A Heparin-Functionalized Scaffold with HB-EGF Immobilization for Tissue Engineering

The introduction of growth factors (GFs) into scaffolds to mimic the in vivo microenvironment is a promising approach for tissue engineering. In this study, a heparin-functionalized scaffold is designed to mimic the GFs reservoir function of extracellular matrix (ECM). Owing to its heparin-binding domain, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is effectively and spatially captured by heparin-functionalized scaffold. Furthermore, the strong interaction between heparin and heparin-binding domain confers excellent stability of the immobilized HB-EGF in scaffold over a long period. The heparin-functionalized scaffold immobilized with HB-EGF facilitates cell adhesion and promotes proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), while not inducing their differentiation during proliferation. These results indicate that the immobilized HB-EGF has a promotive effect on proliferation of hMSCs without triggering spontaneous differentiation, and the system shows as a promising strategy to enhance stem cells proliferation in scaffolds.