SAM-based cell transfer to photopatterned hydrogels for microengineering vascular-like structures

Abstract

A major challenge in tissue engineering is to reproduce the native 3D microvascular architecture fundamental for in vivo functions. Current approaches still lack a network of perfusable vessels with native 3D structural organization. Here we present a new method combining self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-based cell transfer and gelatin methacrylate hydrogel photopatterning techniques for microengineering vascular structures. Human umbilical vein cell (HUVEC) transfer from oligopeptide SAM-coated surfaces to the hydrogel revealed two SAM desorption mechanisms: photoinduced and electrochemically triggered. The former, occurs concomitantly to hydrogel photocrosslinking, and resulted in efficient (>97%) monolayer transfer. The latter, prompted by additional potential application, preserved cell morphology and maintained high transfer efficiency of VE-cadherin positive monolayers over longer culture periods. This approach was also applied to transfer HUVECs to 3D geometrically defined vascular-like structures in hydrogels, which were then maintained in perfusion culture for 15 days. As a step toward more complex constructs, a cell-laden hydrogel layer was photopatterned around the endothelialized channel to mimic the vascular smooth muscle structure of distal arterioles. This study shows that the coupling of the SAM-based cell transfer and hydrogel photocrosslinking could potentially open up new avenues in engineering more complex, vascularized tissue constructs for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.

Production of endothelial cell-enclosing alginate-based hydrogel fibers with a cell adhesive surface through simultaneous cross-linking by horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed reaction in a hydrodynamic spinning process

“…Usefulness of the methodology was confirmed by other researches employing different template materials (8,9). However, a curved architecture is impossible to be prepared in collagen gel by the method of withdrawing nylon fibers (7) and other materials (8,9). A more advanced method was proposed by using alginate hydrogel fibers cross-linked by calcium ions (Ca-alginate) as templates to form tubular cavities (10).…”

Ectopic tissue engineered ligament with silk collagen scaffold for ACL regeneration: A preliminary study

“…Various attempts have been made to generate a functional vasculature in recent years, including biochemical modification [18][19][20][21], exogenous cells [10,[22][23][24], and microengineering technology [25][26][27][28][29][30]. Most of these attempts, however, have only focused on applying exogenous vascular cells and angiogenic factors.…”

Cell-Adhesive and Cell-Repulsive Zwitterionic Oligopeptides for Micropatterning and Rapid Electrochemical Detachment of Cells

“…10,11 One promising feature of such electrochemical approaches is that cells can be detached not only from a flat surface but also from substrates of varying configuration, such as microarrayed electrodes for spatially controlled single-cell detachment 12 and cylindrical rods for fabricating three-dimensional vascular-like structures. 13,14 To date, our group has used two different molecular supports for electrochemically detaching cells from a surface. In the first approach, an alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was formed on a gold electrode, and the alkanethiol carboxyterminals were coupled to RGD peptides to mediate cell adhesion.…”