Decreasing matrix modulus of PEG hydrogels induces a vascular phenotype in human cord blood stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Adult and congenital cardiovascular diseases are significant health problems that are often managed using surgery. Bypass grafting is a principal therapy, but grafts fail at high rates due to hyperplasia, fibrosis, and atherosclerosis. Biocompatible, cellularized materials that attenuate these complications and encourage healthy microvascularization could reduce graft failure, but an improved understanding of biomaterial effects on human stem cells is needed to reach clinical utility. Our group investigates stem-cell-loaded biomaterials for placement along the adventitia of at-risk vessels and grafts. Here, the effects of substrate modulus on human CD34+ stem cells from umbilical cord blood were evaluated. Cells were isolated by immunomagnetic separation and encapsulated in 3, 4, and 6 wei

SUBMITTER: Mahadevaiah S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4470844 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature