Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells Alter the Mechanical Stability and Viscoelastic Properties of Gelatine Methacryloyl Hydrogels

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Francisco Drusso Martinez-Garcia¹  Martine Margaretha Valk¹  Janette Kay Burgess¹  Martin Conrad Harmsen¹  Prashant Kumar Sharma² 

[1] Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;W.J. Kolff Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands;

关键词: viscoelasticity;    adipose tissue-derived stromal cells;    GelMA;    Maxwell elements;    cell-matrix interactions;    extracellular matrix;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms221810153

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The extracellular matrix provides mechanical cues to cells within it, not just in terms of stiffness (elasticity) but also time-dependent responses to deformation (viscoelasticity). In this work, we determined the viscoelastic transformation of gelatine methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels caused by adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) through mathematical modelling. GelMA-ASCs combination is of interest to model stem cell-driven repair and to understand cell-biomaterial interactions in 3D environments. Immortalised human ASCs were embedded in 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/v) GelMA hydrogels and evaluated for 14 d. GelMA had a concentration-dependent increase in stiffness, but cells decreased this stiffness over time, across concentrations. Viscoelastic changes in terms of stress relaxation increased progressively in 5% GelMA, while mathematical Maxwell analysis showed that the relative importance (R_i) of the fastest Maxwell elements increased proportionally. The 10% GelMA only showed differences at 7 d. In contrast, ASCs in 15% GelMA caused slower stress relaxation, increasing the R_i of the slowest Maxwell element. We conclude that GelMA concentration influenced the stiffness and number of Maxwell elements. ASCs changed the percentage stress relaxation and R_i of Maxwell elements transforming hydrogel viscoelasticity into a more fluid environment over time. Overall, 5% GelMA induced the most favourable ASC response.

【 授权许可】

Unknown