State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Food, Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.
School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
Carbohydr Polym. 2021 Oct 15;270:118330. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118330. Epub 2021 Jun 11.
Based on the gradient distribution of structure and composition in biological cartilage tissue, we designed a gradient hydrogel scaffold by the moving photomask, using chondroitin sulfate and poly (γ-glutamic acid) as crude materials. The hydrogel scaffold had a gradient distribution of cross-linking density, which can be verified from the results of SEM and swelling behavior. Besides, the hydrogel exhibited great viscoelastic, toughness (70% strain), and strength properties (600 kPa). Additionally, the gradient hydrogel's superior cell compatibility was proved through the MTT, live/dead staining assays, and 3D cell culture experiments. Remarkably, the results of in vitro stem cell differentiation experiments showed that the duration of light directly affected the differentiation extent of stem cells, demonstrating that the gradient hydrogel scaffold can better simulate the function of natural cartilage than the homogeneous one. Due to these outstanding characteristics, this gradient hydrogel is a potential scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.
基于生物软骨组织在结构和成分上的梯度分布，我们设计了一种梯度水凝胶支架，使用硫酸软骨素和聚（γ-谷氨酸）作为原料，通过移动光掩模来实现。水凝胶支架具有交联密度的梯度分布，可以从 SEM 结果和溶胀行为得到验证。此外，水凝胶还表现出优异的粘弹性、韧性（70%应变）和强度（600kPa）。此外，梯度水凝胶的优越细胞相容性通过 MTT、活/死染色测定和 3D 细胞培养实验得到了证明。值得注意的是，体外干细胞分化实验的结果表明，光的持续时间直接影响干细胞的分化程度，这表明梯度水凝胶支架比均相支架更能模拟天然软骨的功能。由于这些优异的特性，这种梯度水凝胶是软骨组织工程的一种有潜力的支架。
