Effective tuning of ligand incorporation and mechanical properties in visible light photopolymerized poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels dictates cell adhesion and proliferation.
Cell behavior is guided by the complex interplay of matrix mechanical properties as well as soluble and immobilized biochemical signals. The development of synthetic scaffolds that incorporate key functionalities of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) for support of cell proliferation and tissue regeneration requires that stiffness and immobilized concentrations of ECM signals within these biomaterials be tuned and optimized prior to in vitro and in vivo studies. A detailed experimental sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the key polymerization conditions that result in significant changes in both elastic modulus and immobilized YRGDS within visible light photopolymerized poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels. Among the polymerization conditions investigated, single as well as simultaneous variations in N-vinylpyrrolidinone and precursor concentrations of acryl-PEG3400-YRGDS resulted in a broad range of the hydrogel elastic modulus (81-1178 kPa) and YRGDS surface concentration (0.04-1.72 pmol cm(-2)). Increasing the YRGDS surface concentration enhanced fibroblast cell adhesion and proliferation for a given stiffness, while increases in the hydrogel elastic modulus caused decreases in cell adhesion and increases in proliferation. The identification of key polymerization conditions is critical for the tuning and optimization of biomaterial properties and the controlled study of cell-substrate interactions.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Wishnick Hall 314, 3255 S Dearborn St., Chicago, Illinois, 60616, USA. turtmic@hawk.iit.edu
Michael V
MV
Turturro
Sonja
S
Sokic
Jeffery C
JC
Larson
Georgia
G
Papavasiliou
D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D006244:Hardness / Q000502:physiology; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D008024:Ligands; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology
D000179:Acrylates; D020100:Hydrogels; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid