title: ECM-mimetic heparin glycosamioglycan-functionalized surface favors constructing functional vascular smooth muscle tissue in vitro.
abstract: Contractile vascular smooth muscle accounts for the normal physiological function of artery. Heparin, as a native glycosaminoglycan, has been well known for its important function in promoting or maintaining the contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, heparin-functionalized non-woven poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) mat was fabricated by a facile and efficient surface modification protocol, which enables the control of surface heparin density within a broad range. Surface heparization remarkably increased the hydrophilicity of PCL, and reduced platelet adhesion. MTT assay showed that VSMC proliferation was evidently inhibited on the heparin-functionalized PCL surface in a dose-dependent manner. Gene analysis confirmed that surface heparization also promoted the transition of VSMCs from synthetic phenotype to contractile one. Furthermore, with a proper surface density of heparin, it allowed VSMCs to grow in a certain rate, while exhibiting contractile phenotype. Culture of VSMCs on a modified PCL mat with moderate heparin density (PCL-Hep-20) for 2 days resulted in a confluent layer of contractile smooth muscle cells. These data suggest that the heparin-modified PCL scaffolds may be a promising candidate to generate functional vascular tissues in vitro.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, PR China.
authors.forename: Jimin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Yongzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuejiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, PR China. Electronic address: kongdeling@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Deling
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China. Electronic address: qiangzhao@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D006493:Heparin
keywords: Heparin; PCL electrospun scaffold; Phenotype regulation; Surface functionalization; Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)