In situ generation of cell-laden porous MMP-sensitive PEGDA hydrogels by gelatin leaching

Proteolytically degradable poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) hydrogels have been investigated as tissue engineering scaffolds; however, cell invasion and tissue regeneration are limited by the rate of cell-mediated degradation due to the small mesh size of the resultant crosslinked network. Gelatin leaching is combined with photopolymerization to form porous matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive PEG scaffolds under cytocompatible conditions in the presence of cells. Gelatin leaching allows control over pore size and porosity through selectivity of gelatin bead particle size and porogen loading, respectively. Increases in porogen loading lead to increased porosity, decreased compressive modulus and degradation time, and enhanced proliferation of encapsulated vascular smooth muscle cells.