Engineering injectable, biocompatible, and highly elastic bioadhesive cryogels.
Devyesh Rana1, Thibault Colombani1, Bahram Saleh1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
Materials Today. Bio
|March 7, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed injectable, mussel-inspired cryogel scaffolds that strongly adhere to tissues. These biomaterials mimic the extracellular matrix and show promise for regenerative medicine applications like wound healing.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- The extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial for tissue regeneration but synthetic biomaterials often lack intrinsic adhesion and proper architecture.
- Current tissue constructs may require invasive surgery and pose infection risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer syringe-injectable, macroporous cryogel scaffolds with strong bioadhesive properties mimicking the ECM.
- To address limitations of current synthetic biomaterials for tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Naturally-derived polymers (gelatin, hyaluronic acid) were used to create cryogels.
- Mussel-inspired dopamine (DOPA) was incorporated using a PEG spacer arm for bioadhesion.
- Glutathione was used as an antioxidant to prevent browning.
Main Results:
- DOPA-functionalized cryogels exhibited strong adhesion to various tissues (heart, lung, kidney, etc.).
- Cryogels showed negligible cytotoxicity and did not activate immune cells ex vivo.
- In vivo studies in rats demonstrated good tissue integration and minimal inflammation.
Conclusions:
- The developed mussel-inspired cryogels are injectable, bioadhesive, and minimally invasive.
- These scaffolds hold significant potential for wound healing, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
