Bioinspired dual dynamic network hydrogels promote cartilage regeneration through regulating BMSC chondrogenic differentiation

X. Ma, R. Yang, P. Wang, S. Liu, H. Xu, Z. Ye, B. Chi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

How to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cell delivery during mechanical injection has been a great challenge for tissue engineering. Here, we present a facile strategy based on dynamic chemistry to prepare injectable hydrogels for efficient stem cell delivery using hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA). The combination of the guest–host (GH) complexation and dynamic hydrazone bonds enable the HA/γ-PGA hydrogels with physical and chemical dual dynamic network and endow hydrogels a stable structure, rapid self-healing ability, and injectability. The mechanical properties, self-healing ability, and adaptability can be programmed by changing the ratio of GH network to hydrazine bond cross-linked network. Benefitting from the dynamic cross-linking networks, mild preparation process, and cytocompatibility of HA/γ-PGA hydrogels, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) show high cell viability in this system following mechanical injection. Moreover, HA/γ-PGA hydrogels can promote BMSC proliferation and upregulate the expression of cartilage-critical genes. Notably, in a rabbit auricular cartilage defect model, BMSC-laden HA/γ-PGA hydrogels can effectively promote cartilage regeneration. Together, we propose a general strategy to develop injectable self-healing HA/γ-PGA hydrogels for effective stem cell delivery in cartilage tissue engineering.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100648
JournalMaterials Today Chemistry
Volume23
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Adaptable hydrogel
  • Cartilage repair
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Poly(γ-glutamic acid)
  • Tissue engineering

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