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Bioactive Hydrogels Based on Tyramine and Maleimide Functionalized Dextran for Tissue Engineering Applications
Lin Zhong1, Alma Tamunonengiofori Banigo1, Bram Zoetebier1
1Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 27, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed bioactive hydrogels for tissue engineering using enzyme-catalyzed crosslinking and bio-functionalization. These dextran-based hydrogels support cell viability and differentiation, offering a versatile platform for tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hydrogels are crucial in tissue engineering for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) and supporting cell functions.
- Dextran-based hydrogels, while structurally advantageous, lack inherent biological activity, hindering their application.
- Developing bioactive hydrogels is essential for advancing tissue engineering strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create bioactive hydrogels by functionalizing dextran with tyramine and maleimide groups.
- To enable enzyme-catalyzed crosslinking for tunable hydrogel properties.
- To investigate the impact of hydrogel stiffness and RGD peptide incorporation on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Sequential thiol-maleimide bio-functionalization of dextran.
- Enzyme-catalyzed crosslinking using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
- Incorporation of arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) peptides to enhance bioactivity.
- Encapsulation of hMSCs to assess cell viability and differentiation under varying hydrogel conditions.
Main Results:
- Tunable hydrogel gelation time and stiffness were achieved by adjusting H2O2 concentrations.
- High hMSC viability (over 88% on day 1, 60-81% by day 14) was maintained within the hydrogels.
- The hydrogels promoted adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs, confirmed by Oil Red O staining.
- Hydrogel stiffness and RGD concentration influenced hMSC differentiation outcomes.
Conclusions:
- DexTA-Mal hydrogels provide a biocompatible scaffold that supports cell viability and promotes differentiation.
- The developed hydrogels offer a versatile platform for tissue engineering applications.
- This strategy enhances the biological function of dextran-based hydrogels for regenerative medicine.
