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Heparin‐modified alginate microspheres enhance neovessel formation in hiPSC ‐derived endothelial cells and heterocellular in vitro models by controlled release of vascular endothelial growth factor
Author(s) -
Munarin Fabiola,
Kabelac Carly,
Coulombe Kareen L.K.
Publication year - 2021
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.37168
Subject(s) - heparin , self healing hydrogels , vascular endothelial growth factor , extracellular matrix , chemistry , in vitro , growth factor , tissue engineering , controlled release , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , biomedical engineering , biochemistry , pharmacology , biology , receptor , medicine , cancer research , vegf receptors , polymer chemistry
A formidable challenge in regenerative medicine is the development of stable microvascular networks to restore adequate blood flow or to sustain graft viability and long‐term function in implanted or ischemic tissues. In this work, we develop a biomimetic approach to increase the binding affinity of the extracellular matrix for the class of heparin‐binding growth factors to localize and control the release of proangiogenic cues while maintaining their bioactivity. Sulfate and heparin moieties are covalently coupled to alginate, and alginate microspheres are produced and used as local delivery depots for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Release of VEGF from sulfate‐alginate and heparin‐alginate bulk hydrogels and microspheres was sustained over 14 days. In vitro evaluation with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived endothelial cells and aortic ring assay in a chemically defined hydrogel demonstrates development of primitive three‐dimensional vessel‐like networks in the presence of VEGF released from the chemically modified alginate microspheres. Furthermore, our results suggest that the sulfate groups available on the chemically modified alginate microspheres promote some new vessel formation even in VEGF‐free samples. Based on this evidence, we conclude that sulfate‐ and heparin‐alginate hydrogels are adaptive and bioactive delivery systems for revascularization therapy and translational vascular tissue engineering.