Affiliation:
1. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Louisiana State University and Agricultural Center Baton Rouge LA 70803 USA
2. Obatala Sciences Inc. New Orleans LA 70148 USA
3. Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences University of Karachi Karachi 75270 Pakistan
4. Campus Chemical Instrument Center Proteomics Shared Resources The Ohio State University Columbus OH 43210 USA
Abstract
AbstractHydrogels are 3D scaffolds used as alternatives to in vivo models for disease modeling and delivery of cells and drugs. Existing hydrogel classifications include synthetic, recombinant, chemically defined, plant‐ or animal‐based, and tissue‐derived matrices. There is a need for materials that can support both human tissue modeling and clinically relevant applications requiring stiffness tunability. Human‐derived hydrogels are not only clinically relevant, but they also minimize the use of animal models for pre‐clinical studies. This study aims to characterize XGel, a new human‐derived hydrogel as an alternative to current murine‐derived and synthetic recombinant hydrogels that features unique physiochemical, biochemical, and biological properties that support adipocyte and bone differentiation. Rheology studies determine the viscosity, stiffness, and gelation features of XGel. Quantitative studies for quality control support consistency in the protein content between lots. Proteomics studies reveal that XGel is predominantly composed of extracellular matrix proteins, including fibrillin, collagens I–VI, and fibronectin. Electron microscopy of the hydrogel provides phenotypic characteristics in terms of porosity and fiber size. The hydrogel demonstrates biocompatibility as a coating material and as a 3D scaffold for the growth of multiple cell types. The results provide insight into the biological compatibility of this human‐derived hydrogel for tissue engineering.
Subject
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Biomedical Engineering,Biomaterials