Charge-Controlled Synthetic Hyaluronan-Based Cell Matrices.

ABSTRACT: The extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a highly charged and hydrated network in which different cells in vertebrate tissues are embedded. Hydrogels as minimal ECM mimetics with a controlled chemistry offer the opportunity to vary material properties by varying the negative network charge. In this paper, a synthetic biology model of the ECM based on natural and highly negatively charged polyelectrolyte hyaluronic acid (HA) is characterized with specific emphasis on its charge-related bioactivity. Therefore, the thiol-Michael addition click reaction is used to produce HA hydrogels with defined network structure and charge density. The presented hydrogels show enzymatic degradability and cell attachment. These properties depend on both covalent and electrostatic interactions within the hyd

SUBMITTER: Hegger PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6017843 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature