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Three-Dimensional Culture of Vascularized Thermogenic Adipose Tissue from Microvascular Fragments

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Hydrogel-Based Engineering of Beige Adipose Tissue.

M K Vaicik¹, M Morse², A Blagajcevic²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL ; Research Service, Veteran Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL.

Journal of Materials Chemistry. B

|December 23, 2015

Summary

Researchers engineered beige adipose tissue using hydrogels and stem cells. This approach could offer a new treatment for obesity and metabolic diseases by increasing energy expenditure.

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Last Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Three-Dimensional Culture of Vascularized Thermogenic Adipose Tissue from Microvascular Fragments

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Published on: February 3, 2023

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Engineering a Bilayered Hydrogel to Control ASC Differentiation

Engineering a Bilayered Hydrogel to Control ASC Differentiation

Published on: May 25, 2012

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Engineering
Stem Cell Biology
Metabolic Disease Research

Background:

Brown and beige adipose tissues are crucial for energy expenditure, offering potential treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders.
Limited natural volumes of these tissues in adults restrict their therapeutic application.
Engineering adipose tissue presents a viable alternative to increase functional tissue mass.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a hydrogel-based system for engineering functional beige adipose tissue.
To assess the differentiation and function of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) within engineered scaffolds.
To investigate the influence of scaffold properties on beige adipocyte development.

Main Methods:

Preparation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGDA) hydrogels with mechanical properties mimicking native adipose tissue.
Culture of ASCs within hydrogels lacking adhesive sequences or degradable monomers.
Induction of beige adipocyte differentiation and assessment of key markers like uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1).

Main Results:

ASCs differentiated into viable, functioning adipose tissue within the hydrogels, independent of scaffold properties.
Engineered tissue expressed native basement membrane proteins, characteristic of adipose tissue.
Hydrogel stiffness influenced the expression of beige adipocyte markers (UCP-1, cIDEA) in differentiated ASCs.

Conclusions:

A hydrogel-based culture system successfully supported the differentiation and function of ASCs into beige adipocytes.
This system represents a foundational step towards engineering therapeutically relevant volumes of beige adipose tissue.
Scaffold properties, specifically stiffness, can modulate the characteristics of engineered beige adipocytes.