Enzymatically triggered glucose-releasing scaffolds as nutritional supports for millimeter-scale tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Millimeter-sized tissue construction is limited by nutrient diffusion (100-200 μm).
• Mammalian cells require glucose for metabolic activity and function.
• Existing glucose delivery systems lack localized control for tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a glucose-releasing alginate scaffold for supporting cell viability and tissue construction.
• To investigate the efficacy of glucose-releasing capsules (Glc-RCs) and fibers (Glc-RFs) in vitro.
• To explore the potential of the scaffold in 3D tissue-engineered constructs.

Main Methods:

• Alginate scaffold fabrication with embedded glycogen and amyloglucosidase for glucose release.
• Characterization of Glc-RCs for sustained glucose release and cell proliferation assays (C2C12, hAMSCs).
• Incorporation of Glc-RFs into 3D tissue constructs and assessment of fibroblast apoptosis.

Main Results:

• Glc-RCs provided sustained glucose release for up to 4 days without affecting cell proliferation.
• Glc-RCs supported C2C12 myoblast differentiation into myotubes.
• Glc-RFs reduced apoptosis in human dermal fibroblasts within 1000 μm in 3D constructs.

Conclusions:

• The developed glucose-releasing scaffold effectively supports cell proliferation, differentiation, and viability in engineered tissues.
• The scaffold's tunable glucose release and 3D printable nature offer a promising localized delivery system.
• This technology has potential for advancing millimeter-sized tissue construction and studying glucose diffusion dynamics.