title: Network connectivity, mechanical properties and cell adhesion for hyaluronic acid/PEG hydrogels.
abstract: The study aimed to explore the influence of the network architecture on the mechanical properties and degradability of HA/PEG gels, and to highlight the relationship between Young's modulus and cell colonization with a selected architecture. Three different families of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based photopolymerized PEG diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were compared, using different concentrations and molecular weights (64 and 234 kDa) of HA: semi-IPNs containing native HA in a PEG network (type I gels); co-networks obtained using thiolated HA as chain transfer agent during PEGDA polymerization (type II gels); co-networks obtained from the in situ preparation of a macromonomer derived from the Michael-type addition of thiolated HA on PEGDA (type III gels). From a comparative study of rheological properties and enzymatic degradability, type II gels were selected for a further study aiming to link their mechanical properties to cell spreading. Employing RGD-functionalized materials, Young's moduli were measured via AFM nanoindentation while the cell spreading behavior was quantitatively evaluated by monitoring morphology and metabolic activity (MTS assay) of L929 fibroblasts. By revealing a clear relation between increasing modulus and increasing cell spreading/proliferation, the study showed the possibility to fine tune the cell/material interactions with appropriate reactive processing techniques.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedicine, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sihem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouasti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donno
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cellesi
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sherratt
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terenghi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tirelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006244:Hardness / Q000187:drug effects; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058105:Polymerization / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid