01836nas a2200205 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120260001200189520120800201653001901409100001801428700001401446700001401460700001701474700001501491700001901506700001501525700001301540856007701553 2018 eng d00aSystemic and vascular inflammation in an in-vitro model of central obesity0 aSystemic and vascular inflammation in an invitro model of centra c02/20183 a

Metabolic disorders due to over-nutrition are a major global health problem, often associated with obesity and related morbidities. Obesity is peculiar to humans, as it is associated with lifestyle and diet, and so difficult to reproduce in animal models. Here we describe a model of human central adiposity based on a 3-tissue system consisting of a series of interconnected fluidic modules. Given the causal link between obesity and systemic inflammation, we focused primarily on pro-inflammatory markers, examining the similarities and differences between the 3-tissue model and evidence from human studies in the literature. When challenged with high levels of adiposity, the in-vitro system manifests cardiovascular stress through expression of E-selectin and von Willebrand factor as well as systemic inflammation (expressing IL-6 and MCP-1) as observed in humans. Interestingly, most of the responses are dependent on the synergic interaction between adiposity and the presence of multiple tissue types. The set-up has the potential to reduce animal experiments in obesity research and may help unravel specific cellular mechanisms which underlie tissue response to nutritional overload.

10aBioengineering1 aAhluwalia, A.1 aMisto, A.1 aVozzi, G.1 aMagliaro, C.1 aMattei, G.1 aMC, Marescotti1 aAVOGARO, A1 aIori, E. uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.019282401784nas a2200121 4500008004100000245009100041210006900132520133800201653001901539100001801558700001501576856007101591 2016 eng d00aSample, testing and analysis variables affecting liver mechanical properties: A review0 aSample testing and analysis variables affecting liver mechanical3 a

Given the critical role of liver mechanics in regulating cell response and directing the development of tissue fibrosis, accurately characterising its mechanical behaviour is of relevance for both diagnostic purposes as well as for tissue engineering and for the development of in-vitro models. Determining and quantifying the mechanical behaviour of soft biological tissues is, however, highly challenging due to their intrinsic labile nature. Indeed, a unique set of values of liver mechanical properties is still lacking to date; testing conditions can significantly affect sample status and hence the measured behaviour and reported results are strongly dependent on the adopted testing method and configuration as well as sample type and status. This review aims at summarising the bulk mechanical properties of liver described in the literature, discussing the possible sources of variation and their implications on the reported results. We distinguish between the intrinsic mechanical behaviour of hepatic tissue, which depends on sample variables, and the measured mechanical properties which also depend on the testing and analysis methods. Finally, the review provides guidelines on tissue preparation and testing conditions for generating reproducible data which can be meaningfully compared across laboratories.

10aBioengineering1 aAhluwalia, A.1 aMattei, G. uhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S174270611630460300588nas a2200157 4500008003900000245009400039210006900133260001100202300001100213653001900224100001700243700001500260700001500275700001800290856012200308 2013 d00a{SpHyGa: fabrication of hepatic lobule replicas using tissue derived material composites}0 aSpHyGa fabrication of hepatic lobule replicas using tissue deriv aMadrid aID 52010aBioengineering1 aMarca, La, M1 aTirella, A1 aMattei, G.1 aAhluwalia, A. uhttp://95.110.227.16/publications/sphyga-fabrication-hepatic-lobule-replicas-using-tissue-derived-material-composites01842nas a2200145 4500008004100000022001400041245008200055210006900137520137500206653001901581100001501600700001501615700001801630856004801648 2013 eng d a1552-496500a{Strain rate viscoelastic analysis of soft and highly hydrated biomaterials.}0 aStrain rate viscoelastic analysis of soft and highly hydrated bi3 a

Measuring the viscoelastic behaviour of highly hydrated biological materials is challenging because of their intrinsic softness and labile nature. In these materials it is difficult to avoid pre-stress and therefore to establish precise initial stress and strain conditions for lumped parameter estimation using creep or stress-relaxation tests. We describe a method ($ε$M or epsilon dot method) for deriving the viscoelastic parameters of soft hydrated biomaterials which avoids pre-stress and can be used to rapidly test degradable samples. Standard mechanical tests are first performed compressing samples using different strain rates. The dataset obtained is then analysed to mathematically derive the material's viscoelastic parameters. In this work a stable elastomer, PDMS, and a labile hydrogel, gelatin, were first tested using the $ε$M, in parallel stress-relaxation was used to compare lumped parameter estimation. After demonstrating that the elastic parameters are equivalent and that the estimation of short time constants is more precise using the proposed method, the viscoelastic behaviour of porcine liver was investigated using this approach. The results show that the constitutive parameters of hepatic tissue can be quickly quantified without the application of any pre-stress and before the onset of time dependent degradation phenomena.

10aBioengineering1 aTirella, A1 aMattei, G.1 aAhluwalia, A. uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2394605400587nas a2200145 4500008004100000245011400041210006900155300000800224653001900232100001500251700001900266700001800285700001400303856012400317 2008 eng d00aSviluppo e caratterizzazione meccanica di scaffold a base di collagene per la rigenerazione della cartilagine0 aSviluppo e caratterizzazione meccanica di scaffold a base di col a–10aBioengineering1 aMattei, G.1 aMontemurro, F.1 aAhluwalia, A.1 aVozzi, G. uhttp://95.110.227.16/publications/sviluppo-e-caratterizzazione-meccanica-di-scaffold-base-di-collagene-la-rigenerazione