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Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Highly Porous Polymeric Materials for Stem Cell Culture
Joshua D Swindell1, Despina Coursari1, Charlotte E Severn2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
Chemistry of Materials : a Publication of the American Chemical Society
|August 18, 2025
Summary
This study developed hyaluronic acid-functionalized porous polymer scaffolds that significantly enhance hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell proliferation, advancing tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) require specific microenvironments for effective 3D culture.
- Existing biomaterials often lack the necessary functionality to support HSPC maintenance and proliferation.
- Developing advanced scaffolds is crucial for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize functional macroporous polymer scaffolds for supporting 3D HSPC culture.
- To functionalize glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-based polyHIPEs with hyaluronic acid (HA) for enhanced biocompatibility.
- To evaluate the efficacy of HA-functionalized scaffolds in promoting HSPC proliferation and viability.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of GMA-based polyHIPEs via photopolymerization and emulsion templating.
- Surface functionalization of polyHIPEs with HA using click chemistry (azide-alkyne cycloaddition).
- Characterization using NMR, FT-IR, Raman, XPS, SEM, and compression testing; assessment of cell viability and proliferation.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized and characterized HA-functionalized polyHIPEs with desirable morphological and mechanical properties.
- Demonstrated high functionalization efficiency using click chemistry.
- Observed a significant ~20% increase in CD36+ cell proliferation on HA-polyHIPE scaffolds compared to controls.
- Confirmed scaffold biocompatibility and suitability for stem cell culture.
Conclusions:
- HA-functionalized polyHIPEs serve as effective biomaterial scaffolds for 3D HSPC culture.
- The enhanced proliferation suggests HA coating mimics crucial aspects of the stem cell niche.
- These advanced scaffolds hold significant promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
