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Seaweed polysaccharides as macromolecular crowding agents.

Andrea De Pieri1, Shubhasmin Rana2, Stefanie Korntner2

  • 1Regenerative, Modular & Developmental Engineering Laboratory (REMODEL), Biomedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), Galway, Ireland; Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), Biomedical Sciences Building, National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), Galway, Ireland; Proxy Biomedical Ltd., Coilleach, Spiddal, Galway, Ireland.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 18, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Seaweed polysaccharides enhance extracellular matrix deposition in stem cell cultures, promoting tissue engineering. Carrageenan, fucoidan, galactofucan, and ulvan show promise for developing implantable devices.

Keywords:
Extracellular matrix depositionMacromolecular crowdingSulphated polysaccharides

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based tissue engineering requires prolonged in vitro culture, leading to phenotypic drift and hindering clinical translation.
  • Macromolecular crowding accelerates extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition but the optimal crowder remains unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the biophysical properties of seaweed-derived sulphated polysaccharides.
  • To assess their effects on human adipose-derived stem cell (hASC) cultures for tissue engineering applications.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed biophysical properties (charge, polydispersity, hydrodynamic radius, volume occupancy) of various seaweed polysaccharides at different concentrations.
  • Evaluated effects on hASC viability, ECM deposition (collagen I and V), and differentiation (osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, adipogenesis).

Main Results:

  • Carrageenan exhibited the highest negative charge. No correlation was found between crowder concentration and biophysical properties.
  • Carrageenan, fucoidan, galactofucan, and ulvan significantly increased ECM deposition, particularly collagen types I and V.
  • Carrageenan promoted osteogenesis; galactofucan and fucoidan enhanced chondrogenesis. Arabinogalactan negatively impacted cell viability.

Conclusions:

  • Sulphated seaweed polysaccharides, especially carrageenan, fucoidan, galactofucan, and ulvan, are effective macromolecular crowders for enhancing ECM deposition in hASC cultures.
  • These polysaccharides show significant potential for advancing tissue engineering and the development of implantable devices.