title: Angiogenic potential of gellan-gum-based hydrogels for application in nucleus pulposus regeneration: in vivo study.
abstract: Hydrogels for nucleus pulposus (NP) regeneration should be able to comprise a nonangiogenic or even antiangiogenic feature. Gellan gum (GG)-based hydrogels have been reported to possess adequate properties for being used as NP substitutes in acellular and cellular strategies, due to its ability to support cell encapsulation, adequate mechanical properties, and noncytotoxicity. In this study, the angiogenic response of GG-based hydrogels was investigated by performing the chorioallantoic membrane assay. The convergence of macroscopic blood vessels toward the GG, ionic-crosslinked methacrylated GG (iGG-MA), and photo-crosslinked methacrylated GG (phGG-MA) hydrogel discs was quantified. Gelatin sponge (GSp) and filter paper (FP) alone and with vascular endothelial growth factor were used as controls of angiogenesis. The images obtained were digitally processed and analyzed by three independent observers. The macroscopic blood vessel quantification demonstrated that the GG-based hydrogels are not angiogenic as compared with FP controls. No statistical differences between the GG-based hydrogels tested in respect to its angiogenic ability were observed. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and SNA-lectin immunohistochemistry assay indicated that the iGG-MA and phGG-MA hydrogels do not allow the ingrowth of chick endothelial cells, following 4 days of implantation. On the contrary, GG, GSp, and FP controls allowed cell infiltration. The histological data also indicated that the GG-based hydrogels do not elicit any acute inflammatory response. The results showed that the GG, iGG-MA, and phGG-MA hydrogels present different permeability to cells but functioned as a physical barrier for vascular invasion. These hydrogels present promising and tunable properties for being used as NP substitutes in the treatment of degenerative intervertebral disc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Engineering, 3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Guimarães, Portugal. joana.correia@dep.uminho.pt
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva-Correia
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miranda-Gonçalves
authors.forename: António J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Nuno
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Joaquim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Rui M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002642:Chick Embryo; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; C048288:gellan gum