title: Evaluation of Gelatin Microparticles as Adherent-Substrates for Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Hydrogel Composite.
abstract: Due to the lack of cell-adhesive moieties in traditional synthetic hydrogels, the present work investigated the use of degradable gelatin microparticles (GMPs) as temporary adherent substrates for anchorage-dependent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were seeded onto GMPs of varying crosslinking densities and sizes to investigate their role on influencing MSC differentiation and aggregation. The MSC-seeded GMPs were then encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels and cultured in serum-free, growth factor-free osteochondral medium. Non-seeded MSCs co-encapsulated with GMPs in the hydrogels were used as a control for comparison. Over the course of 35 days, MSCs seeded on GMPs exhibited more cell-cell contacts, greater chondrogenic potential, and a down-regulation of osteogenic markers compared to the controls. Although the factors of GMP crosslinking and size had nominal influence on MSC differentiation and aggregation, GMPs demonstrate potential as an adherent-substrate for improving cell delivery from hydrogel scaffolds by facilitating cell-cell contacts and improving MSC differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, MS-142, Houston, TX, 77005-1892, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, MS-142, Houston, TX, 77005-1892, USA.
authors.forename: Esther J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, MS-142, Houston, TX, 77005-1892, USA.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, P.O. Box 1892, MS-142, Houston, TX, 77005-1892, USA. mikos@rice.edu.
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mikos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020219:Chondrogenesis; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D005780:Gelatin; C000595209:polyethylene glycol 1000
keywords: Cell delivery; Hydrogel encapsulation; Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation