Phototunable interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels to stimulate the vasculogenesis of stem cell-derived endothelial progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Vascularization of engineered scaffolds remains a critical obstacle hindering the translation of tissue engineering from the bench to the clinic. We previously demonstrated the robust micro-vascularization of collagen hydrogels with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived endothelial progenitors; however, physically cross-linked collagen hydrogels compact rapidly and exhibit limited strength. We have synthesized an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel comprised of collagen and norbornene-modified hyaluronic acid (NorHA) to address these challenges. This dual-network hydrogel combines the natural cues presented by collagen's binding sites and extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking fibrous architecture with the in situ modularity and chemical cross-linking of NorHA. We modulate

SUBMITTER: Crosby CO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7983093 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature