A Self‐Assembled Matrix System for Cell‐Bioengineering Applications in Different Dimensions, Scales, and Geometries

Abstract

Stem cell bioengineering and therapy require different model systems and materials in different stages of development. If a chemically defined biomatrix system can fulfill most tasks, it can minimize the discrepancy among various setups. By screening biomaterials synthesized through a coacervation‐mediated self‐assembling mechanism, a biomatrix system optimal for 2D human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) culture and osteogenesis is identified. Its utility for hMSC bioengineering is further demonstrated in coating porous bioactive glass scaffolds and nanoparticle synthesis for esiRNA delivery to knock down the SOX‐9 gene with high delivery efficiency. The self‐assembled injectable system is further utilized for 3D cell culture, segregated co‐culture of hMSC with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) as an angiogenesis model, and 3D bioprinting. Most interestingly, the coating of bioactive glass with the self‐assembled biomatrix not only supports the proliferation and osteogenesis of hMSC in the 3D scaffold but also induces the amorphous bioactive glass (BG) scaffold surface to form new apatite crystals resembling bone‐shaped plate structures. Thus, the self‐assembled biomatrix system can be utilized in various dimensions, scales, and geometries for many different bioengineering applications.

Biomimetic Mineralized Hydroxyapatite Nanofiber-Incorporated Methacrylated Gelatin Hydrogel with Improved Mechanical and Osteoinductive Performances for Bone Regeneration

“…Some researchers have modified hydrogels by incorporating different inorganic nanoparticles, such as hydroxyapatite (HA), 20 , 21 bioactive glass and β-tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles, 22 , 23 to improve the bone regeneration capacities of hydrogels. The results demonstrated that these fillers could, to some extent, change the hydrogel structure and improve its mechanical strength and osteoinductivity.…”

Design of dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels for proliferation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells

“…Most researchers have used peptides derived from vitronectin (PQVTRGDVFTMP or KGGPQVTRGDVFTMP) for the preparation of peptide-conjugated surfaces [ [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] ], where hPSCs can proliferate. The peptide derived from fibronectin (RGDSP) is typically used to enhance the adhesion of any type of cell [ [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] , [53] , [54] ] but cannot effectively support hPSC proliferation on RGDSP-conjugated surfaces. The peptide derived from the laminin β4 chain (PMQJMRGDVFSP) was originally developed by Jia et al for the adhesion of hPSC-induced cardiomyocytes [ 24 ]; this peptide was effective for hPSC-derived cardiomyocyte adhesion (but not pluripotent hPSC adhesion) and was shown to be useful for hPSC proliferation on PMQJMRGDVFSP-conjugated surfaces in our previous studies [ 8 , 28 ].…”