Photocrosslinkable hydrogel for myocyte cell culture and injection

Conventional treatment options for myocardial infarction are limited by the inability of mature myocardium to regenerate after injury. Although functional improvements after injection of cells and growth factors have been demonstrated, the clinical utility of this procedure has been hampered by poor cell localization, low survival, and rapid clearance of injected growth factors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a hydrogel, based on photocrosslinkable chitosan and acryloyl-poly(ethylene glycol)-RGDS (Az-chitosan/Acr-PEG-RGD) for myocyte cell culture and myocardial injection. Chitosan was modified with photoreactive azidobenzoic acid and Acr-PEG-RGD was synthesized by reacting YRGDS with an equimolar amount of acryloyl-PEG-N-hydroxysuccinimide. For injection and encapsulation each polymer was dissolved in Di-H(2)O (pH 6.4), the solutions were mixed and crosslinked by UV application (4 mW/cm(2)). C2C12 myoblasts proliferated and differentiated on hydrogels containing 5 mM RGD but not on the pure photocrosslinked chitosan. In vitro, the crosslinked hydrogels retained 80% of encapsulated VEGF for 24 days. Live/dead staining of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes encapsulated into Az-chitosan/Acr-PEG-RGD hydrogels indicated high cell viability upon UV crosslinking. Ex vivo, we localized the hydrogel on the surface and in the ventricle wall of an adult rat heart by brief (2 min) UV light application.     

High throughput functional microdissection of pathogen-specific T-cell immunity using antigen and lymphocyte arrays

The analysis of the human T-cell response specific for relevant pathogens is useful for diagnostic purposes and for research. Several methods enumerate antigen specific T-cells and measure their functions. Since screening of numerous antigens from pathogens is often needed to evaluate immunocompetence, lymphocytes, labor and cost are limiting factors. To examine pathogen-specific T-cell immunity, we have miniaturized the analysis of T-cell responses using an array approach in 384- and 1536-well plates with as few as 10 x 10(3) PBMC per well instead of the 500 x 10(3) PBMC used for current assays. Secreted cytokines were detected in the same wells used for lymphocyte cultures. The method can detect about ten CMV specific T-cells diluted into 50 x 10(3) PBMC (0.02%), and can quantify secreted cytokines. The microarray approach allowed evaluation of T-cell immunity in children with a sensitivity higher than current methods. When applied to CMV epitope mapping, the data obtained with conventional methods were confirmed. The assay could be automated, allowing high throughput processing. The assay provides quantitative information on cytokines induced by antigen stimulation and can be applied in a simplified format as a field test to monitor T-cell immunity in vaccine trials or in veterinary medicine.     

Test-retest reliability of the nasopharyngeal culture in children

Aspects of test-retest reliability of the nasopharyngeal culture were evaluated in children with otitis media and in ear, nose and throat (ENT)-healthy children, in all 174 cases. The nasopharyngeal colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and beta-haemolytic streptococci was determined for a group of children with well-defined otitis media effusion (OME). The valitity of the results was then tested in a new group of children with OME. Despite seasonal differences and different bacteriologists analysing the specimens, high conformity was found between the two groups regarding distribution and recovery rates of the potential pathogens studied. The test-retest reliability of the culture was also analysed by duplicate specimens in children with acute otitis media (AOM), OME and in ENT-healthy children. The reproducibility of the findings of pathogens, whether quantitative aspects were considered or not, was found to be between 70 and 80% for children with AOM and OME.     

Suspension arrays of hydrogel microparticles prepared by photopatterning for multiplexed protein-based bioassays

Suspension arrays for protein-based assays have been developed using shape-coded poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel microparticles to overcome the problems with current systems which use color-coded rigid microparticles as protein supports. Various shapes of hydrogel microparticles were fabricated by a two-step process consisting of photopatterning and flushing using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) channel as a molding insert. Hydrogel microparticles with lateral dimensions ranging from 50 to 300 μm were fabricated using different molecular weights of PEG (700, 3,400, and 8,000 Da), by which the water content and swelling behavior of the hydrogel microparticles could be controlled. Protein-entrapped hydrogel microparticles were prepared in a suspension array format, and PEG hydrogel could encapsulate proteins without deactivation for a week due to its high water content and soft nature. The sequential bienzymatic reaction of hydrogel-entrapped glucose oxidase (GOX) and peroxidase (POD) was successfully investigated using fluorescence detection, demonstrating one possible application of suspension arrays. Furthermore, a mixture of two different shapes of hydrogel microparticles containing GOX/POD and alkaline phosphatase (AP), respectively, was prepared and the shape-coded suspension array was used for simultaneous characterization of two different enzyme-catalyzed reactions.     

Autocrine-controlled formation and function of tissue-like aggregates by primary hepatocytes in micropatterned hydrogel arrays

The liver carries out a variety of essential functions regulated in part by autocrine signaling, including hepatocyte-produced growth factors and extracellular matrix (ECM). The local concentrations of autocrine factors are governed by a balance between receptor-mediated binding at the cell surface and diffusion into the local matrix and are thus expected to be influenced by the dimensionality of the cell culture environment. To investigate the role of growth factor and ECM-modulated autocrine signaling in maintaining appropriate primary hepatocyte survival, metabolic functions, and polarity, we created three-dimensional cultures of defined geometry using micropatterned semisynthetic polyethylene glycol-fibrinogen hydrogels to provide a mechanically compliant, nonadhesive material platform that could be modified by cell-secreted factors. We found that in the absence of exogenous peptide growth factors or ECM, hepatocytes retain the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligands (EGF and transforming growth factor-α) and the proto-oncogenic mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (c-MET) ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), along with fibronectin. Further, hepatocytes cultured in this three-dimensional microenvironment maintained high levels of liver-specific functions over the 10-day culture period. Function-blocking inhibitors of α5β1 or EGF receptor dramatically reduced cell viability and function, suggesting that signaling by both these receptors is needed for in vitro survival and function of hepatocytes in the absence of other exogenous signals.     

Enhancing the reliability and accuracy of pulse oximetry with a built-in expert system

Conclusion The problems related to widening of functional ability and working range of pulse oximeters, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of blood oxygenation monitoring against the background of a locomotor artifact and electric disturbances, protection of the recordings of the device against hardware failure and misinterpretation of primary information have been brought to the fore in recent years of practical noninvasive oximetry. The listed problems can be solved by using modern statistical methods of digital information processing, the methods being developed in various fields of technology on the principles of algorithmic failure-resistant reconfiguration and logical expert examination of signals. Specific approaches to the application of the principles to digital pulse oximeters are considered in the present work. Independent of a large locomotor artifact and of deviation of actual monitoring conditions from ideal, failure-resistant reconfiguration algorithms for calculation of pulse rate and blood oxygenation levels are extensively considered. The structure and basic algorithms of the expert system of a pulse oximeter in temporal and spectral regions are also discussed, the primary goal of the expert system consisting of improvement of the accuracy and assessing the reliability of the measured values of oxygenation. Most of the described algorithms have been implemented in a prototype model of a domestic pulse oximeter which have been tested under both experimental and clinical conditions. Adjustment of the device to clinical requirements is in progress, the adjustment being performed taking into consideration clinical experience of expert physicians. The process of adjustment will hopefully direct the way to further improvement of pulse oximeters. Institute for Management Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Translated from Meditsinskaya Tekhnika, No. 3, pp. 14–18, May–June, 1993.     

A peptide-modified chitosan-collagen hydrogel for cardiac cell culture and delivery

Myocardial infarction (MI) results in the death of cardiomyocytes (CM) followed by scar formation and pathological remodeling of the heart. We propose that chitosan conjugated with the angiopoietin-1 derived peptide, QHREDGS, and mixed with collagen I forms a thermoresponsive hydrogel better suited for the survival and maturation of transplanted cardiomyocytes in vitro compared to collagen and chitosan-collagen hydrogels alone. Conjugation of QHREDGS peptide to chitosan does not interfere with the gelation, structure or mechanical properties of the hydrogel blends. The storage modulus of 2.5 mg ml(-1) 1:1 mass:mass (m:m) chitosan-collagen was measured to be 54.9 ± 9.1 Pa, and the loss modulus 6.1±0.9 Pa. The dose-response of the QHREDGS peptide was assessed and it was found that CMs encapsulated in High-peptide gel (651 ± 8 nmol peptide ml-gel(-1)) showed improved morphology, viability and metabolic activity in comparison to the Low-peptide (100 ± 30 nmol peptide ml-gel(-1)) and Control (No Peptide) groups. Construct (CMs in hydrogel) functional properties were not significantly different between the groups; however, the success rate of obtaining a beating construct was improved in the hydrogel with the High amount of QHREDGS peptide immobilized compared to the Low and Control groups. Subcutaneous injection of hydrogel (Control, Low and High) with CMs in the back of Lewis rats illustrated its ability to localize at the site of injection and retain cells, with CM contractile apparati identified after seven days. The hydrogel was also able to successfully localize at the site of injection in a mouse MI model.     

Three-dimensional,soft neotissue arrays as high throughput platforms for the interrogation of engineered tissue environments

Local signals from tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironments, including matrix adhesive ligand, mechanical elasticity and micro-scale geometry, are known to instruct a variety of stem cell differentiation processes. Likewise, these signals converge to provide multifaceted, mechanochemical cues for highly-specific tissue morphogenesis or regeneration. Despite accumulated knowledge about the individual and combined roles of various mechanochemical ECM signals in stem cell activities on 2-dimensional matrices, the understandings of morphogenetic or regenerative 3-dimenstional tissue microenvironments remain very limited. To that end, we established high-throughput platforms based on soft, fibrous matrices with various combinatorial ECM proteins meanwhile highly-tunable in elasticity and 3-dimensional geometry. To demonstrate the utility of our platform, we evaluated 64 unique combinations of 6 ECM proteins (collagen I, collagen III, collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, and elastin) on the adhesion, spreading and fate commitment of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) under two substrate stiffness (4.6 kPa, 20 kPa). Using this technique, we identified several neotissue microenvironments supporting MSC adhesion, spreading and differentiation toward early vascular lineages. Manipulation of the matrix properties, such as elasticity and geometry, in concert with ECM proteins will permit the investigation of multiple and distinct MSC environments. This paper demonstrates the practical application of high through-put technology to facilitate the screening of a variety of engineered microenvironments with the aim to instruct stem cell differentiation.     

水凝胶三维培养对人羊膜间充质干细胞特性及旁分泌效应的影响

文题释义：水凝胶三维培养：应用安全稳定的天然或合成聚合物材料为细胞提供一个空间、立体的生存环境,可增强细胞的黏附、增殖及分泌细胞因子能力。 旁分泌效应：以往研究认为干细胞应用于创面治疗的潜能是干细胞归巢分化为损伤组织,后来发现移植的干细胞大多停留在肝、脾,很少能到达损伤创面。目前研究证实间充质干细胞通过分泌某些营养因子作用于临近的靶细胞,起到促进创面愈合的作用。 背景：研究表明间充质干细胞在创面愈合中具有减轻炎症反应、促进创面愈合、减轻瘢痕形成的作用,然而以往的普通二维培养环境由于存在细胞间接触性抑制,可能导致细胞的基因表达、信号传导和形态学存在差异。 目的：观察人羊膜间充质干细胞旁分泌创面愈合相关因子的能力是否受二维培养环境与三维培养环境的影响。 方法：利用传统酶消化法获得人羊膜间充质干细胞后,分别接种于普通细胞培养瓶(二维培养)与ShakeGel^TM 3D水凝胶中(三维培养),将水凝胶中的人羊膜间充质干细胞分别进行成脂、成骨、成软骨诱导分化,免疫荧光染色确定细胞分化方向;待两种培养环境中的人羊膜间充质干细胞融合至70%-80%,于倒置相差显微镜和激光共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞的生长特点及形态;培养24 h后,应用RT-qPCR技术测定细胞旁分泌创面愈合相关因子的mRNA相对表达量;培养48 h后,利用ELISA试剂盒检测细胞旁分泌创面愈合相关因子的蛋白表达量。 结果与结论：①二维培养组人羊膜间充质干细胞呈扁平状,为典型间充质样细胞形态;三维培养组人羊膜间充质干细胞呈圆形,均匀分散于水凝胶的每一层;②三维培养中的人羊膜间充质干细胞具有3系诱导分化潜能;③三维培养组白细胞介素6、白细胞介素8、表皮生长因子、碱性成纤维细胞因子、透明质酸、肝细胞生长因子、血管内皮生长因子mRNA相对表达量高于二维培养组(P < 0.001,P < 0.05),两组白细胞介素4、白细胞介素10、金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子、基质金属蛋白酶、转化生长因子、角化细胞生长因子mRNA相对表达量比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);④三维培养组白细胞介素6、白细胞介素10、表皮生长因子、碱性成纤维细胞因子、白细胞介素8、肝细胞生长因子、转化生长因子β1、血管内皮生长因子蛋白表达量高于二维培养组(P < 0.001,P < 0.01,P < 0.05),两组白细胞介素4、金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子、基质金属蛋白酶、角化细胞生长因子蛋白表达量比较差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);⑤结果表明,水凝胶三维培养环境中的人羊膜间充质干细胞可呈现更好的形态及创面修复相关因子旁分泌生物学效应。 ORCID: 0000-0002-9744-2176(王旗) 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程     

The reliability of methicillin sensitivity tests on four culture media

The influence of culture medium, incubation temperature, and antibiotic content on the reliability of methicillin disc-sensitivity tests on strains of Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. Tests were performed with an inoculum giving semiconfluent growth of colonies on four media, with 5-mug and 10-mug methicillin discs at incubation temperatures of 30, 35, and 37 degrees C. With Sensitest agar and Mueller-Hinton agar at 35 degrees C or below, methicillin resistance was reliably detected. On DST agar and Wellcotest agar discrimination between sensitive and resistant strains was possible only at 30 degrees C. On Wellcotest agar and DST agar it was not possible to detect methicillin resistance in one resistant strain at any temperature. For sensitive and resistant strains, the use of a 5-mug disc allowed greater differentiation than the 10-mug disc.     

Enhancement of endothelial differentiation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells by a three-dimensional culture system of microwell

Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) have been demonstrated to have ability to differentiate into several cell lineages, including endothelial cells. The low endothelial differentiation efficiency, however, limits further clinical application of AdMSCs for therapeutic angiogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the feasibility to promote endothelial differentiation efficacy of AdMSCs using microwell array as a 3-D culture system. AdMSCs aggregates were prepared using photocrosslinkable polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) derived microwell. AdMSCs aggregated and formed well defined 3-D aggregates following seeding. The microwell was effective in regulating the size of AdMSCs aggregates with low variation. AdMSCs within the 3-D aggregates maintained the cell surface epitopes of AdMSCs with high viability. Endothelial growth medium was used to induce the in vitro endothelial differentiation of AdMSCs. Both gene expression results from real time PCR and protein expression data from immunofluorescent staining revealed that 3-D cultured aggregates significantly promote the endothelial differentiation efficacy of AdMSCs. AdMSCs or AdMSCs aggregates were injected into the subcutaneous space of nu/nu mice to investigate the endothelial differentiation in vivo. The immunofluorescent staining data indicated promoted endothelial differentiation of 3-D aggregates compared with 2-D AdMSCs. Aggregates dissociated cells were obtained by transferring 3-D aggregates onto the adherent surfaces. Cells dissociated from induced aggregates were still positive for endothelial specific markers and were able to form endothelial-like tube structures on matrigel, indicating the endothelial properties. We conclude that microwell is an ideal 3-D culture system for promoting endothelial differentiation efficacy of AdMSCs.     

Peptide- and collagen-based hydrogel substrates for in vitro culture of chick cochleae

The overall goal of this work is to improve the culture of the auditory organ of birds for the dual use of developing a hair cell regeneration model and charting a pathway to the eventual replacement of the hearing organ. In doing so, we develop a protocol for removing the auditory organ from its basement membrane in the inner ear, attach the organ to a series of artificial basement membranes, and conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of how cell morphology, viability and function change with time. Native matrix cultures, where the epithelium was floating in media with the basement membrane and accessory structures attached, were used as a basis of comparison. PuraMatrix, collagen I, collagen I/chondroitin-sulfate and Matrigel were chosen to encompass a diverse range of mechanical properties and macromolecule moieties. Surprisingly, we find that PuraMatrix outperformed the other matrices as a scaffold for sensory organ culture. PuraMatrix a self-assembled peptide hydrogel, is a biochemically specific culture substrate that contains none of the extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and growth factors contained in the inner ear's basement membrane. Rheological measurements reveal that PuraMatrix may be a closer approximation to the stiffness of the soft tissue supporting the auditory organ. Cell density on the PuraMatrix substrate is comparable to that of the native matrix cultures, despite the absence of the basement membrane and accessory structures. Further studies show that PuraMatrix supports the culture of functional hair cells over a 72 h period, with a significant increase in the number of functional hair cells in comparison to the organ cultured without a matrix. This is the first example of adhesion of the adult auditory epithelium to a biomaterial for an extended period of time. With further optimization, this system will enable the performance of many novel biophysical and pharmacological studies involving hair cells and supporting cells.     

Quasi-spherical microwells on superhydrophobic substrates for long term culture of multicellular spheroids and high throughput assays

Multicellular tumour spheroids closely recapitulate the physiological environment of tumour tissues. However, their implementation in drug screening assays remains limited due to the technological challenges of forming large numbers of high quality spheroids in platforms compatible with high throughput screening. A simple bench-top microfabrication strategy is demonstrated here based on the principle of ice lithography carried out on superhydrophobic substrates to fabricate quasi-spherical microwells (spheriwells). The microwells shapes and dimensions are directly controlled by the hydrophobicity of the substrate and the volume of the water droplets. The prepared concave microwells enable the formation of dense and homogeneous multicellular tumour spheroids. Spheroids formed within spheriwells are trapped within the microwells, which eliminate loss during media manipulation and facilitate long-term on-chip culture. Morphological and phenotypical changes associated with the growth of MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cells in spheriwells were characterised using imaging flow cytometry and revealed the appearance of heterogeneous populations with loss of E-Cadherin expression. The compatibility of the spheriwells with an on-chip MTT assay is demonstrated. The very unusual shape of the spheriwells, prepared using materials and methods routinely used in most research laboratories, provides a straightforward and scalable platform to prepare high quality multicellular tumour spheroids compatible with high throughput biological screening assays.     

Characterization of surface modification on microelectrode arrays for in vitro cell culture

This study aims to investigate surface-modified microelectrodes on the microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for neuronal interfaces with in vitro cell culture. The polyimide (PI) MEA was fabricated by using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) techniques. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) were utilized to modify the microelectrode surface of the MEA. The SAMs’ modified surface of microelectrodes offered a reliable interface to immobilize biological ligands through covalent bonding. To increase biocompatibility, the poly-d-lysine (PDL) was immobilized on the SAMs’ modified microelectrodes. Several analytical techniques were used to define the physical structure and functional groups of surface-modified gold microelectrodes on the MEA. Spectra of the Fourier transform infrared reflection (FTIR) were applied to characterize the molecular structure of MUA-SAMs and PDL on the microelectrodes. The spectra, two peaks of amide I (at 1,613 cm⁻¹) and amide II (at 1,548 cm⁻¹), revealed that covalent amide bonding existed in PDL-MUA-SAMs modified surfaces. The thickness and formation of the MUA and PDL were also observed and quantified by using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The impedance measurement of PDL-MUA-SAMs modified MEA only increased slightly to an average of 524.6 ± 55.8 kΩ from 352.9 ± 34.4 kΩ of bare gold microelectrode (p < 0.05, N = 20). In addition, the time-course changes of total impedance resulting from cell sealing resistance and gap reactance were recorded for 7 days for inferring the growth of cell lines on the electrode contact of modified MEA. The experiment of 3T3 fibroblasts, PC12 cells, primary glial cells, and primary cortical neurons cultured on the modified MEAs displayed a good adhesion rate. These biocompatibility assays demonstrated that the neuronal cells are able to grow in a proximity to PDL-MUA-SAMs modified microelectrodes of the MEAs for effective electrophysiological stimulation/sensing schemes and for future implantation purposes.     

Differential effects of cell adhesion,modulus and VEGFR-2 inhibition on capillary network formation in synthetic hydrogel arrays

Efficient biomaterial screening platforms can test a wide range of extracellular environments that modulate vascular growth. Here, we used synthetic hydrogel arrays to probe the combined effects of Cys-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (CRGDS) cell adhesion peptide concentration, shear modulus and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibition on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) viability, proliferation and tubulogenesis. HUVECs were encapsulated in degradable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels with defined CRGDS concentration and shear modulus. VEGFR2 activity was modulated using the VEGFR2 inhibitor SU5416. We demonstrate that synergy exists between VEGFR2 activity and CRGDS ligand presentation in the context of maintaining HUVEC viability. However, excessive CRGDS disrupts this synergy. HUVEC proliferation significantly decreased with VEGFR2 inhibition and increased modulus, but did not vary monotonically with CRGDS concentration. Capillary-like structure (CLS) formation was highly modulated by CRGDS concentration and modulus, but was largely unaffected by VEGFR2 inhibition. We conclude that the characteristics of the ECM surrounding encapsulated HUVECs significantly influence cell viability, proliferation and CLS formation. Additionally, the ECM modulates the effects of VEGFR2 signaling, ranging from changing the effectiveness of synergistic interactions between integrins and VEGFR2 to determining whether VEGFR2 upregulates, downregulates or has no effect on proliferation and CLS formation.     

An adaptable hydrogel array format for 3-dimensional cell culture and analysis

Hydrogels have been commonly used as model systems for 3-dimensional (3-D) cell biology, as they have material properties that resemble natural extracellular matrices (ECMs), and their cell-interactive properties can be readily adapted in order to address a particular hypothesis. Natural and synthetic hydrogels have been used to gain fundamental insights into virtually all aspects of cell behavior, including cell adhesion, migration, and differentiated function. However, cell responses to complex 3-D environments are difficult to adequately explore due to the large number of variables that must be controlled simultaneously. Here we describe an adaptable, automated approach for 3-D cell culture within hydrogel arrays. Our initial results demonstrate that the hydrogel network chemistry (both natural and synthetic), cell type, cell density, cell adhesion ligand density, and degradability within each array spot can be systematically varied to screen for environments that promote cell viability in a 3-D context. In a test-bed application we then demonstrate that a hydrogel array format can be used to identify environments that promote viability of HL-1 cardiomyocytes, a cell line that has not been cultured previously in 3-D hydrogel matrices. Results demonstrate that the fibronectin-derived cell adhesion ligand RGDSP improves HL-1 viability in a dose-dependent manner, and that the effect of RGDSP is particularly pronounced in degrading hydrogel arrays. Importantly, in the presence of 70mum RGDSP, HL-1 cardiomyocyte viability does not decrease even after 7 days of culture in PEG hydrogels. Taken together, our results indicate that the adaptable, array-based format developed in this study may be useful as an enhanced throughput platform for 3-D culture of a variety of cell types.     

自组装多肽纳米纤维水凝胶在细胞三维培养中的应用及特征

背景：自组装多肽类材料因其独特的设计及良好的生物相容性和可降解性在众多三维支架材料中脱颖而出。 目的：综述RADA类离子互补型自组装多肽支架材料的结构和功能化设计,从细胞三维培养方面探讨多肽类材料作为细胞载体材料在细胞治疗中的应用前景。 方法：由作者通过PubMed、Web of science数据库及CNKI数据库检索有关自组装多肽水凝胶的相关文献,检索词为“self-assembly peptide, tissue engineering;自组装多肽,组织工程”,检索文献量总计224篇,纳入包含多肽材料设计、功能化多肽材料、多肽材料用于细胞三维培养方面的研究,最终纳入48篇。 结果与结论：从物理结构角度讲,多肽材料可以在生理环境中自组装成具有纳米级纤维和较高孔隙率的水凝胶,最大程度上模拟细胞外基质的结构,保障细胞生存在一个真正的三维环境中。从生物功能角度讲,多肽材料可以根据不同需求复合特异性的生物活性短肽片断,赋予材料一定的细胞特异性,可以促进细胞的黏附、增殖或分化。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程全文链接：     

Three-dimensional culture and differentiation of human osteogenic cells in an injectable hydroxypropylmethylcellulose hydrogel

The present work evaluates a newly developed silated hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Si-HPMC)-based hydrogel as a scaffold for 3D culture of osteogenic cells. The pH variation at room temperature catalyzes the reticulation and self-hardening of the viscous polymer solution into a gelatine state. We designed reticulation time, final consistency and pH in order to obtain an easy handling matrice, suitable for in vitro culture and in vivo injection. Three human osteogenic cell lines and normal human osteogenic (HOST) cells were cultured in 3D inside this Si-HPMC hydrogel. We show here that osteosarcoma cells proliferate as clonogenic spheroids and that HOST colonies survive for at least 3 weeks. Mineralization assay and gene expression analysis of osteoblastic markers and cytokines, indicate that all the cells cultured in 3D into this hydrogel, exhibited a more mature differentiation status than cells cultured in monolayer on plastic. This study demonstrates that this Si-HPMC hydrogel is well suited to support osteoblastic survival, proliferation and differentiation when used as a new scaffold for 3D culture and represents also a potential basis for an innovative bone repair material.