Injectable Glycosaminoglycan-Based Cryogels from Well-Defined Microscale Templates for Local Growth Factor Delivery

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ben Newland - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Cardiff University (Author)
  • Heike Newland - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Francesca Lorenzi - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, University of Padua (Author)
  • Dimitri Eigel - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Petra B. Welzel - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Dieter Fischer - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Wenxin Wang - , University College Dublin (Author)
  • Uwe Freudenberg - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Anne Rosser - , Cardiff University (Author)
  • Carsten Werner - , Chair of Biofunctional Polymer Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Glycosaminoglycan-based hydrogels hold great potential for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. By mimicking the natural extracellular matrix processes of growth factor binding and release, such hydrogels can be used as a sustained delivery device for growth factors. Since neural networks commonly follow well-defined, high-aspect-ratio paths through the central and peripheral nervous system, we sought to create a fiber-like, elongated growth factor delivery system. Cryogels, with networks formed at subzero temperatures, are well-suited for the creation of high-aspect-ratio biomaterials, because they have a macroporous structure making them mechanically robust (for ease of handling) yet soft and highly compressible (for interfacing with brain tissue). Unlike hydrogels, cryogels can be synthesized in advance of their use, stored with ease, and rehydrated quickly to their original shape. Herein, we use solvent-assisted microcontact molding to form sacrificial templates, in which we produced highly porous cryogel microscale scaffolds with a well-defined elongated shape via the photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and maleimide-functionalized heparin. Dissolution of the template yielded cryogels that could load nerve growth factor (NGF) and release it over a period of 2 weeks, causing neurite outgrowth in PC12 cell cultures. This microscale template-assisted synthesis technique allows tight control over the cryogel scaffold dimensions for high reproducibility and ease of injection through fine gauge needles.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1178-1188
Number of pages11
JournalACS chemical neuroscience
Volume12
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 7 Apr 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33754692
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/161890281

Keywords

Keywords

  • cryogel scaffold, Heparin, nerve growth factor, PC12 cells, photopolymerization, sustained delivery