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Hybrid Polycaprolactone/Alginate Scaffolds Functionalized with VEGF to Promote de Novo Vessel Formation for the Transplantation of Islets of Langerhans
Author(s) -
Marchioli Giulia,
Luca Andrea Di,
de Koning Eelco,
Engelse Marten,
Van Blitterswijk Clemens A.,
Karperien Marcel,
Van Apeldoorn Aart A.,
Moroni Lorenzo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201600058
Subject(s) - islet , transplantation , scaffold , angiogenesis , biomedical engineering , vascular endothelial growth factor , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , vegf receptors , medicine , cancer research , biology , insulin
Although regarded as a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes, clinical islet transplantation in the portal vein is still hindered by a low transplantation outcome. Alternative transplantation sites have been proposed, but the survival of extra‐hepatically transplanted islets of Langerhans critically depends on quick revascularization after engraftment. This study aims at developing a new 3D scaffold platform that can actively boost vascularization and may find an application for extra‐hepatic islet transplantation. The construct consists of a 3D ring‐shaped polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold with heparinized surface to electrostatically bind vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), surrounding a hydrogel core for islets encapsulation. Heparin immobilization improves the amount of VEGF retained by the construct, up to 3.6 fold, compared to untreated PCL scaffolds. In a chicken chorioallanthoic membrane model, VEGF immobilized on the construct enhances angiogenesis in close proximity and on the surface of the scaffolds. After 7 days, islets encapsulated in the alginate core show functional response to glucose stimuli comparable to free‐floating islets. Thus, the developed platform has the potential to support rapid vascularization and islet endocrine function.