Stable, long-acting mesenchymal stromal cell secretome delivery via injectable starPEG–heparin hydrogels for sustained immunomodulation

Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Forschungsartikel › Beigetragen › Begutachtung

Beitragende

  • Maria Rossello-Gelabert - , Universität des Baskenlandes (Autor:in)
  • Lucas Schirmer - , Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Uwe Freudenberg - , Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Edorta Santos-Vizcaino - , Universität des Baskenlandes, CIBER - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (Autor:in)
  • Carsten Werner - , Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Max Bergmann Zentrum für Biomaterialien Dresden (MBZ) (Autor:in)
  • Rosa Maria Hernandez - , Universität des Baskenlandes, CIBER - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (Autor:in)

Abstract

The secretome of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) has emerged as a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for regenerative medicine and immune modulation. However, its clinical translation remains limited by restricted stability and the short in vivo half-life of its bioactive factors, often requiring repeated administrations. Here, we describe an injectable star–shaped poly(ethylene glycol)–heparin (starPEG–heparin) hydrogel that enables the stable loading and sustained release (up to 14 days) of a lyophilized immunomodulatory MSC secretome (LS). Controlled delivery resulted from the interplay between LS-derived protease-driven hydrogel degradation and bioactive factor affinity to the heparin building block. Release studies showed sustained liberation of regenerative, immunomodulatory, and matrix-modulating factors, including VEGF, PDGF-AA/BB, IL-1Ra, IL-4, IL-10, Gal-9, and TIMP-1, yielding a compositionally balanced release profile over time. Importantly, hydrogel-released LS preserved robust bioactivity for 14 days, inhibiting ConA-induced PBMC proliferation and partially repolarizing M1 macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype (reduced CD86 and increased CD209/CD163). These results demonstrate that starPEG–heparin hydrogels maintain LS stability and immunomodulatory bioactivity in vitro for up to two weeks, supporting their use as controlled-release matrices for MSC-derived secretome-based approaches.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer115196
FachzeitschriftJournal of controlled release
Jahrgang398
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 10 Okt. 2026
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 42532143
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/228233223

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Schlagwörter

  • Controlled release, Immunomodulation, MSC secretome, starPEG–heparin hydrogel