title: Composite pullulan-dextran polysaccharide scaffold with interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation fibers: a platform with enhanced cell interaction and spatial distribution.
abstract: Hydrogels are highly preferred in soft tissue engineering because they recapitulate the hydrated extracellular matrix. Naturally derived polysaccharides, like pullulan and dextran, are attractive materials with which to form hydrophilic polymeric networks due to their non-immunogenic and non-antigenic properties. However, their inherent hydrophilicity prevents adherent cell growth. In this study, we modified pullulan-dextran scaffolds with interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC) fibers to improve their ability to support adherent cell growth. We showed that the pullulan-dextran-IPC fiber composite scaffold laden with extracellular matrix protein has improved cell adhesion and proliferation compared to the plain polysaccharide scaffold. We also demonstrated the zero-order release kinetics of the biologics bovine serum albumin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) incorporated in the composite scaffold. Lastly, we showed that the VEGF released from the composite scaffold retained its capacity to stimulate endothelial cell growth. The incorporation of IPC fibers in the pullulan-dextran hydrogel scaffold improved its functionality and biological activity, thus enhancing its potential in tissue engineering applications.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Marie Francene Arnobit
authors: MF
authors: Cutiongco
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Ming Hao
authors: MH
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Martin Yoke Kuang
authors: MY
authors: Ng
authors: INSERM, U698, Cardiovascular Bioengineering, Paris, France.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Le Visage
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Mechanobiology Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: eyim@nus.edu.sg.
authors: Evelyn King Fai
authors: EK
authors: Yim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467480:vascular endothelial growth factor A, mouse; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C009109:pullulan
keywords: Chemical cross linking; Hybrid scaffold; Hydrogel