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Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Hydrogels that Support 3D Stem Cell Culture
Yongjian Wang1, Amy H McKinstry1, Kelly A Burke1,2,3
1Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, 191 Auditorium Road Unit 3222, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3222, United States.
Biomacromolecules
|May 7, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed new liquid crystalline (LC) hydrogels for tissue engineering. These anisotropic hydrogels support human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) viability and enhance proliferation, offering a promising platform for regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Hydrogels are crucial for soft tissue engineering but lack anisotropy.
- Existing hydrogels struggle to mimic the ordered extracellular matrix.
- Liquid crystalline (LC) polymers offer molecular ordering but face polymerization challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop biocompatible, anisotropic main-chain LC hydrogels in aqueous media.
- To investigate the effect of LC phases on mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) behavior.
- To create a novel synthetic approach for calamitic LC hydrogels for regenerative medicine.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of main-chain LC polymers in aqueous media.
- Characterization using calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, and X-ray scattering.
- Culturing and assessing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) within the hydrogels.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of high gel fraction LC hydrogels.
- Demonstrated organization into LC phases in both dry and hydrogel states.
- Observed excellent hMSC viability and significantly faster proliferation in LC hydrogels compared to non-LC controls.
Conclusions:
- A new synthetic strategy for calamitic LC hydrogels was established.
- These LC hydrogels support human stem cell encapsulation and culture.
- The developed hydrogels are suitable for anisotropic and responsive substrates in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
