eCM (Eur Cell Mater / e Cells & Materials) eCM Open Access Scientific Journal
 ISSN:1473-2262         NLM:100973416 (link)         DOI:10.22203/eCM

2011   Volume No 22 – pages 359-376

Title: Biomimetic modification of synthetic hydrogels by incorporation of adhesive peptides and calcium phosphate nanoparticles: in vitro evaluation of cell behavior

Author: M Bongio, JJJP van den Beucken, MR Nejadnik, SCG Leeuwenburgh, LA Kinard, FK Kasper, AG Mikos, JA Jansen

Address: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Biomaterials (309), PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

E-mail: j.jansen at dent.umcn.nl

Key Words: Synthetic polymers, biomimetic hydrogels, RGD peptide, calcium phosphate nanoparticles, cell-material interactions, in vitro mineralization.


Publication date: December 17th 2011

Abstract: The ultimate goal of this work was to develop a biocompatible and biomimetic in situ crosslinkable hydrogel scaffold with an instructive capacity for bone regenerative treatment. To this end, synthetic hydrogels were functionalized with two key components of the extracellular matrix of native bone tissue, i.e. the three-amino acid peptide sequence RGD (which is the principal integrin-binding domain responsible for cell adhesion and survival of anchorage-dependent cells) and calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles in the form of hydroxyapatite (which are similar to the inorganic phase of bone tissue). Rat bone marrow osteoblast-like cells (OBLCs) were encapsulated in four different biomaterials (plain oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF), RGD-modified OPF, OPF enriched with CaP nanoparticles and RGD-modified OPF enriched with CaP nanoparticles) and cell survival, cell spreading, proliferation and mineralized matrix formation were determined via cell viability assay, histology and biochemical analysis for alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium. This study showed that RGD peptide sequences promoted cell spreading in OPF hydrogels and hence play a crucial role in cell survival during the early stage of culture, whereas CaP nanoparticles significantly enhanced cell-mediated hydrogel mineralization. Although cell spreading and proliferation activity were inhibited, the combined effect of RGD peptide sequences and CaP nanoparticles within OPF hydrogel systems elicited a better biological response than that of the individual components. Specifically, both a sustained cell viability and mineralized matrix production mediated by encapsulated OBLCs were observed within these novel biomimetic composite systems.


Article download: Pages 359-376 (PDF file)
DOI: 10.22203/eCM.v022a27