Injectable and Self-Adaptive Gel Scaffold Based on Heparin Microspheres for Adipogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Biomacromolecules. 2023 Nov 13;24(11):4663-4671. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00348. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Abstract

An injectable and self-adaptive heparin microsphere-based cell scaffold was developed to achieve adipose regeneration. Simultaneously, the cell scaffold exhibited a dynamic architecture, self-regulated glucose levels, sustained insulin delivery, and steady viscoelastic properties for adipogenesis. The dynamic cell scaffold is cross-linked by the boronate-diol interaction among heparin-based microspheres, which have boronate and maltose groups. Because of the boronate-maltose ester bonds, the gelatinous complex would be partially dismantled and readily display glucose-sensitive performance by free glucose via competitive displacement. The dynamic cross-linking heparin microsphere scaffold can deliver the lipogenic drug insulin to enhance lipid filling, which has an impact on fat tissue enhancement. A 4-week in vitro cell culture demonstrated that the dynamic heparin microsphere-based cell scaffold, through loading with insulin, showed significantly higher efficiency in promoting ASC differentiation compared with traditional 3D culture methods. In vivo histological results further demonstrated that there was a significant increase in adipose in the proposed cell scaffold, which proved to be statistically significant compared with traditional biomaterials. Notable stain expression of the FABP4 and PPAR-γ genes was also observed in the dynamic cell scaffold containing insulin, which was more similar to natural fat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipogenesis*
  • Glucose
  • Heparin / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Insulins*
  • Maltose
  • Microspheres
  • Stem Cells
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry

Substances

  • Heparin
  • Maltose
  • Glucose
  • Insulins