Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Shannon Anna Jung
Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Stephan Rütten
Electron Microscopic Facility, University Clinics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Mark Kühnel
Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Danny Jonigk
Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Wilhelm Jahnen-Dechent
Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, BioInterface Group, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Andrij Pich
Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
Sabine Neuss
Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, BioInterface Group, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany
This study focuses on enhancing controllable fibrin-based hydrogels for tissue engineering, addressing existing weaknesses. By integrating a novel copolymer, we improved the foundation for cell-based angiogenesis with adaptable structural features. Tissue engineering often faces challenges like waste disposal and nutrient supply beyond the 200 µm diffusion limit. Angiogenesis breaks through this limitation, allowing the construction of larger constructs. Our innovative scaffold combination significantly boosts angiogenesis, resulting in longer branches and more capillary network junctions. The copolymer attached to fibrin fibers enables precise adjustment of hydrogel mechanical dynamic properties for specific applications. Our material proves effective for angiogenesis, even under suppression factors like suramin. In our study, we prepared fibrin-based hydrogels with and without the copolymer PVP12400-co-GMA10mol%. Using a co-culture system of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we analyzed angiogenetic behavior on and within the modified hydrogels. Capillary-like structures were reproducibly formed on different surfaces, demonstrating the general feasibility of three-dimensional endothelial cell networks in fibrin-based hydrogels. This highlights the biomaterial’s suitability for in vitro pre-vascularization of biohybrid implants.
