title: ModulatingIn VivoDegradation Rate of Injectable Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels.
abstract: Extracellular matrix (ECM) derived hydrogels are increasingly used as scaffolds to stimulate endogenous repair. However, few studies have examined how altering the degradation rates of these materials affect cellular interactionin vivo. This study sought to examine how crosslinking or matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition by doxycycline could be employed to modulate the degradation rate of an injectable hydrogel derived from decellularized porcine ventricular myocardium. While both approaches were effective in reducing degradationin vitro, only doxycycline significantly prolonged hydrogel degradationin vivowithout affecting material biocompatibility. In addition, unlike crosslinking, incorporation of doxycycline into the hydrogel did not affect mechanical properties. Lastly, the results of this study highlighted the need for development of novel crosslinkers forin situmodification of injectable ECM-derived hydrogels, as none of the crosslinking agents investigated in this study were both biocompatible and effective.
authors: Department of Bioengineering and Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors: Jean W
authors: JW
authors: Wassenaar
authors: Department of Bioengineering and Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors: Rebecca L
authors: RL
authors: Braden
authors: Office of Animal Research, University of California, San Diego.
authors: Kent G
authors: KG
authors: Osborn
authors: Department of Bioengineering and Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
authors: Karen L
authors: KL
authors: Christman
keywords: MMP inhibition; crosslinking; degradation; extracellular matrix; hydrogel