Improved Composite Hydrogel for Bioengineered Tracheal Graft Demonstrates Effective Early Angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Collagen-agarose hydrogel blends currently used in tracheal graft bioengineering contain relatively high concentrations of collagen to withstand mechanical stresses associated with native trachea function (e.g., breathing). Unfortunately, the high collagen content restricts effective cell infiltration into the hydrogel. In this study, we created an improved hydrogel blend with lower concentrations of collagen (<5 mg/mL) and characterized its capacity for fibroblast invasion and angiogenesis. Methods: Four collagen-agarose hydrogel blends were created: 1 mg/mL type 1 collagen (T1C) and 0.25% agarose, 1 mg/mL T1C and 0.125% agarose, 2 mg/mL T1C and 0.25% agarose, and 2 mg/mL T1C and 0.125% agarose. The hydrogel surface was seeded with fibroblasts, while b

SUBMITTER: Martins RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11396371 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature