In situ supramolecular assembly and modular modification of hyaluronic acid hydrogels for 3D cellular engineering

ACS Nano. 2012 Apr 24;6(4):2960-8. doi: 10.1021/nn204123p. Epub 2012 Mar 15.

Abstract

A facile in situ supramolecular assembly and modular modification of biocompatible hydrogels were demonstrated using cucurbit[6]uril-conjugated hyaluronic acid (CB[6]-HA), diaminohexane-conjugated HA (DAH-HA), and tags-CB[6] for cellular engineering applications. The strong and selective host-guest interaction between CB[6] and DAH made possible the supramolecular assembly of CB[6]/DAH-HA hydrogels in the presence of cells. Then, the 3D environment of CB[6]/DAH-HA hydrogels was modularly modified by the simple treatment with various multifunctional tags-CB[6]. Furthermore, we could confirm in situ formation of CB[6]/DAH-HA hydrogels under the skin of nude mice by sequential subcutaneous injections of CB[6]-HA and DAH-HA solutions. The fluorescence of modularly modified fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-CB[6] in the hydrogels was maintained for up to 11 days, reflecting the feasibility to deliver the proper cues for cellular proliferation and differentiation in the body. Taken together, CB[6]/DAH-HA hydrogels might be successfully exploited as a 3D artificial extracellular matrix for various tissue engineering applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • Biocompatible Materials / toxicity
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / chemistry
  • Cell Engineering / methods*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / pharmacology
  • Hyaluronic Acid / toxicity
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Polyamines / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Hydrogels
  • Imidazoles
  • Oligopeptides
  • Polyamines
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • cucurbit(6)uril
  • Hyaluronic Acid