Fabrication and characterization of an agarose and GelMA hybrid scaffold for adipose tissue regeneration
Source abstract
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to overcome the drawbacks of current clinical practices in breast reconstruction. Tissue engineering is currently the most promising field to create improved alternatives and new strategies. Biomaterials that mimic the physico-chemical and biological properties of the native extracellular matrix (ECM), e.g. hydrogels, have been characterized and seeded with cells, with the purpose of promoting the regeneration of tissues. In this study, a new hydrogel blend was produced and characterized for adipose tissue regeneration purposes. Design/methodology/approach Blends of agarose and gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) were produced in different weight percentage ratios (100:0, 75:25 and 50:50 of agarose:GelMA). Indirect 3D printed scaffolds and 2D discs were fabricated and characterized in terms of physico-chemical and biological properties in the presence of adipose tissue-derived stem cells. Findings Both scaffolds and discs presented a good gel fraction (>90% for most of the samples) and a swelling degree >17% for all samples. In terms of stiffness, the results varied from 2.86 kPa to 25.11 kPa depending on the testing conditions (i.e. testing temperature) and sample chemical composition. Rheology analysis showed that the storage modulus was higher than the loss modulus, indicating a more elastic behavior. Moreover, the scaffolds with GelMA could support cell adhesion and proliferation, with a viability higher than the control (i.e. tissue culture plastic, TCP) by day 14 (118% and 128% for the ratios 75:25 and 50:50, respectively), showing that 50:50 is the optimum ratio composition. Originality/value The blend of agarose GelMA presented in this study offers a new and promising approach toward adipose tissue regeneration.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications · 3D Printing in Biomedical Research · Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) Associated Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aeronautics (LAETA), , Porto, ; Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, and Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Ghent University Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry (CMaC), Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, , Ghent,
Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) Associated Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aeronautics (LAETA), , Porto, , and Aragonese Foundation for Research and Development (ARAID), Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería de Aragón (i3A), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
Funding
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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