Biofabrication and Characterization of Vascularizing PEG-Norbornene Microgels

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Establishing functional microvascular networks is crucial for tissue repair and engineered tissues.
• Vascularizing microgels can provide discrete, functional units for complex tissue development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate poly(ethylene glycol)-norbornene (PEGNB) microgels for creating vascularized tissue modules.
• To assess the ability of these microgels to form robust microvascular networks when embedded in hydrogels.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of poly(ethylene glycol)-norbornene (PEGNB) microgels containing endothelial and stromal cells using flow-focusing microfluidics.
• Embedding cell-laden microgels in bulk fibrin hydrogels.
• Extended preculture of microgels to observe vessel formation.

Main Results:

• Cell-laden PEGNB microgels initiated the formation of robust microvascular networks within fibrin hydrogels.
• Extended preculture led to the formation of basement membrane-supported vessel-like structures without aggregation.
• Demonstrated the suitability of PEG-based matrices for developing vascularizing microgels.

Conclusions:

• PEGNB microgels are effective for creating vascularized tissue modules.
• These microgels support the development of well-distributed, robust microvascular networks essential for tissue engineering applications.