Structurally and mechanically tuned macroporous hydrogels for scalable mesenchymal stem cell-extracellular matrix spheroid production.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are essential in regenerative medicine. However, conventional expansion and harvesting methods often fail to maintain the essential extracellular matrix (ECM) components, which are crucial for their functionality and efficacy in therapeutic applications. Here, we introduce a bone marrow-inspired macroporous hydrogel designed for the large-scale production of MSC-ECM spheroids. Through a soft-templating approach leveraging liquid-liquid phase separation, we engineer macroporous hydrogels with customizable features, including pore size, stiffness, bioactive ligand distribution, and enzyme-responsive degradability. These tailored environments are conducive to optimal MSC proliferation and ease of harvesting. We find that soft hydrogels enhance mechanotransduction

SUBMITTER: Yin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11253011 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature