Combining self-assembling peptide gels with three-dimensional elastomer scaffolds.
Some of the problems raised by the combination of porous scaffolds and self-assembling peptide (SAP) gels as constructs for tissue engineering applications are addressed for the first time. Scaffolds of poly(ethyl acrylate) and the SAP gel RAD16-I were employed. The in situ gelation of the SAP gel inside the pores of the scaffolds was studied. The scaffold-cum-gel constructs were characterized morphologically, physicochemically and mechanically. The possibility of incorporating an active molecule (bovine serum albumin, taken here as a model molecule for others) in the gel within the scaffold's pores was assessed, and the kinetics of its release in phosphate-buffered saline was followed. Cell seeding and colonization of these constructs were preliminarily studied with L929 fibroblasts and subsequently checked with sheep adipose-tissue-derived stem cells intended for further preclinical studies. Static (conventional) and dynamically assisted seedings were compared for bare scaffolds and the scaffold-cum-gel constructs. The SAP gel inside the pores of the scaffold significantly improved the uniformity and density of cell colonization of the three-dimensional (3-D) structure. These constructs could be of use in different advanced tissue engineering applications, where, apart from a cell-friendly extracellular matrix -like aqueous environment, a larger-scale 3-D structure able to keep the cells in a specific place, give mechanical support and/or conduct spatially the tissue growth could be required.
Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno. de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
A
A
Vallés-Lluch
M
M
Arnal-Pastor
C
C
Martínez-Ramos
G
G
Vilariño-Feltrer
L
L
Vikingsson
C
C
Castells-Sala
C E
CE
Semino
M
M
Monleón Pradas
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020724:Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020724:Elastomers; D005782:Gels; D010455:Peptides; C478961:poly(ethylacrylate); D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine
Cell seeding; Controlled release; Poly(ethyl acrylate); Scaffold; Self-assembling peptide gel