Injectable cell constructs fabricated via culture on a thermoresponsive methylcellulose hydrogel system for the treatment of ischemic diseases.
Cell transplantation via direct intramuscular injection is a promising therapy for patients with ischemic diseases. However, following injections, retention of transplanted cells in engrafted areas remains problematic, and can be deleterious to cell-transplantation therapy. In this Progress Report, a thermoresponsive hydrogel system composed of aqueous methylcellulose (MC) blended with phosphate-buffered saline is constructed to grow cell sheet fragments and cell bodies for the treatment of ischemic diseases. The as-prepared MC hydrogel system undergoes a sol-gel reversible transition upon heating or cooling at ≈32 °C. Via this unique property, the grown cell sheet fragments (cell bodies) can be harvested without using proteolytic enzymes; consequently, their inherent extracellular matrices (ECMs) and integrative adhesive agents remain well preserved. In animal studies using rats and pigs with experimentally created myocardial infarction, the injected cell sheet fragments (cell bodies) become entrapped in the interstices of muscular tissues and adhere to engraftment sites, while a minimal number of cells exist in the group receiving dissociated cells. Moreover, transplantation of cell sheet fragments (cell bodies) significantly increases vascular density, thereby improving the function of an infarcted heart. These experimental results demonstrate that cell sheet fragments (cell bodies) function as a cell-delivery construct by providing a favorable ECM environment to retain transplanted cells locally and consequently, improving the efficacy of therapeutic cell transplantation.
Department of Chemical Engineering and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan (ROC).
Chieh-Cheng
CC
Huang
Zi-Xian
ZX
Liao
Ding-Yuan
DY
Chen
Chun-Wen
CW
Hsiao
Yen
Y
Chang
Hsing-Wen
HW
Sung
D000818:Animals; D018421:Cardiomyoplasty; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature
D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D008747:Methylcellulose
cell body; cell sheet fragment; cell transplantation; cellular cardiomyoplasty; functional hydrogel