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Incorporation of biomimetic matrix molecules in PEG hydrogels enhances matrix deposition and reduces load‐induced loss of chondrocyte‐secreted matrix
Author(s) -
Roberts Justine J.,
Nicodemus Garret D.,
Giunta Suzanne,
Bryant Stephanie J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.33057
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , extracellular matrix , aggrecan , glycosaminoglycan , materials science , chondrocyte , cartilage , tissue engineering , peg ratio , matrix (chemical analysis) , hyaluronic acid , biophysics , ethylene glycol , regeneration (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , chemistry , biochemistry , anatomy , polymer chemistry , articular cartilage , biology , composite material , osteoarthritis , organic chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , finance , pathology , economics
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels offer numerous advantages in designing controlled 3D environments for cartilage regeneration, but offer little biorecognition for the cells. Incorporating molecules that more closely mimic the native tissue may provide key signals for matrix synthesis and may also help in the retention of neotissue, particularly when mechanical stimulation is employed. Therefore, this research tested the hypothesis that exogenous hyaluronan encapsulated within PEG hydrogels improves tissue deposition by chondrocytes, while the incorporation of Link‐N (DHLSDNYTLDHDRAIH), a fragment of link protein that is involved in stabilizing hyaluronan and aggrecan in cartilage, aids in the retention of the entrapped hyaluronan as well as cell‐secreted glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), particularly when dynamic loading is employed. The incorporation of Link‐N as covalent tethers resulted in a significant reduction, ∼60%, in the loss of entrapped exogenous hyaluronan under dynamic stimulation. When chondrocytes were encapsulated in PEG hydrogels containing exogenous hyaluronan and/or Link‐N, the extracellular matrix (ECM) analogs aided in the retention of cell‐secreted GAGs under loading. The presence of hyaluronan led to enhanced deposition of collagen type II and aggrecan. In conclusion, our results highlight the importance of ECM analogs, specifically hyaluronan and Link‐N, in matrix retention and matrix development and offer new strategies for designing scaffolds for cartilage regeneration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2011.