Abstract
The rapidly growing field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has brought about an increase in demand for biomaterials that mimic closely the form and function of biological tissues. Therefore, understanding the cellular response to the changes in material composition moves research one step closer to a successful tissue-engineered product. With this in mind, polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels comprised of different concentrations of polymer (2.5%, 4%, 6.5%, or 8% (w/v)); different protease sensitive, peptide cross-linkers (VPMSMRGG or GPQGIWGQ); and the incorporation or lack of a peptide cell adhesion ligand (RGD) were screened for their ability to support in vitro chondrogenesis. Human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs), a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like primary cell source, and ATDC5 cells, a murine carcinoma-derived chondrogenic cell line, were encapsulated within the various hydrogels to assess the effects of the different formulations on cellular viability, proliferation, and chondrogenic differentiation while receiving exogenous growth factor stimulation via the medium. Through the results of this screening process, the 6.5% (w/v) PEG constructs, cross-linked with the GPQGIWGQ peptide and containing the RGD cell binding molecule, demonstrated an environment that consistently supported cellular viability and proliferation as well as chondrogenic differentiation.
Highlights
The classical combination of cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and biomolecules is a main premise of tissue engineering strategies being explored to regenerate, repair, or replace compromised tissues and organs resulting from trauma, disease, or everyday wear and tear [1]
We have previously demonstrated the ability of the 6.5% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels functionalized with GPQGIWGQ and RGD peptides to support proliferation and chondrogenesis of Human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs) [26] as well as redifferentiation of 2D expanded human articular chondrocytes [38], the novelty of the present study is the more extensive variation of the PEG hydrogel compositions to further explore the influence of material properties on cell behavior as well as the evaluation of the behavior of ATDC5 cells in this hydrogel system
It was shown that PEG hydrogels composed of the R cross-linker continued to persist longer than 10 days when incubated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 but degraded after 4 days when incubated with MMP-2 [19]
Summary
The classical combination of cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and biomolecules is a main premise of tissue engineering strategies being explored to regenerate, repair, or replace compromised tissues and organs resulting from trauma, disease, or everyday wear and tear [1]. This approach first entails the isolation of tissue appropriate cells, followed by the expansion of the cells to the desired amount, their combination with biomaterial scaffolds and/or stimulatory factors, additional in vitro culture, and the implantation of the tissue-engineered construct into the host’s body to help heal the damaged tissue. The composition of the ECM is highly tissue-specific, meaning that each type of tissue has its own ECM comprised of different proteins, polysaccharides, and signaling molecules that are vital for that particular tissue’s morphogenesis
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