Proliferation and Differentiation of Adipose Stem Cells Towards Smooth Muscle Cells on Poly(trimethylene carbonate) Membranes

Abstract

Summary Multipotent human adipose stem cells (hASCs) are an abundant and potential source of cells for vascular tissue engineering when combined with a suitable biomaterial scaffold. Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) has been shown to be a useful biodegradable material for tissue engineered vascular grafts due to its flexibility, excellent biocompatibility and enzymatic degradation by surface erosion in vivo. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of hASCs towards smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on gamma‐crosslinked and photo‐crosslinked PTMC membranes. PTMC macromers were functionalized with methacrylate end groups and crosslinked by UV initiated radical polymerization. High molecular weight linear PTMC was crosslinked by gamma irradiation. Cell viability, cell numbers and SMC differentiation of hASCs were evaluated on the differently crosslinked PTMC films at 7 and 14 days (d). On the photo‐crosslinked membranes, homogenous monolayers of hASC were detected by live/dead assay. Consistently, cells on the photo‐crosslinked membranes had significantly higher cell numbers compared to cells on the gamma‐crosslinked membranes after 14 d of culture. SMC specific genes were expressed on both membranes at 14 d. Photo‐crosslinked membranes showed higher expression of SMC specific proteins at 14 d compared to gamma‐crosslinked membranes. These results suggest that especially the photo‐crosslinked PTMC membranes are suitable for vascular tissue engineering applications when combined with hASCs.

Poly(trimethylene carbonate)-based polymers engineered for biodegradable functional biomaterials

“…22 An interesting study showed that PTMC cross-linking affects the differentiation of adipose stem cells (ASCs) into smooth muscle cells (SMCs). 23 ASCs seeded on UV-crosslinked PTMC of low molecular weight (20 kDa) differentiated into SMCs more than those seeded on high molecular weight PTMC (250 kDa) cross-linked by gamma irradiation. Surface flexibility seems to influence cell attachment and differentiation (Young's moduli were 4.3 MPa and 6.6 MPa, respectively).…”

“…UV reactive groups are then easily introduced by esterification with (meth)acryloyl chloride (or anhydride) as the most common approach. 23,38,39 Cinnamoyl chloride is also employed as an alternative UV reactive moiety. [40][41][42] The radical addition reaction of the double bonds can be performed by UV irradiation, and photosensitizers such as benzophenone are sometimes added to prompt the reaction.…”