title: Chimeric Aptamer-Gelatin Hydrogels as an Extracellular Matrix Mimic for Loading Cells and Growth Factors.
abstract: It is important to synthesize materials to recapitulate critical functions of biological systems for a variety of applications such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The purpose of this study was to synthesize a chimeric hydrogel as a promising extracellular matrix (ECM) mimic using gelatin, a nucleic acid aptamer, and polyethylene glycol. This hydrogel had a macroporous structure that was highly permeable for fast molecular transport. Despite its high permeability, it could strongly sequester and sustainably release growth factors with high bioactivity. Notably, growth factors retained in the hydrogel could maintain ∼ 50% bioactivity during a 14-day release test. It also provided cells with effective binding sites, which led to high efficiency of cell loading into the macroporous hydrogel matrix. When cells and growth factors were coloaded into the chimeric hydrogel, living cells could still be observed by day 14 in a static serum-reduced culture condition. Thus, this chimeric aptamer-gelatin hydrogel constitutes a promising biomolecular ECM mimic for loading cells and growth factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Xiaolong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Battig
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Niancao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gaddes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Katelyn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D020100:Hydrogels; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D005780:Gelatin