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Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Peters, EB; Christoforou, N; Leong, KW; Truskey, GA; West, JL
Published in: Cellular and molecular bioengineering
March 2016

The development of stable, functional microvessels remains an important obstacle to overcome for tissue engineered organs and treatment of ischemia. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a promising cell source for vascular tissue engineering as they are readily obtainable and carry the potential to differentiate towards all endothelial phenotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of human umbilical cord blood-derived EPCs to form vessel-like structures within a tissue engineering scaffold material, a cell-adhesive and proteolytically degradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel. EPCs in co-culture with angiogenic mural cells were encapsulated in hydrogel scaffolds by mixing with polymeric precursors and using a mild photocrosslinking process to form hydrogels with homogeneously dispersed cells. EPCs formed 3D microvessels networks that were stable for at least 30 days in culture, without the need for supplemental angiogenic growth factors. These 3D EPC microvessels displayed aspects of physiological microvasculature with lumen formation, expression of endothelial cell proteins (connexin 32, VE-cadherin, eNOS), basement membrane formation with collagen IV and laminin, perivascular investment of PDGFR-β and α-SMA positive cells, and EPC quiescence (<1% proliferating cells) by 2 weeks of co-culture. Our findings demonstrate the development of a novel, reductionist system that is well-defined and reproducible for studying progenitor cell-driven microvessel formation.

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Published In

Cellular and molecular bioengineering

DOI

EISSN

1865-5033

ISSN

1865-5025

Publication Date

March 2016

Volume

9

Issue

1

Start / End Page

38 / 54

Related Subject Headings

  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 0903 Biomedical Engineering
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Peters, E. B., Christoforou, N., Leong, K. W., Truskey, G. A., & West, J. L. (2016). Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells. Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, 9(1), 38–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-015-0423-6
Peters, Erica B., Nicolas Christoforou, Kam W. Leong, George A. Truskey, and Jennifer L. West. “Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells.Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering 9, no. 1 (March 2016): 38–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-015-0423-6.
Peters EB, Christoforou N, Leong KW, Truskey GA, West JL. Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells. Cellular and molecular bioengineering. 2016 Mar;9(1):38–54.
Peters, Erica B., et al. “Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells.Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, vol. 9, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 38–54. Epmc, doi:10.1007/s12195-015-0423-6.
Peters EB, Christoforou N, Leong KW, Truskey GA, West JL. Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Scaffolds Containing Cell-Adhesive and Protease-Sensitive Peptides Support Microvessel Formation by Endothelial Progenitor Cells. Cellular and molecular bioengineering. 2016 Mar;9(1):38–54.
Journal cover image

Published In

Cellular and molecular bioengineering

DOI

EISSN

1865-5033

ISSN

1865-5025

Publication Date

March 2016

Volume

9

Issue

1

Start / End Page

38 / 54

Related Subject Headings

  • 4003 Biomedical engineering
  • 0903 Biomedical Engineering