Exploring cell compatibility of a fibronectin-functionalized physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Physically crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels possess tunable mechanical properties suitable for soft tissues, including cardiovascular applications.
• The hydrophilic nature of PVA hydrogels hinders cell adhesion and spreading, limiting their use in hemocompatible applications like vascular grafts.
• Endothelization is a strategy to improve hemocompatibility, but requires enhanced cell adhesion on the material surface.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functionalization of PVA hydrogels with fibronectin (FN) to promote cell adhesion and spreading.
• To evaluate the suitability of fibronectin-functionalized PVA hydrogels for small-diameter vascular graft development using relevant cell types.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of physically crosslinked PVA hydrogels via a low-temperature thermally cycled process.
• Functionalization of PVA hydrogels with fibronectin (FN) through a simplified multistep reaction, omitting the typical carbonyl diimidazole activation step.
• Assessment of cell adhesion and spreading using primary porcine radial artery cells and vascular endothelial cells via confocal microscopy.

Main Results:

• Fibronectin (FN) functionalization was successfully achieved on PVA hydrogels.
• The elastic modulus of the PVA-FN hydrogels increased but remained within the range of cardiovascular tissues.
• Confocal microscopy confirmed significant adhesion and spreading of both porcine radial artery cells and vascular endothelial cells on PVA-FN surfaces, while minimal adhesion was observed on control PVA surfaces.

Conclusions:

• Fibronectin functionalization effectively enhances the adhesion and spreading of vascular cells on PVA hydrogels.
• This PVA-FN hydrogel system presents a promising foundation for developing synthetic small-diameter vascular grafts.
• The simplified functionalization process and improved cell interaction represent a step towards alternative vascular graft solutions.