lizenz | CC BY-NC 4.0 |
