Long-term spatially defined coculture within three-dimensional photopatterned hydrogels

Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2010 Dec;16(6):1621-8. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2010.0146. Epub 2010 Jun 7.

Abstract

Spatially controlled coculture in three-dimensional environments that appropriately mimic in vivo tissue architecture is a highly desirable goal in basic scientific studies of stem cell physiological processes (e.g., proliferation, matrix production, and tissue repair) and in enhancing the development of novel stem-cell-based clinical therapies for a variety of ailments. This study describes a novel fabrication system for photopatterning and assembling cell-laden oligo(polyethylene glycol)-fumarate:poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate hydrogels with high spatial fidelity and thickness using a controlled, inert nitrogen environment without the need for expensive precision equipment. Cross-linking was performed using Irgacure-2959 photoinitiator and 365-nm light (∼7 mW/cm²) to form gels ranging from 0.9 to 3 mm in width. Employing a nitrogen environment increased gel thickness up to 240%, generating gels > 1 mm thick before swelling. This technique was further applied for spatially controlled patterning of primary tendon/ligament fibroblasts and marrow stromal cells in a single 1.5-mm-thick laminated hydrogel construct. Cells encapsulated using this technique maintained viability over 14 days in culture. This system potentially enables better understanding of paracrine effects on a range of stem cell functions and therefore may be useful as an in vitro model system for a wide array of regenerative medicine applications.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hydrogels / radiation effects*
  • Light*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology
  • Microtechnology / methods
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Tendons / cytology
  • Tendons / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Substances

  • Hydrogels