Abstract
Poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) induces the formation of biomimetic fibronectin (FN) (nano)networks upon simple adsorption from solutions, a process referred to as material-driven FN fibrillogenesis. The ability of PEA to organize FN has been demonstrated in 2D and 2.5D environments, but not as yet in 3D scaffolds, which incorporate three-dimensionality and chemical crosslinkers that may influence its fibrillogenic potential. In this paper we show for the first time that while three-dimensionality does not interfere with PEA-induced FN fibrillogenesis, crosslinking does, and we determined the maximum amount of crosslinker that can be added to PEA to maintain FN fibrillogenesis. For this, we synthesised 2D substrates with different amounts of crosslinker (1–10% of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and studied the role of crosslinking in FN organization using AFM. The glass transition temperature was seen to increase with crosslinking density and, accordingly, polymer segmental mobility was reduced. The organization of FN after adsorption (formation of FN fibrils) and the availability of the FN cell-binding domain were found to be dependent on crosslinking density. Surface mobility was identified as a key parameter for FN supramolecular organization. PEA networks with up to 2% crosslinker organize the FN in a similar way to non-crosslinked PEA. Scaffolds prepared with 2% crosslinker also had FN (nano)networks assembled on their walls, showing PEA’s ability to induce FN fibrillogenesis in 3D environments as long as the amounts of crosslinker is low enough.
Highlights
Biomaterials play a key role in regenerative medicine, acting as synthetic extracellular matrices (ECM)
ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) has two double bonds that open in the presence of a catalyser forming four radicals that can covalently bond four polymeric Poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) chains per EGDMA molecule, imposing a restriction on the molecular mobility of the polymer
The results indicate that these fibres had been completely removed, as no traces were found in the Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) scan in which both scaffold and PEA-2% curves overlap (Fig. 5)
Summary
Biomaterials play a key role in regenerative medicine, acting as synthetic extracellular matrices (ECM). The main function of scaffolds or 3D engineered ECM is to mimic the functions of natural ECM, acting as a support to allow tissue development, control tissue structure and regulate the cell phenotype [4,5,6,7]. These synthetic biomaterials are biologically inert and have to be functionalised with adhesive proteins or active biomolecules to become bioactive, so that the material becomes biologically active and it is recognized by the cells, enabling adhesion, proliferation and differentiation [8,9,10,11,12,13]. Proteins are adsorbed in different quantities, densities, conformations, and orientations, according to the physico-chemical properties of the substrate [15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
