Engineering Anisotropic Cell Models: Development of Collagen Hydrogel Scaffolds with Magneto‐Responsive PEG Microgels for Tissue Engineering Applications

Advanced Materials Technologies, vol. 9

Abstract

Abstract Mimicking tissue‐oriented organization in vitro has been extensively studied in recent years, using both natural and synthetic materials in combination with external magnetic fields to establish anisotropic conditions. Here, a new combination between magneto‐responsive anisometric PEG microgels and collagen hydrogels is explored to establish anisotropic in vitro models. Different sizes of PEG microgels are tested to assess the impact of both width and aspect ratio on the formation and alignment of collagen hydrogels. Results show that the key properties of collagen hydrogels, regarding fibrillogenesis, rheological properties, and fiber diameter are kept consistent upon the combination with PEG microgels. Furthermore, partial collagen fiber alignment is observed when larger (width 10 µm) PEG microgels are employed and magnetically aligned. In vitro studies show cell alignment within the anisotropic collagen hydrogels from the first day in culture. Interestingly, PEG microgels with higher width and length tend to induce less hydrogel contraction even after 7 days in culture. The results demonstrate the ability to establish a 3D unidirectional collagen hydrogel by magnetically aligning anisometric microgels during the gelation process, which can be promising for different tissue engineering applications.

Authors 6

1. Ana L. Castro

   Universidade do Porto · i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto · Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Albel Salazar

   Affiliation as printed

   ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar Universidade do Porto 4050‐313 Porto Portugal

   INEB – Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

   i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

2. Sitara Vedaraman Aachen Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Tamás Haraszti Aachen Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Mário Adolfo Barbosa

   Universidade do Porto · i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto · Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Albel Salazar

   Affiliation as printed

   ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar Universidade do Porto 4050‐313 Porto Portugal

   INEB – Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

   i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

5. Raquel Madeira Gonçalves

   Universidade do Porto · i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto · Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Albel Salazar

   Affiliation as printed

   ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar Universidade do Porto 4050‐313 Porto Portugal

   INEB – Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

   i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto 4200‐135 Porto Portugal

6. Laura De Laporte corresponding Aachen Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University · DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University 52074 Aachen Germany

   Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany