Influence of scaffold morphology on co‐cultures of human endothelial and adipose tissue‐derived stem cells

Abstract

The interior of tissue engineering scaffolds must be vascularizable and allow adequate nutrients perfusion in order to ensure the viability of the cells colonizing them. The promotion of rapid vascularization of scaffolds is critical for thick artificial constructs. In the present study co-cultures of human endothelial and adipose tissue-derived stem cells have been performed in poly(ethyl acrylate) scaffolds with two different pore structures: grid-like (PEA-o) or sponge-like (PEA-s), in combination with a self-assembling peptide gel filling the pores, which aims to mimic the physiological niche. After 2 and 7 culture days, cell adhesion, proliferation and migration, the expression of cell surface markers like CD31 and CD90 and the release of VEGF were assessed by means of immunocytochemistry, scanning electronic microscopy, flow cytometry and ELISA analyses. The study demonstrated that PEA-s scaffolds promoted greater cell organization into tubular-like structures than PEA-o scaffolds, and this was enhanced by the presence of the peptide gel. Paracrine signaling from adipose cells significantly improved endothelial cell viability, proving the advantageous combination of this system for obtaining easily vascularizable tissue engineered grafts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 1523-1533, 2016.

The design of strut/TPMS-based pore geometries in bioceramic scaffolds guiding osteogenesis and angiogenesis in bone regeneration

“…Arnal-Pastor et al. found that sponge-like scaffolds promoted greater cell organization into tubular-like structures than grid-like scaffolds because the paracrine signaling of stem cells significantly enhanced the activity of endothelial cells [ 60 ]. Qazi et al.…”

Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cell and Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell Co-Culture to Prevascularize Scaffolds for Angiogenic and Osteogenic Tissue Engineering

“…However, other studies used higher proportion of hUVECs in co-culture with MSCs, such as 3:1 and 5:1, as MSCs are larger and more proliferative [23,24]. It has been revealed that the ratio of hUVECs to MSCs will diminish with time along the co-culture experiment [24]. In the present study, CCK-8 offered a measurement of the cell viability.…”

“…Several studies indicated that a 1:1 ratio of MSCs and hUVECs provided robust and stable vascular networks while enabling bone-like tissue formation [7,22]. However, other studies used higher proportion of hUVECs in co-culture with MSCs, such as 3:1 and 5:1, as MSCs are larger and more proliferative [23,24]. It has been revealed that the ratio of hUVECs to MSCs will diminish with time along the co-culture experiment [24].…”

Advanced gelatin-based vascularization bioinks for extrusion-based bioprinting of vascularized bone equivalents

“…In vitro vascularization is another approach, in which endothelial cells (ECs) are used with supporting factors, like angiogenic growth factors or additional cell types and supporting ECM components, to facilitate the de novo generation of vascular-like structures 11 . Accelerated vessel formation and improved maintenance of the formed structures were shown before in co-culture with supporting cells like mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) 12,13 . Here, MSCs are assumed to function as perivascular cells, supporting angiogenic processes like vessel sprouting, elongation and the stabilization of built vessels 14 .…”