title: BSA/HSA ratio modulates the properties of Ca(2+)-induced cold gelation scaffolds.
abstract: An effective tissue engineering approach requires adjustment according to the target tissue to be engineered. The possibility of obtaining a protein-based formulation for the development of multivalent tunable scaffolds that can be adapted for several types of cells and tissues is explored in this work. The incremental substitution of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by human serum albumin (HSA), changing the scaffolds' hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, on a previously optimized scaffold formulation resulted in a set of uniform porous scaffolds with different physical properties and associated cell proliferation profile along time. There was a general trend towards an increase in hydrophilicity, swelling degree and in vitro degradation of the scaffolds with increasing replacement of BSA by HAS. The set of BSA/HSA scaffolds presented distinct values for the storage (elastic) modulus and loss factor which were similar to those described for different native tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, skin and neural tissue. The preferential adhesion and proliferation of skin fibroblasts on the BSA25%HSA75% and HSA100% scaffolds, as predicted by their viscoelastic properties, demonstrate that the BSA/HSA scaffold formulation is promising for the development of scaffolds that can be tuned according to the tissue to be repaired and restored.
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vadim
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volkov
authors.affiliation: B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables, and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padrão
authors.affiliation: B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables, and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.affiliation: CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: artur@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaco-Paulo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Cell proliferation; Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic ratio; Induced cold gelation; Mechanical properties; Surface wettability; Tunable scaffolds