{"title":"Osteogenic differentiation capabilities of multiarm PEG hydrogels: involvement of gel–gel-phase separation in cell differentiation","authors":"Jinyan Si, Shohei Ishikawa, Shant Nepal, Hiroyuki Okada, Ung-il Chung, Takamasa Sakai, Hironori Hojo","doi":"10.1038/s41428-024-00955-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The development of bioactive scaffolds is essential for tissue engineering because of the influence of material physicochemical properties on cellular activities. Recently, we discovered that percolation-induced 4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels achieved gel–gel phase separation (GGPS), which has tissue affinity in vivo. However, whether the 4-arm structure is the optimal configuration for the use of PEG hydrogels as scaffolds remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of an increased branching factor on GGPS. Compared with the 4-arm PEG hydrogel, the 8-arm PEG hydrogel presented a greater degree of GGPS and increased hydrophobicity. We introduced the RGD sequence into PEG hydrogels to directly assess the biological activity of GGPS, with a particular focus on its effects on the activity of bone-forming osteoblasts. Although the 8-arm PEG hydrogel did not enhance cell adhesion, it enhanced osteoblast differentiation compared with the 4-arm PEG hydrogel. Therefore, the 8-arm PEG hydrogel mediated by GGPS shows promise as a scaffold for osteoblast differentiation and holds potential as a foundation for future advancements in bone tissue engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":20302,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Journal","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Polymer Journal","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-024-00955-0","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"POLYMER SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The development of bioactive scaffolds is essential for tissue engineering because of the influence of material physicochemical properties on cellular activities. Recently, we discovered that percolation-induced 4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels achieved gel–gel phase separation (GGPS), which has tissue affinity in vivo. However, whether the 4-arm structure is the optimal configuration for the use of PEG hydrogels as scaffolds remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of an increased branching factor on GGPS. Compared with the 4-arm PEG hydrogel, the 8-arm PEG hydrogel presented a greater degree of GGPS and increased hydrophobicity. We introduced the RGD sequence into PEG hydrogels to directly assess the biological activity of GGPS, with a particular focus on its effects on the activity of bone-forming osteoblasts. Although the 8-arm PEG hydrogel did not enhance cell adhesion, it enhanced osteoblast differentiation compared with the 4-arm PEG hydrogel. Therefore, the 8-arm PEG hydrogel mediated by GGPS shows promise as a scaffold for osteoblast differentiation and holds potential as a foundation for future advancements in bone tissue engineering.
期刊介绍:
Polymer Journal promotes research from all aspects of polymer science from anywhere in the world and aims to provide an integrated platform for scientific communication that assists the advancement of polymer science and related fields. The journal publishes Original Articles, Notes, Short Communications and Reviews.
Subject areas and topics of particular interest within the journal''s scope include, but are not limited to, those listed below:
Polymer synthesis and reactions
Polymer structures
Physical properties of polymers
Polymer surface and interfaces
Functional polymers
Supramolecular polymers
Self-assembled materials
Biopolymers and bio-related polymer materials
Polymer engineering.