posted on 2024-03-12, 15:44authored byKathrin Kowalczuk, Valentin D. Wegner, Alexander S. Mosig, Felix H. Schacher
Poly(ethylene glycol)-based (PEG) hydrogels provide an
ideal platform
to obtain well-defined and tailor-made cell culture matrices to enhance in vitro cell culture conditions, although cell adhesion
is often challenging when the cells are cultivated on the substrate
surface. We herein demonstrate two approaches for the synthesis of
polycationic PEG-based hydrogels which were modified to enhance cell-matrix
interactions, to improve two-dimensional (2D) cell culture, and catalyze
hydrolytic degradation. While the utilization of N,N-(bisacryloxyethyl) amine (BAA) as cross-linker
for in situ gelation provides degradable scaffolds
for dynamic cell culture, the incorporation of short segments of poly(N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)acrylamide) (PDMAPAam) provides
high local cationic charge density leading to PEG-based hydrogels
with high selectivity for fibroblastic cell lines. The adsorption
of transforming growth factor (TGF-β) into the hydrogels induced
stimulation of fibrosis and thus the formation of collagen as a natural
ECM compound. With this, these dynamic hydrogels enhance in
vitro cell culture by providing a well-defined, artificial,
and degradable matrix that stimulates cells to produce their own natural
scaffold within a defined time frame.