Fibrin–Dextran Hydrogels with Tunable Porosity and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Hydrogels as scaffolds in tissue engineering have gained increasing attention in recent years. Natural hydrogels, e.g., collagen or fibrin, are limited by their weak mechanical properties and fast degradation, whereas synthetic hydrogels face issues with biocompatibility and biodegradation. Therefore, combining natural and synthetic polymers to design hydrogels with tunable mechanical stability and cell affinity for biomedical applications is of interest. By using fibrin with its excellent cell compatibility and dextran with controllable mechanical properties, a novel bio-based hydrogel can be formed. Here, we synthesized fibrin and dextran-methacrylate (MA)-based hydrogels with tailorable mechanical properties, controllable degradation, variable pore sizes, and ability to support cell proliferation. The hydrogels are formed through in situ gelation of fibrinogen and dextran-MA with thrombin and dithiothreitol. Swelling and nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry measurements showed that the water uptake and mesh sizes of fabricated hydrogels decrease with increasing dextran-MA concentrations. Cell viability tests confirm that these hydrogels exhibit no cytotoxic effect.

Multiresponsive Core–Shell Microgels Functionalized by Nitrilotriacetic Acid

“…Briefly, 600 μL of Ringer solution was mixed with 10 μL of fluorescein diacetate (FDA, 5 mg mL –1 in acetone) and 10 μL of propidium iodide (PI, 0.5 mg mL –1 in PBS). Cells were stained with 20 μL of this stock solution and analyzed using fluorescence microscopy (DMI6000B, Leica, Wetzlar, Germany), as previously described. − Using double stainings with FDA/PI enables the discrimination of viable (green fluorescent) and dead (read fluorescent) cells. For the dead cell controls, 20 μL of TritonX-100 (0.1% dissolved in PBS) was added to lyze the cells.…”

Biomimetic Scaffolds—A Novel Approach to Three Dimensional Cell Culture Techniques for Potential Implementation in Tissue Engineering

“…Polysaccharides, such as chitosan, alginate, dextran, and hyaluronic acid, have advanced scaffold development due to their low cost, ease of commercialization, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. They are similar to the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is rich in glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids [ 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 ]. Tissue engineering scaffolds are generally produced as pre-fabricated or in situ cross-linked hydrogels, with many using 3D printing technology.…”

Hydrogels in Cutaneous Wound Healing: Insights into Characterization, Properties, Formulation and Therapeutic Potential

“…Dextran is a linear, neutral homopolysaccharide composed of repeated D-glucopyranose units, primarily linked by α-1,6 glycosidic bonds. Additionally, it may include branching α-1,2, α-1,3, and α-1,4 linkages [ 54 , 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 , 167 ].…”

“…Dextran can be produced by various lactic acid bacteria and results from glucose condensation through the activity of a secreted dextransucrase enzyme, which transfers glucose components from sucrose and synthesizes dextrans with different structures, molecular weights, linkages, and branching patterns, depending on the bacterial genus [ 54 , 160 ]. Dextran produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides contains about 5% of α-1,3-glycopyranosidic linkages, while that extracted from Weissella strains has a highly linear backbone with only 3–4% α-1,3 branching [ 49 ].…”

“…This polymer is hydrophilic, biodegradable, highly biocompatible, non-toxic, and non-immunogenic [ 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 168 , 169 , 170 ]. In addition to being sustainable, it is safe [ 171 ] and eco-friendly [ 133 , 172 , 173 ], and is well known for its low cost and wide natural abundance [ 130 , 160 , 161 , 162 , 167 , 173 ].…”