14-3-3ε protein-loaded 3D hydrogels favor osteogenesis

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 31; no. 11; p. 105
• Main Authors: Aldana, Ana A., Uhart, Marina, Abraham, Gustavo A., Bustos, Diego M., Boccaccini, Aldo R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 03.11.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Alginates; Alginic acid; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Biomolecules; Cell adhesion; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell differentiation; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Crosslinking; Delivery Systems; Differentiation (biology); Gelatin; Glass; Hydrogels; Materials Science; Mesenchyme; Natural Materials; Osteogenesis; Polymer Sciences; Pore size; Porosity; Printing; Proteins; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Stem cells; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Three dimensional printing; Tissue engineering; Viscosity
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-020-06434-1

3D printing has emerged as vanguard technique of biofabrication to assemble cells, biomaterials and biomolecules in a spatially controlled manner to reproduce native tissues. In this work, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/alginate hydrogel scaffolds were obtained by 3D printing and 14-3-3ε protein was encapsulated in the hydrogel to induce osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASC). GelMA/alginate-based grid-like structures were printed and remained stable upon photo-crosslinking. The viscosity of alginate allowed to control the pore size and strand width. A higher viscosity of hydrogel ink enhanced the printing accuracy. Protein-loaded GelMA/alginate-based hydrogel showed a clear induction of the osteogenic differentiation of hASC cells. The results are relevant for future developments of GelMA/alginate for bone tissue engineering given the positive effect of 14-3-3ε protein on both cell adhesion and proliferation.