Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: Multi-parameter tunable synthetic matrix for engineering lymphatic vessels

doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06935-7

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Norbornene groups were functionalized along the HA backbone in low, medium, or high frequency based on parameters during the synthesis process. B Lyophilized NorHA polymer was dissolved in complete cell media, along with Irgacure 2959, a RGD peptide (G C GYGRGDSPG), and an MMP-sensitive crosslinker (G C RDGPQG ↓ IWGQDR C G; down arrow indicates the site of proteolytic cleavage). The pre-polymer solution was then cast in a cylindrical mold and crosslinked with UV light to yield a hydrogel with human LECs encapsulated throughout. C Several days after encapsulation, LECs self-assembled into vessels to varying extents based on the hydrogel conditions. These engineered in vitro constructs, created with a fully defined matrix and growth factor components along with only human LECs and no feeder layers or support cells, can be used in mechanistic and growth factor screenings, for disease modeling, and as a therapeutic transplant. Schematic was created with BioRender.com.

Article Snippet: We obtained the cell-adhesive peptide G C GYGRGDSPG (molecular weight [MW]: 1025.1 Da, referred to as RGD peptide from here on), cell-nonadhesive peptide GCGYGRDGSPG (MW: 1025.1 Da, referred to as RDG peptide from here on), and MMP-sensitive peptide crosslinker G C RDGPQG ↓ IWGQDR C G (MW: 1754.0 Da; down arrow indicates the site of proteolytic cleavage) from GenScript Corporation.

Techniques: Polymer, Encapsulation, In Vitro, Construct