Combinatorial hydrogels with biochemical gradients for screening 3D cellular microenvironments

Sebastián L. Vega, Mi Y. Kwon, Kwang Hoon Song, Chao Wang, Robert L. Mauck, Lin Han and Jason A. Burdick ()
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Sebastián L. Vega: University of Pennsylvania
Mi Y. Kwon: University of Pennsylvania
Kwang Hoon Song: University of Pennsylvania
Chao Wang: Science and Health Systems, Drexel University
Robert L. Mauck: University of Pennsylvania
Lin Han: Science and Health Systems, Drexel University
Jason A. Burdick: University of Pennsylvania

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract 3D microenvironmental parameters control cell behavior, but can be challenging to investigate over a wide range of conditions. Here, a combinatorial hydrogel platform is developed that uses light-mediated thiol-norbornene chemistry to encapsulate cells within hydrogels with biochemical gradients made by spatially varied light exposure. Specifically, mesenchymal stem cells are photoencapsulated in norbornene-modified hyaluronic acid hydrogels functionalized with gradients (0–5 mM) of peptides that mimic cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions, either as single or orthogonal gradients. Chondrogenesis varied spatially in these hydrogels based on the local biochemical formulation, as indicated by Sox9 and aggrecan expression levels. From 100 combinations investigated, discrete hydrogels are formulated and early gene expression and long-term cartilage-specific matrix production are assayed and found to be consistent with screening predictions. This platform is a scalable, high-throughput technique that enables the screening of the effects of multiple biochemical signals on 3D cell behavior.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03021-5

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03021-5

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