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Radhouani H, Gonçalves C, Maia FR, Oliveira EP, Reis RL, Oliveira JM. Development of Conjugated Kefiran-Chondroitin Sulphate Cryogels with Enhanced Properties for Biomedical Applications. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1662. [PMID: 37376110 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides can have unique properties and be tailored for several applications, which may be mainly limited by the fragile structure and weak mechanical properties of this type of system. We successfully prepared cryogels made of newly synthesized kefiran exopolysaccharide-chondroitin sulfate (CS) conjugate via carbodiimide-mediated coupling to overcome these drawbacks. The freeze-thawing procedure of cryogel preparation followed by lyophilization is a promising route to fabricate polymer-based scaffolds with countless and valuable biomedical applications. The novel graft macromolecular compound (kefiran-CS conjugate) was characterized through 1H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy-which confirmed the structure of the conjugate, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)-which mirrored good thermal stability (degradation temperature of about 215 °C) and, finally, gel permeation chromatography-size exclusion chromatography (GPC-SEC)-which proved an increased molecular weight due to chemical coupling of kefiran with CS. At the same time, the corresponding cryogels physically crosslinked after the freeze-thawing procedure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Micro-CT, and dynamic rheology. The results revealed a prevalent contribution of elastic/storage component to the viscoelastic behavior of cryogels in swollen state, a micromorphology with micrometer-sized open pores fully interconnected, and high porosity (ca. 90%) observed for freeze-dried cryogels. Furthermore, the metabolic activity and proliferation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs), when cultured onto the developed kefiran-CS cryogel, was maintained at a satisfactory level over 72 h. Based on the results obtained, it can be inferred that the newly freeze-dried kefiran-CS cryogels possess a host of unique properties that render them highly suitable for use in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and other biomedical applications where robust mechanical properties and biocompatibility are crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajer Radhouani
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Gonçalves
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - F Raquel Maia
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduarda P Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joaquim M Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal
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Martinez-Garcia FD, Fischer T, Hayn A, Mierke CT, Burgess JK, Harmsen MC. A Beginner’s Guide to the Characterization of Hydrogel Microarchitecture for Cellular Applications. Gels 2022; 8:gels8090535. [PMID: 36135247 PMCID: PMC9498492 DOI: 10.3390/gels8090535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional, acellular scaffold of living tissues. Incorporating the ECM into cell culture models is a goal of cell biology studies and requires biocompatible materials that can mimic the ECM. Among such materials are hydrogels: polymeric networks that derive most of their mass from water. With the tuning of their properties, these polymer networks can resemble living tissues. The microarchitectural properties of hydrogels, such as porosity, pore size, fiber length, and surface topology can determine cell plasticity. The adequate characterization of these parameters requires reliable and reproducible methods. However, most methods were historically standardized using other biological specimens, such as 2D cell cultures, biopsies, or even animal models. Therefore, their translation comes with technical limitations when applied to hydrogel-based cell culture systems. In our current work, we have reviewed the most common techniques employed in the characterization of hydrogel microarchitectures. Our review provides a concise description of the underlying principles of each method and summarizes the collective data obtained from cell-free and cell-loaded hydrogels. The advantages and limitations of each technique are discussed, and comparisons are made. The information presented in our current work will be of interest to researchers who employ hydrogels as platforms for cell culture, 3D bioprinting, and other fields within hydrogel-based research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Drusso Martinez-Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- W.J. Kolff Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tony Fischer
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Hayn
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Clinic and Polyclinic for Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pneumology, Infectiology Department of Hepatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstr. 19, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Biological Physics Division, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Faculty of Physics and Earth Science, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: (C.T.M.); (M.C.H.)
| | - Janette Kay Burgess
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- W.J. Kolff Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Conrad Harmsen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- W.J. Kolff Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (C.T.M.); (M.C.H.)
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Dębski T, Wysocki J, Siennicka K, Jaroszewicz J, Szlązak K, Święszkowski W, Pojda Z. Modified Histopathological Protocol for Poly-ɛ-Caprolactone Scaffolds Preserving Their Trabecular, Honeycomb-like Structure. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15051732. [PMID: 35268968 PMCID: PMC8911251 DOI: 10.3390/ma15051732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) is now widely studied in relation to the engineering of bone, cartilage, tendons, and other tissues. Standard histological protocols can destroy the carefully created trabecular and honeycomb-like architecture of PCL scaffolds, and could lead to scaffold fibers swelling, resulting in the displacement or compression of tissues inside the scaffold. The aim of this study was to modify a standard histopathological protocol for PCL scaffold preparation and evaluate it on porous cylindrical PCL scaffolds in a rat model. In 16 inbred Wag rats, 2 PCL scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously to both inguinal areas. Two months after implantation, harvested scaffolds were first subjected to μCT imaging, and then to histopathological analysis with standard (left inguinal area) and modified histopathological protocols (right inguinal area). To standardize the results, soft tissue percentages (STPs) were calculated on scaffold cross-sections obtained from both histopathological protocols and compared with corresponding µCT cross-sections. The modified protocol enabled the assessment of almost 10× more soft tissues on the scaffold cross-section than the standard procedure. Moreover, STP was only 1.5% lower than in the corresponding µCT cross-sections assessed before the histopathological procedure. The presented modification of the histopathological protocol is cheap, reproducible, and allows for a comprehensive evaluation of PCL scaffolds while maintaining their trabecular, honeycomb-like structure on cross-sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Dębski
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Wilhelma Konrada Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (J.W.); (K.S.); (Z.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Juliusz Wysocki
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Wilhelma Konrada Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (J.W.); (K.S.); (Z.P.)
| | - Katarzyna Siennicka
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Wilhelma Konrada Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (J.W.); (K.S.); (Z.P.)
| | - Jakub Jaroszewicz
- Materials Design Division, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland; (J.J.); (K.S.); (W.Ś.)
| | - Karol Szlązak
- Materials Design Division, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland; (J.J.); (K.S.); (W.Ś.)
| | - Wojciech Święszkowski
- Materials Design Division, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Woloska 141, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland; (J.J.); (K.S.); (W.Ś.)
| | - Zygmunt Pojda
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Wilhelma Konrada Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland; (J.W.); (K.S.); (Z.P.)
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