Hyaluronic Acid/Collagen Nanofiber Tubular Scaffolds Support Endothelial Cell Proliferation, Phenotypic Shape and Endothelialization.

Yuqing Niu,Massimiliano Galluzzi

doi:10.3390/nano11092334

Abstract

In this study, we designed and synthetized artificial vascular scaffolds based on nanofibers of collagen functionalized with hyaluronic acid (HA) in order to direct the phenotypic shape, proliferation, and complete endothelization of mouse primary aortic endothelial cells (PAECs). Layered tubular HA/collagen nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning and crosslinking process. The obtained scaffold is composed of a thin inner layer and a thick outer layer that structurally mimic the layer the intima and media layers of the native blood vessels, respectively. Compared with the pure tubular collagen nanofibers, the surface of HA functionalized collagen nanofibers has higher anisotropic wettability and mechanical flexibility. HA/collagen nanofibers can significantly promote the elongation, proliferation and phenotypic shape expression of PAECs. In vitro co-culture of mouse PAECs and their corresponding smooth muscle cells (SMCs) showed that the luminal endothelialization governs the biophysical integrity of the newly formed extracellular matrix (e.g., collagen and elastin fibers) and structural remodeling of SMCs. Furthermore, in vitro hemocompatibility assays indicated that HA/collagen nanofibers have no detectable degree of hemolysis and coagulation, suggesting their promise as engineered vascular implants.

Highlights

Value of mouse primary aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) cultured on hyaluronic acid (HA)/collagen nanofibers was significantly higher than that of collagen nanofibers, and was close to those of mouse PAECs cultured on TCP
The contents of collagen nanofibers, smooth muscle bundles and elastin in the tissue-engineered vascular grafts constructed by 5 days of culture in vitro were significantly lower than those in the native arteries (Figure 7B). These findings suggest that the bulk hierarchical architecture of HA/collagen scaffolds directs the spatial distribution of PAECs and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) as well as the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM)
Electrospinning technology was used to prepare a hierarchical architecture nanofiber scaffold based on HA and collagen, which can temporarily create an environment similar to native artery tissue

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cardiovascular diseases are considered as the major cause of death worldwide [1]. Artery bypass grafting or replacement is an effective method for the treatment of degenerative arterial diseases, such as massive vascular occlusions caused by atherosclerosis. Various materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polycaprolactone and decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM), have been used to prepare vascular grafts [2,3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion