materials-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Modelling Polysaccharides-Based Hydrogels: From Preparation to Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 13030

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, DPT of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25121 Brescia, Italy
Interests: prognosis and therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia; biology and therapy of acute leukemias; stem cell transplantation; CAR-T therapy; stem cell biology; regenerative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: Polymer science; Materials science and technology; Biomaterials; Hydrogels; Tissue engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Laboratorio di Immunoreumatologia e Rigenerazione Tissutale, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: osteo-articular tissue physiology; osteoarthritis; cells and biomaterials; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels, thanks to their natural-tissue-like soft consistency and cell-loving attributes, have emerged as the most potential scaffolding substrate for three-dimensional cell culture in tissue engineering. The nature and structure of the material are essential to determine the efficiency of the scaffolds for cell spreading, proliferation, and differentiation in vivo. Among the specific scaffold requirements, interconnected open porosity is a necessary property to allow cell ingrowth and adequate vascularization, and it is also preferable that the scaffold biodegrade at a controllable rate that approximates the rate of tissue regeneration eventually creating space for new tissue growth.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the design and development of advanced customized hydrogel-based scaffolds and their applications for osteogenic/chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo.

Contributions regarding innovative materials for tissue regeneration and various aspects of their interactions with different cell types and tissues are welcome.

Prof. Domenico Russo
Prof. Luciana Sartore
Dr. Gina Lisignoli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Hydrogel-based scaffold
  • Micro–macro porous resorbable scaffold
  • Bone regeneration
  • Cartilage regeneration
  • Tissue regeneration
  • Mesenchymal stromal stem cells
  • Bioengineered models

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 7925 KiB  
Article
Mineralization of 3D Osteogenic Model Based on Gelatin-Dextran Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffold Bioengineered with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Multiparametric Evaluation
by Federica Re, Luciana Sartore, Elisa Borsani, Matteo Ferroni, Camilla Baratto, Allia Mahajneh, Andrew Smith, Kamol Dey, Camillo Almici, Pierangelo Guizzi, Simona Bernardi, Guido Faglia, Fulvio Magni and Domenico Russo
Materials 2021, 14(14), 3852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143852 - 9 Jul 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2968
Abstract
Gelatin–dextran hydrogel scaffolds (G-PEG-Dx) were evaluated for their ability to activate the bone marrow human mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-hMSCs) towards mineralization. G-PEG-Dx1 and G-PEG-Dx2, with identical composition but different architecture, were seeded with BM-hMSCs in presence of fetal bovine serum or human platelet [...] Read more.
Gelatin–dextran hydrogel scaffolds (G-PEG-Dx) were evaluated for their ability to activate the bone marrow human mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-hMSCs) towards mineralization. G-PEG-Dx1 and G-PEG-Dx2, with identical composition but different architecture, were seeded with BM-hMSCs in presence of fetal bovine serum or human platelet lysate (hPL) with or without osteogenic medium. G-PEG-Dx1, characterized by a lower degree of crosslinking and larger pores, was able to induce a better cell colonization than G-PEG-Dx2. At day 28, G-PEG-Dx2, with hPL and osteogenic factors, was more efficient than G-PEG-Dx1 in inducing mineralization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy showed that extracellular matrix produced by BM-hMSCs and calcium-positive mineralization were present along the backbone of the G-PEG-Dx2, even though it was colonized to a lesser degree by hMSCs than G-PEG-Dx1. These findings were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), detecting distinct lipidomic signatures that were associated with the different degree of scaffold mineralization. Our data show that the architecture and morphology of G-PEG-Dx2 is determinant and better than that of G-PEG-Dx1 in promoting a faster mineralization, suggesting a more favorable and active role for improving bone repair. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4239 KiB  
Article
Wear Behavior Characterization of Hydrogels Constructs for Cartilage Tissue Replacement
by Saverio Affatato, Diego Trucco, Paola Taddei, Lorenzo Vannozzi, Leonardo Ricotti, Gilbert Daniel Nessim and Gina Lisignoli
Materials 2021, 14(2), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020428 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3536
Abstract
This paper aims to characterize the wear behavior of hydrogel constructs designed for human articular cartilage replacement. To this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) 10% w/v and gellan gum (GG) 1.5% w/v were used to reproduce the superior [...] Read more.
This paper aims to characterize the wear behavior of hydrogel constructs designed for human articular cartilage replacement. To this purpose, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) 10% w/v and gellan gum (GG) 1.5% w/v were used to reproduce the superior (SUP) cartilage layer and PEGDA 15% w/v and GG 1.5% w/v were used to reproduce the deep (DEEP) cartilage layer, with or without graphene oxide (GO). These materials (SUP and DEEP) were analyzed alone and in combination to mimic the zonal architecture of human articular cartilage. The developed constructs were tested using a four-station displacement control knee joint simulator under bovine calf serum. Roughness and micro-computer tomography (µ-CT) measurements evidenced that the hydrogels with 10% w/v of PEGDA showed a worse behavior both in terms of roughness increase and loss of uniformly distributed density than 15% w/v of PEGDA. The simultaneous presence of GO and 15% w/v PEGDA contributed to keeping the hydrogel construct’s characteristics. The Raman spectra of the control samples showed the presence of unreacted C=C bonds in all the hydrogels. The degree of crosslinking increased along the series SUP < DEEP + SUP < DEEP without GO. The Raman spectra of the tested hydrogels showed the loss of diacrylate groups in all the samples, due to the washout of unreacted PEGDA in bovine calf serum aqueous environment. The loss decreased along the series SUP > DEEP + SUP > DEEP, further confirming that the degree of photo-crosslinking of the starting materials plays a key role in determining their wear behavior. μ-CT and Raman spectroscopy proved to be suitable techniques to characterize the structure and composition of hydrogels. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2846 KiB  
Article
Chitosan-Hydrogel Polymeric Scaffold Acts as an Independent Primary Inducer of Osteogenic Differentiation in Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
by Simona Bernardi, Federica Re, Katia Bosio, Kamol Dey, Camillo Almici, Michele Malagola, Pierangelo Guizzi, Luciana Sartore and Domenico Russo
Materials 2020, 13(16), 3546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13163546 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2677
Abstract
Regenerative medicine aims to restore damaged tissues and mainly takes advantage of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), either alone or combined with three-dimensional scaffolds. The scaffold is generally considered a support, and its contribution to hMSC proliferation and differentiation is unknown or poorly [...] Read more.
Regenerative medicine aims to restore damaged tissues and mainly takes advantage of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), either alone or combined with three-dimensional scaffolds. The scaffold is generally considered a support, and its contribution to hMSC proliferation and differentiation is unknown or poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of an innovative three-dimensional gelatin–chitosan hybrid hydrogel scaffold (HC) to activate the osteogenic differentiation process in hMSCs. We seeded hMSCs from adipose tissue (AT-hMSCs) and bone marrow (BM-hMSCs) in highly performing HC of varying chitosan content in the presence of growing medium (GM) or osteogenic medium (OM) combined with Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or human platelet lysate (hPL). We primarily evaluated the viability and the proliferation of AT-hMSCs and BM-hMSCs under different conditions. Then, in order to analyse the activation of osteogenic differentiation, the osteopontin (OPN) transcript was absolutely quantified at day 21 by digital PCR. OPN was expressed under all conditions, in both BM-hMSCs and AT-hMSCs. Cells seeded in HC cultured with OM+hPL presented the highest OPN transcript levels, as expected. Interestingly, both BM-hMSCs and AT-hMSCs cultured with GM+FBS expressed OPN. In particular, BM-hMSCs cultured with GM+FBS expressed more OPN than those cultured with GM+hPL and OM+FBS; AT-hMSCs cultured with GM+FBS presented a lower expression of OPN when compared with those cultured with GM+hPL, but no significant difference was detected when compared with AT-hMSCs cultured with OM+FBS. No OPN expression was detected in negative controls. These results show the capability of HC to primarily and independently activate osteogenic differentiation pathways in hMCSs. Therefore, these scaffolds may be considered no more as a simple support, rather than active players in the differentiative and regenerative process. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4599 KiB  
Article
Impedance-Based Monitoring of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Three-Dimensional Proliferation Using Aerosol Jet Printed Sensors: A Tissue Engineering Application
by Sarah Tonello, Andrea Bianchetti, Simona Braga, Camillo Almici, Mirella Marini, Giovanna Piovani, Michele Guindani, Kamol Dey, Luciana Sartore, Federica Re, Domenico Russo, Edoardo Cantù, Nicola Francesco Lopomo, Mauro Serpelloni and Emilio Sardini
Materials 2020, 13(10), 2231; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13102231 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3084
Abstract
One of the main hurdles to improving scaffolds for regenerative medicine is the development of non-invasive methods to monitor cell proliferation within three-dimensional environments. Recently, an electrical impedance-based approach has been identified as promising for three-dimensional proliferation assays. A low-cost impedance-based solution, easily [...] Read more.
One of the main hurdles to improving scaffolds for regenerative medicine is the development of non-invasive methods to monitor cell proliferation within three-dimensional environments. Recently, an electrical impedance-based approach has been identified as promising for three-dimensional proliferation assays. A low-cost impedance-based solution, easily integrable with multi-well plates, is here presented. Sensors were developed using biocompatible carbon-based ink on foldable polyimide substrates by means of a novel aerosol jet printing technique. The setup was tested to monitor the proliferation of human mesenchymal stromal cells into previously validated gelatin-chitosan hybrid hydrogel scaffolds. Reliability of the methodology was assessed comparing variations of the electrical impedance parameters with the outcomes of enzymatic proliferation assay. Results obtained showed a magnitude increase and a phase angle decrease at 4 kHz (maximum of 2.5 kΩ and −9 degrees) and an exponential increase of the modeled resistance and capacitance components due to the cell proliferation (maximum of 1.5 kΩ and 200 nF). A statistically significant relationship with enzymatic assay outcomes could be detected for both phase angle and electric model parameters. Overall, these findings support the potentiality of this non-invasive approach for continuous monitoring of scaffold-based cultures, being also promising in the perspective of optimizing the scaffold-culture system. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop