title: Influence of soluble PEG-OH incorporation in a 3D cell-laden PEG-fibrinogen (PF) hydrogel on smooth muscle cell morphology and growth.
abstract: We have been able to control hydrogel compliance and cell spreading in a three-dimensional (3D) cell-laden system (hydrogel) using soluble PEG-OH. This was accomplished by encapsulating smooth muscle cells (SMCs) into poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen (PEG-fibrinogen or PF) with poly(ethylene glycol)-diol (PEG-OH) as a macromolecular leachant. The cell-encapsulating hydrogels were prepared with three concentrations of soluble PEG-OH having a mass of 10 kDa (1, 5 and 10% w/v). Rheology was used to measure the elastic (storage) component of the complex shear modulus of these hydrogels, while quantitative morphometrics were used to characterize SMC morphology. PF hydrogel with a higher amount of PEG-OH displayed a lower storage modulus and a higher elongated cell morphology of SMCs. Structural changes of PF hydrogels mainly owing to gelation-induced phase separation imparted by the soluble PEG-OH in 3D cell-laden hydrogels dramatically affected both the properties of the hydrogel network including the modulus as well as cell spreading.
authors.affiliation: a School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University , 50 Nanyang Avenue 639798 , Singapore.
authors.forename: Bae Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Stella Poh Hui
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tin
authors.forename: Su Yin
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chaw
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Terry W J
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seliktar
authors.forename: Havazelet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bianco-Peled
authors.forename: Subbu S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D048430:Cell Shape; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000737:chemistry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012212:Rheology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005780:Gelatin; D005340:Fibrinogen