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Published on: January 14, 2021
Synthetic hydrogels engineered to promote collecting lymphatic vessel sprouting
Joshua S T Hooks1, Fabrice C Bernard2, Ricardo Cruz-Acuña2
1Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr. Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Dr. Atlanta, GA, 30313, USA.
Biomaterials can promote lymphatic vessel growth. An engineered hydrogel scaffold with specific elasticity, RGD peptide, and protease degradability best supported lymphatic sprouting and vessel grafting for regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- The lymphatic vasculature is crucial for fluid balance, immune transport, and lipid absorption.
- Developing biomaterial strategies for lymphatic regeneration and studying lymphatic biology is an emerging field.
- Platforms that promote lymphatic sprouting from collecting vessels are particularly underdeveloped.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent effects of matrix elasticity, degradability, and adhesive peptide presentation on lymphatic vessel sprouting.
- To engineer a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel scaffold to promote lymphangiogenesis.
- To assess the functional integration of grafted lymphatic vessels within a host vasculature.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modular, PEG-based hydrogel system to systematically vary matrix properties.
- Implanted segments of rat lymphatic collecting vessels into engineered hydrogels.
- Assessed lymphatic sprouting and vessel integration using various physicochemical matrix parameters.
Main Results:
- An engineered hydrogel with 680 Pa elasticity, 2.0 mM RGD peptide, and protease degradability demonstrated maximal lymphatic sprouting.
- This optimized hydrogel facilitated the functional grafting of an implanted donor lymphatic vessel into the host vasculature.
- Specific hydrogel properties significantly influenced lymphatic collecting vessel collateralization.
Conclusions:
- The engineered hydrogel serves as a promising scaffold for in vivo lymphangiogenesis.
- This platform aids in understanding the cellular mechanisms of lymphatic sprouting and collateralization.
- Biomaterial design is critical for advancing lymphatic regenerative therapies.
