Various Hydrogel Types as a Potential In Vitro Angiogenesis Model

Gels, vol. 10, pp. 820

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a fundamental process in both physiological repair mechanisms and pathological conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammation. Hydrogels are commonly used as in vitro models to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and support endothelial cell behavior during angiogenesis. Mesenchymal stem cells further augment cell and tissue growth and are therefore widely used in regenerative medicine. Here we examined the combination of distinct hydrogel types-fibrin, collagen, and human platelet lysate (HPL)-on the formation of capillaries in a co-culture system containing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). The mechanical properties and structural changes of the hydrogels were characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nanoindentation over 10 days. Fibrin and HPL gels sustained complex network formations, with HPL gels promoting even vascular tube formation of up to 10-fold capillary caliber. Collagen gels supported negligible angiogenesis. Our results suggest that HPL gels in combination with MSC-EC co-culture may be employed to obtain robust vascularization in tissue engineering. This study provides a comparative analysis of fibrin, collagen, and HPL hydrogels, focusing on their ability to support angiogenesis under identical conditions. Our findings demonstrate the superior performance of HPL gels in promoting robust vascular structures, highlighting their potential as a versatile tool for in vitro angiogenesis modeling.

Authors 8

1. Chloé Radermacher corresponding Aachen Biointerface Laboratory

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institut for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. A. Rohde Aachen Biointerface Laboratory

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institut for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Vytautas Kučikas Aachen Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Eva Miriam Buhl Aachen Electron Microscopy Facility

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Electron Microscopy Facility, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Svenja Wein Aachen Biointerface Laboratory

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institut for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

6. Danny David Jonigk Aachen Institute of Pathology

   German Center for Lung Research · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage & Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany

   Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

7. Willi Jahnen‐Dechent Aachen Biointerface Laboratory

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institut for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Sabine Neuß Aachen Biointerface Laboratory Institute of Pathology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institut for Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany