Bioactive Phenylboronic Acid-Functionalized Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Induce Chondro-Aggregates and Promote Chondrocyte Phenotype |
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| Authors: | Ying Liu Zhongrun Yuan Sa Liu Xiupeng Zhong Yanyan Wang Renjian Xie Wenjing Song Li Ren |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Innovation Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006 China;2. School of Medical Information Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Bio-Fabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000 China |
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| Abstract: | Hydrogels are extensively investigated as biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds in tissue engineering. The physiological properties of ECM affect cellular behaviors, which is an inspiration for cell-based therapies. Photocurable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel (AHAMA-PBA) modified with 3-aminophenylboronic acid, sodium periodate, and methacrylic anhydride simultaneously is constructed in this study. Chondrocytes are then cultured on the surface of the hydrogels to evaluate the effect of the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels on modulating cellular behaviors. Cell viability assays demonstrate that the hydrogel is non-toxic to chondrocytes. The existence of phenylboronic acid (PBA) moieties enhances the interaction of chondrocytes and hydrogel, promoting cell adhesion and aggregation through filopodia. RT-PCR indicates that the gene expression levels of type II collagen, Aggrecan, and Sox9 are significantly up-regulated in chondrocytes cultured on hydrogels. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels have a significant effect on the cell phenotype, with soft gels (≈2 kPa) promoting chondrocytes to exhibit a hyaline phenotype. Overall, PBA-functionalized HA hydrogel with low stiffness exhibits the best effect on promoting the chondrocyte phenotype, which is a promising biomaterial for cartilage regeneration. |
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| Keywords: | cartilage regeneration cell phenotype hydrogels phenylboronic acid-functionalized sodium hyaluronate substrate stiffness |
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