Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Research Area Functional and Interactive Polymers, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
Small. 2024 Oct;20(42):e2309912. doi: 10.1002/smll.202309912. Epub 2024 Jun 19.
Tissue engineering is a steadily growing field of research due to its wide-ranging applicability in the field of regenerative medicine. Application-dependent mechanical properties of a scaffold material as well as its biocompatibility and tailored functionality represent particular challenges. Here the properties of fibrin-based hydrogels reinforced by functional cytocompatible poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-based (PVCL) microgels are studied and evaluated. The employment of temperature-responsive microgels decorated by epoxy groups for covalent binding to the fibrin is studied as a function of cross-linking degree within the microgels, microgel concentration, as well as temperature. Rheology reveals a strong correlation between the mechanical properties of the reinforced fibrin-based hydrogels and the microgel rigidity and concentration. The incorporated microgels serve as cross-links, which enable temperature-responsive behavior of the hydrogels, and slow down the hydrogel degradation. Microgels can be additionally used as carriers for active drugs, as demonstrated for dexamethasone. The microgels' temperature-responsiveness allows for triggered release of payload, which is monitored using a bioassay. The cytocompatibility of the microgel-reinforced fibrin-based hydrogels is demonstrated by LIVE/DEAD staining experiments using human mesenchymal stem cells. The microgel-reinforced hydrogels are a promising material for tissue engineering, owing to their superior mechanical performance and stability, possibility of drug release, and retained biocompatibility.
组织工程是一个不断发展的研究领域，因为它在再生医学领域具有广泛的适用性。支架材料的应用相关机械性能、生物相容性和定制功能是特别具有挑战性的。本文研究并评估了由功能相容的聚（N-乙烯基己内酰胺）基（PVCL）微凝胶增强的纤维蛋白水凝胶的性能。通过环氧基团修饰的温度响应性微凝胶用于与纤维蛋白的共价结合，研究了其交联度、微凝胶浓度以及温度的影响。流变学揭示了增强型纤维蛋白水凝胶的机械性能与微凝胶的刚性和浓度之间存在很强的相关性。掺入的微凝胶作为交联剂，使水凝胶具有温度响应性，并减缓水凝胶的降解。如地塞米松所示，微凝胶还可以用作活性药物的载体。微凝胶的温度响应性允许负载物的触发释放，这可以通过生物测定进行监测。通过使用人骨髓间充质干细胞进行 LIVE/DEAD 染色实验，证明了微凝胶增强的纤维蛋白水凝胶具有良好的细胞相容性。由于其优异的机械性能和稳定性、药物释放的可能性以及保留的生物相容性，微凝胶增强的水凝胶是一种很有前途的组织工程材料。
