Conductive Polyisocyanide Hydrogels Inhibit Fibrosis and Promote Myogenesis

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Developing reliable in vitro models is crucial for disease modeling and drug screening.
• Conductive biomaterials are increasingly used in in vitro models to guide cellular responses via electrical signals.
• Some conductive materials promote cell proliferation and adhesion even without external electrical stimulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conductive, fully synthetic hydrogel matrix for in vitro applications.
• To investigate the suitability of a PIC-PASA composite hydrogel as an in vitro matrix.
• To assess the impact of the hydrogel on cell fate and tissue repair.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a composite hydrogel by hybridizing peptide-modified polyisocyanide (PIC-RGD) with poly(aniline-co-N-(4-sulfophenyl)aniline) (PASA).
• Characterized the hydrogel's electroactive nature, fibrous architecture, and mechanical properties.
• Assessed biocompatibility and cellular response using cultured human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and murine C2C12 myoblasts.

Main Results:

• Incorporating PASA enhanced the electroactive properties of the PIC-RGD hydrogel without altering its architecture or mechanics.
• PIC-PASA hydrogels demonstrated biocompatibility with both HFFs and C2C12 cells.
• Immunofluorescence analysis showed PIC-PASA hydrogels inhibited fibrotic behavior in HFFs and promoted myogenesis in C2C12 cells, even without electrical stimulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed PIC-PASA composite hydrogel is a promising conductive biomaterial for in vitro applications.
• This hydrogel can actively modulate cell fate, inhibiting fibrosis and promoting myogenesis.
• The composite hydrogel offers a novel tool for advancing skin and muscle repair strategies.