Cell-Laden Gradient Hydrogel Scaffolds for Neovascularization of Engineered Tissues.

ABSTRACT: Gradients in mechanical properties, physical architecture and biochemical composition exist in a variety of complex tissues, yet 3D in vitro models that enable investigation of these cues on cellular processes, especially those contributing to vascularization of engineered tissues are limited. Here, a photopolymerization approach to create cell-laden hydrogel biomaterials with decoupled and combined gradients in modulus, immobilized cell adhesive peptide (RGD) concentration, and proteolytic degradation enabling spatial encapsulation of vascular spheroids is reported to elucidate their impact on vascular sprouting in 3D culture. Vascular spheroids encapsulated in these gradient scaffolds exhibit spatial variations in total sprout length. Scaffolds presenting an immobilized RGD gradient prom

SUBMITTER: He YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8035317 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature