Peptide gel in a scaffold as a composite matrix for endothelial cells

[EN] The performance of a composite environment with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) has been studied to provide an in vitro proof of concept of their potential of being easily vascularized. These cells were seeded in 1 mm thick scaffolds whose pores had been filled with a self-assembling peptide gel, seeking to improve cell adhesion, and viability of these very sensitive cells. The combination of the synthetic elastomer poly(ethyl acrylate), PEA, scaffold and the RAD16-I peptide gel provides cells with a friendly ECM-like environment inside a mechanically resistant structure. Immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the cell cultures. The presence of the self-assembling peptide filling the pores of the scaffolds resulted in a truly 3D nanoscale context mimicking the extracellular matrix environment, and led to increased cells survival, proliferation as well as developed cell-cell contacts. The combined system consisting of PEA scaffolds and RAD16-I, is a very interesting approach as seems to enhance endothelization, which is the first milestone to achieve vascularized constructs. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 3293-3302, 2015.Contract grant sponsor: European Commission FP7 project RECATABI; contract grant number: NMP3-SL-2009-229239 Contract grant sponsor: Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion; contract grant numbers: MAT2011-28791-C03-02 and -03 Contract grant sponsor: Spanish Ministry of Education through M. Arnal-Pastor; contract grant number: FPU 2009-1870Martínez Ramos, C.; Arnal Pastor, MP.; Vallés Lluch, A.; Monleón Pradas, M. (2015). Peptide gel in a scaffold as a composite matrix for endothelial cells. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. 103(10):3293-3302. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.35462329333021031