Photocrosslinkable microgels derived from human platelet lysates: injectable biomaterials for cardiac cell culture

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases cause significant global morbidity and mortality.
• Myocardial ischemia (MI) leads to cardiomyocyte death and fibrotic scarring, impairing heart function.
• Injectable systems for *in situ* cell/molecule delivery are promising for myocardial tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate methacryloyl platelet lysates (PLMA) microparticles (MPs) as injectable systems for cardiac tissue repair.
• To assess PLMA MPs' capacity to serve as cell microcarriers for cardiac and endothelial cells.
• To investigate the xeno-free potential of PLMA MPs in cell culture.

Main Methods:

• PLMA microparticles were produced using droplet microfluidics.
• Cell attachment properties of PLMA MPs were evaluated.
• The capacity of PLMA MPs to function as cell microcarriers was tested in culture media without animal-derived serum.

Main Results:

• PLMA MPs exhibited excellent properties for cell attachment.
• PLMA MPs successfully served as cell microcarriers for cardiac and endothelial cells.
• The cell-carrying capacity of PLMA MPs was demonstrated in xeno-free culture conditions.

Conclusions:

• PLMA microparticles are a viable biomaterial for creating injectable systems for myocardial repair.
• These xeno-free microcarriers support cardiac and endothelial cell attachment and function.
• PLMA MPs represent a promising approach for advancing cardiac tissue engineering.