Modulating Alginate Hydrogels for Improved Biological Performance as Cellular 3D Microenvironments.

The rational choice and design of biomaterials for biomedical applications is crucial for successful and strategies, ultimately dictating their performance and potential clinical applications. Alginate, a marine-derived polysaccharide obtained from seaweeds, is one of the most widely used polymers in the biomedical field, particularly to build three dimensional (3D) systems for culture and delivery of cells. Despite their biocompatibility, alginate hydrogels often require modifications to improve their biological activity, namely via inclusion of mammalian cell-interactive domains and fine-tuning of mechanical properties.

Reshaping Models of Breast Tissue: Integration of Stromal and Parenchymal Compartments in 3D Printed Hydrogels.

Breast tissue consists of an epithelial parenchyma embedded in stroma, of heterogeneous and complex composition, undergoing several morphological and functional alterations throughout females' lifespan. Improved knowledge on the crosstalk between parenchymal and stromal mammary cells should provide important insights on breast tissue dynamics, both under healthy and diseased states. Here, we describe an advanced 3D model of breast tissue, combining multiple components, namely stromal cells and their extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as parenchymal epithelial cells, in a hybrid system.

Conjugation of the T1 sequence from CCN1 to fibrin hydrogels for therapeutic vascularization.

Hydrogel matrices with angiogenic properties are much desirable for therapeutic vascularization strategies, namely to provide vascular supply to ischemic areas, transplanted cells, or bioengineered tissues. Here we report the pro-angiogenic effect of fibrin (Fb) functionalization with the T1 sequence from the angiogenic inducer CCN1, forseeing its use in the injured brain and spinal cord. Fibrin functionalization with 40 μM of T1 peptide effectively improved cellular sprouting of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) in the absence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), without impacting the viscoelastic properties of Fb, cell viability, or proliferation.