Hydrogel mechanics are a key driver of bone formation by mesenchymal stromal cell spheroids.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can promote tissue repair in regenerative medicine, and their therapeutic potential is further enhanced via spheroid formation. Stress relaxation of hydrogels has emerged as a potent stimulus to enhance MSC spreading and osteogenic differentiation, but the effect of hydrogel viscoelasticity on MSC spheroids has not been reported. Herein, we describe a materials-based approach to augment the osteogenic potential of entrapped MSC spheroids by leveraging the mechanical properties of alginate hydrogels. Compared to spheroids entrapped in covalently crosslinked elastic alginate, calcium deposition of MSC spheroids was consistently increased in ionically crosslinked, viscoelastic hydrogels. We previously demonstrated that intraspheroidal presentation of Bone Morp

SUBMITTER: Whitehead J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7870573 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature