title: Effect of cell density on mesenchymal stem cells aggregation in RGD-alginate 3D matrices under osteoinductive conditions.
abstract: Cellular activities in 3D are differentially affected by several matrix-intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This study highlights the relevance of optimizing initial cell densities when establishing 3D cultures for specific applications. Independently of the entrapping density, MSCs cultured within RGD-alginate hydrogels showed steady-state levels of metabolic activity and were in a nearly non-proliferative state, but recovered "normal" activity levels when retrieved from 3D matrices and re-cultured as monolayers. Importantly, high-densities promoted the establishment of cell-cell contacts with formation of multicellular clusters stabilized by endogenous ECM, and also stimulated MSCs osteogenic differentiation. These MSC-ECM microtissues may be used as building blocks for tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica (INEB), Rua do Campo Alegre, no. 823, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Engineering, Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: F Raquel
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Ana H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Pedro L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Granja
authors.forename: Raquel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Cristina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Barrias
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D009842:Oligopeptides; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: alginate hydrogels; encapsulation; self-assembly; tissue engineering