Photocrosslinkable chitosan hydrogels functionalized with the RGD peptide and phosphoserine to enhance osteogenesis

Abstract

Hydrogels derived from naturally occurring polymers are attractive matrix for tissue engineering. Here, we report a biofunctional hydrogel for specific use in bone regeneration by introducing Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing cell adhesive motifs and phosphorylated serine residues, which are prevalent in native bone extracellular matrix and known to promote osteogenesis by enhancing cell-matrix interactions and hydroxyapatite nucleation, into photopolymerizable methacrylated glycol chitosan (MeGC). Incorporation of phosphoserine into MeGC hydrogels increased the ability of the hydrogels to nucleate mineral on their surfaces. RGD incorporation enhanced cell-matrix interactions by supporting attachment, spreading, and proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) encapsulated in the hydrogels. Moreover, co-modification of MeGC hydrogels with RGD and phosphoserine synergistically increased osteogenic differentiation of encapsulated BMSCs in vitro. The bone healing capacity of the modified hydrogels was further confirmed in a mouse calvarial defect model. These findings suggest a promising hydrogel platform with a specific microenvironment tailored to promote osteogenesis for clinical bone repair.

Design of hydrogels to stabilize and enhance bone morphogenetic protein activity by heparin mimetics

“…We have previously developed an injectable hydrogel system composed of visible light crosslinkable chitosan (methacrylated glycol chitosan, MeGC) and riboflavin as a photoinitiator [36–38]. The MeGC hydrogel well supported proliferation of encapsulated MSCs and their commitment to an osteo- and chondroprogenitor lineage[38–40].…”

Multifuctional Nanofilm for Stimulating Bone Cell Attachment, Proliferation and Preventing Bacterial Colonization

“…RGD, derived from fibronectin, is the most investigated peptide. The peptide can build a bridge between cell receptor and surface and subsequently improve cell adhesion, differentiation and proliferation as well as cell survival on, various substrate surfaces [28][29][30][31]. Our studies showed that the incorporation of RGD in multi-drug loaded polypeptide nanofilms indeed led to significantly improved cell adhesion (Figures 3, 4A and 4B), proliferation ( Figure 4C), and viability ( Figure 5).…”

Reducing posttreatment relapse in cleft lip palatal expansion using an injectable estrogen–nanodiamond hydrogel

“…The solution was mixed homogeneously, lyophilized overnight, and then redispersed in 285 μL of DMSO. For E2/ND/G synthesis, methacrylated glycol chitosan (MGC) was prepared as described previously (69). The E2/ND was mixed homogenously with MGC in 1 mL water (ND: E2: polymer = 5 mg: 2.1 mg: 20 mg) followed by overnight lyophilization.…”