Adjustable hardness of hydrogel for promoting vascularization and maintaining sternness of stem cells in skin flap regeneration

• The matrix mechanical stiffness of biomaterials plays an important role in the pluripotency and biological function of stem cells in the microenvironment. It is a key step to adjust the stiffness of biomaterials for inducing stem cells to promote vascularization in order to promote damaged tissue repair. In this study, we transplant adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) within an in situ forming dextran hydrogel with controllable mechanical strength formed by cross-linking glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextran and dithiothreitol, which can regulate the stemness and biological functions of stem cells. We show that softer dextran hydrogel can better maintain stemness markers expression of ADSCs, and significantly stimulate ADSCs to secrete angiogenic factors. The ADSCs-encapsulated hydrogel distinctly promote the skin flap survival compared to direct cell injection. Bioluminescence imaging analysis shows that in situ forming dextran hydrogel can improve cells retention, and postmortem analysis reveals that the transplanted ADSCs with hydrogel can promote vascularization. These results support the use of injectable dextran hydrogel for skin ischemia tissue regeneration. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nyckelord

Hydrogel

Vascularization

Skin ischemia

Adipose derived stem cells

Stemness

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