TY - JOUR
T1 - Modulation of Methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Enables Their Use as 3D Cultured Model
AU - Ursini, Ornella
AU - Grieco, Maddalena
AU - Sappino, Carla
AU - Capodilupo, Agostina Lina
AU - Giannitelli, Sara Maria
AU - Mauri, Emanuele
AU - Bucciarelli, Alessio
AU - Coricciati, Chiara
AU - de Turris, Valeria
AU - Gigli, Giuseppe
AU - Moroni, Lorenzo
AU - Cortese, Barbara
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by the “Tecnopolo per la medicina di precisione” (TecnoMed Puglia)—Regione Puglia: DGR n.2117 del 21/11/2018, CUP: B84I18000540002 and “Tecnopolo di Nanotecnologia e Fotonica per la medicina di precisione” (TECNOMED)—FISR/MIUR-CNR: delibera CIPE n.3449 del 7-08-2017, CUP: B83B17000010001. The research leading to these results also received funding from AIRC under IG 2021—ID. 26328 project—P.I. Cortese Barbara.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Bioengineered hydrogels represent physiologically relevant platforms for cell behaviour studies in the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields, as well as in in vitro disease models. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an ideal platform since it is a natural biocompatible polymer that is widely used to study cellular crosstalk, cell adhesion and cell proliferation, and is one of the major components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We synthesised chemically modified HA with photo-crosslinkable methacrylated groups (HA-MA) in aqueous solutions and in strictly monitored pH and temperature conditions to obtain hydrogels with controlled bulk properties. The physical and chemical properties of the different HA-MA hydrogels were investigated via rheological studies, mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, which allowed us to determine the optimal biomechanical properties and develop a biocompatible scaffold. The morphological evolution processes and proliferation rates of glioblastoma cells (U251-MG) cultured on HA-MA surfaces were evaluated by comparing 2D structures with 3D structures, showing that the change in dimensionality impacted cell functions and interactions. The cell viability assays and evaluation of mitochondrial metabolism showed that the hydrogels did not interfere with cell survival. In addition, morphological studies provided evidence of cell–matrix interactions that promoted cell budding from the spheroids and the invasiveness in the surrounding environment.
AB - Bioengineered hydrogels represent physiologically relevant platforms for cell behaviour studies in the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields, as well as in in vitro disease models. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an ideal platform since it is a natural biocompatible polymer that is widely used to study cellular crosstalk, cell adhesion and cell proliferation, and is one of the major components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). We synthesised chemically modified HA with photo-crosslinkable methacrylated groups (HA-MA) in aqueous solutions and in strictly monitored pH and temperature conditions to obtain hydrogels with controlled bulk properties. The physical and chemical properties of the different HA-MA hydrogels were investigated via rheological studies, mechanical testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, which allowed us to determine the optimal biomechanical properties and develop a biocompatible scaffold. The morphological evolution processes and proliferation rates of glioblastoma cells (U251-MG) cultured on HA-MA surfaces were evaluated by comparing 2D structures with 3D structures, showing that the change in dimensionality impacted cell functions and interactions. The cell viability assays and evaluation of mitochondrial metabolism showed that the hydrogels did not interfere with cell survival. In addition, morphological studies provided evidence of cell–matrix interactions that promoted cell budding from the spheroids and the invasiveness in the surrounding environment.
KW - glioblastoma
KW - hyaluronic acid methacrylate
KW - hydrogel
KW - tumour microenvironment
U2 - 10.3390/gels9100801
DO - 10.3390/gels9100801
M3 - Article
SN - 2310-2861
VL - 9
JO - Gels
JF - Gels
IS - 10
M1 - 801
ER -