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Mechanically Stable C2-Phenylalanine Hybrid Hydrogels for Manipulating Cell Adhesion
Auphedeous Y Dang-I1, Ayesha Kousar1, Jinying Liu1
1State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Dongchuan Rd 800 , 200240 Shanghai , China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 20, 2019
Summary
Researchers enhanced supramolecular hydrogels for tissue engineering by adding functionalized dextran. The modified hydrogels show improved mechanical stability and cell adhesion, increasing their potential for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Supramolecular hydrogels are crucial for tissue engineering due to their influence on cell fate.
- Enhancing the mechanical properties and stability of hydrogels is key for their application as biological substrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the stability and mechanical properties of a C2-phenylalanine gelator (LPF) hydrogel.
- To investigate the incorporation of functionalized dextran derivatives (carboxymethyl dextran and amino dextran) into LPF hydrogels.
- To evaluate the impact of these hybrid hydrogels on cell adhesion and spreading.
Main Methods:
- Dextran was modified via esterification to carboxymethyl dextran (CMDH) and amidation to amino dextran (AD).
- Hybrid hydrogels (LPF-ADx and LPF-CMDHx) were synthesized by incorporating CMDH and AD into the LPF gelator.
- Morphological, rheological, and cell culture studies were performed to characterize the hybrid hydrogels and their biological interactions.
Main Results:
- Hybrid hydrogels exhibited enhanced mechanical stability compared to the neat LPF hydrogel, with LPF-CMDH3 showing the highest elastic modulus (11,654 Pa).
- Morphological studies indicated dense, branched fiber formation in hybrid hydrogels.
- NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion and spreading were significantly improved on the LPF-CMDH3 substrate.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized dextran derivatives effectively enhance the mechanical properties and stability of LPF supramolecular hydrogels.
- The developed hybrid hydrogels show great potential for applications in tissue engineering due to improved cell interaction and mechanical strength.
- This approach offers a viable strategy for strengthening weak supramolecular gelators for broader biomedical use.
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