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Collagen‐ P olymer Guidance of Vessel Network Formation and Stabilization by Endothelial Colony Forming Cells In Vitro
Author(s) -
Whittington Catherine F.,
Yoder Mervin C.,
VoytikHarbin Sherry L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201300128
Subject(s) - fibril , branching (polymer chemistry) , intermolecular force , biophysics , microstructure , in vitro , polymer , chemistry , stiffness , materials science , crystallography , composite material , molecule , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology
Vessel morphogenesis is vital to regenerative medicine strategies. Here, collagen polymers, specified by intermolecular cross‐link composition, are used to independently vary microstructure (fibril density, interfibril branching) and physical properties (stiffness) to guide 3D vessel network formation by endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC) in vitro. Increasing stiffness, by modulation of fibril density or interfibril branching, increases vessel diameter, length and branching. Oligomer matrices also induce vessel stabilization via type IV collagen deposition. This work shows that ECFC vessel formation depends on the interplay of collagen microstructure and physical properties and names oligomers and intermolecular cross‐links as key design parameters for vascular‐inductive matrices.