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Surface Creasing-Induced Micropatterned GelMA Using Heating-Hydration Fabrication for Effective Vascularization

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

A Correction to this article was published on 26 October 2021

This article has been updated

Abstract

Background

Surface modification is used to modify the biomaterials for the regulation of cell culture using different approaches, such as chemical graft and mechanical treatment. However, those conventional methodologies often require precise fabrication in a high resolution involving either high cost or laborious steps to remove chemical residues that are toxic to the cells.

Methods

A novel and simple method was proposed and evaluated to rapidly generate surface ceases on the gelatin methacrylate (gelMA) surface using the heating-hydration process. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on the gelMA surface. The surface binding was characterized using the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) antibodies and cell adhesion pattern captured by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the heating-hydration parameters on the creasing formation was investigated. The morphology of HUVECs cultured on such micropatterned gelMA was characterized and compared.

Results

It is found that the hydration solution, gelMA mixture, and hydration rate are the major factors that influence the cracking sizes in the range from 20 to 120 µm which resulted in capillary-like patterns on the gelMA surface. Low concentration of gelMA, high water concentration of cooling agent, and slow hydration rate result in the long creases, and heating of at least 60 min is required for complete dehydration. Strong fluorescence was around the creases with RGD-staining. Consequently, micropatterned gelMA demonstrated good biocompatibility with endothelial cells with more than 95% cell viability and continuous cell proliferation throughout 2 weeks as well as a good trace of neovascular formation. In comparison, normal gelMA surface did not exhibit RGD-fluorescent signals, and the cultured HUVECs on it were rounded with no spreading for network formation.

Conclusion

The heating-hydration approach can successfully and easily produce the micropatterned gelMA that allows rapid and effective vascularization to potentially improve the functionalities of the tissue-engineered construct.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the valuable discussion and comments from Drs. Xiaomeng Wang (Lee Koon Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University), Yi-Chin Toh (Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore), and Teresa Dicolandrea (The Procter & Gamble Company). This study was funded by A*STAR-P&G Biomedical Research Council Strategic Positioning Fund (BMRC SPF, APG 2013/045A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Surasak Kasetsiriku, Dettachai Ketpun, Yannapol Sriphutkiat & Yufeng Zhou

  2. School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 62 Nanyang Drive, Singapore, 637459, Singapore

    Yon Jin Chuah & Dong-An Wang

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  1. Surasak Kasetsiriku
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Correspondence to Yufeng Zhou.

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Kasetsiriku, S., Ketpun, D., Chuah, Y.J. et al. Surface Creasing-Induced Micropatterned GelMA Using Heating-Hydration Fabrication for Effective Vascularization. Tissue Eng Regen Med 18, 759–773 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-021-00345-0

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