ChondroGELesis: hydrogels to harness the chondrogenic potential of stem cells

Walker, M. , Luo, J., Pringle, E. W. and Cantini, M. (2021) ChondroGELesis: hydrogels to harness the chondrogenic potential of stem cells. Materials Science and Engineering C: Materials for Biological Applications, 121, 111822. (doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111822) (PMID:33579465)

Abstract

The extracellular matrix is a highly complex microenvironment, whose various components converge to regulate cell fate. Hydrogels, as water-swollen polymer networks composed by synthetic or natural materials, are ideal candidates to create biologically active substrates that mimic these matrices and target cell behaviour for a desired tissue engineering application. Indeed, the ability to tune their mechanical, structural, and biochemical properties provides a framework to recapitulate native tissues. This review explores how hydrogels have been engineered to harness the chondrogenic response of stem cells for the repair of damaged cartilage tissue. The signalling processes involved in hydrogel-driven chondrogenesis are also discussed, identifying critical pathways that should be taken into account during hydrogel design.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pringle, Eonan and Walker, Dr Matthew and Luo, Mr Jiajun and Cantini, Dr Marco
• Authors: Walker, M., Luo, J., Pringle, E. W., and Cantini, M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Materials Science and Engineering C: Materials for Biological Applications
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0928-4931
• ISSN (Online): 1873-0191
• Published Online: 29 December 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
• First Published: First published in Materials Science and Engineering C: Materials for Biological Applications 121: 111822
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
303613		Engineered microenvironments to harvest stem cell response to viscosity for cartilage repair	Marco Cantini	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MR/S005412/1	ENG - Biomedical Engineering