title: Porous alginate hydrogel functionalized with virus as three-dimensional scaffolds for bone differentiation.
abstract: In regenerative medicine, a synthetic extracellular matrix is crucial for supporting stem cells during its differentiation process to integrate into surrounding tissues. Hydrogels are used extensively in biomaterials as synthetic matrices to support the cells. However, to mimic the biological niche of a functional tissue, various chemical functionalities are necessary. We present here, a method of functionalizing a highly porous hydrogel with functional groups by mixing the hydrogel with a plant virus, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and its mutant. The implication of this process resides with the three important features of TMV: its well-defined genetic/chemical modularity, its multivalency (TMV capsid is composed of 2130 copies of identical subunits), and its well-defined structural features. Previous studies utilizing the native TMV on two-dimensional supports accelerated mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, and surfaces modified with genetically modified viral particles further enhanced cell attachment and differentiation. Herein we demonstrate that functionalization of a porous alginate scaffold can be achieved by the addition of viral particles with minimal processing and downstream purifications, and the cell attachment and differentiation within the macroporous scaffold can be effectively manipulated by altering the peptide or small molecule displayed on the viral particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Medical Chronobiology Laboratory and Center for Colon Cancer Research, WJB Dorn VA Medical Center, South Carolina, United States.
authors.forename: Jittima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luckanagul
authors.forename: L Andrew
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Quyen L
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Pongkwan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sitasuwan
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shazly
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014027:Tobacco Mosaic Virus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase