Bioengineering (Dec 2021)

Human iPSC-Derived Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in a Fibronectin Functionalized Collagen Hydrogel Augment Endothelial Cell Morphogenesis

  • Kaiti Duan,
  • Biraja C. Dash,
  • Daniel C. Sasson,
  • Sara Islam,
  • Jackson Parker,
  • Henry C. Hsia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8120223
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 12
p. 223

Abstract

Read online

Tissue-engineered constructs have immense potential as autologous grafts for wound healing. Despite the rapid advancement in fabrication technology, the major limitation is controlling angiogenesis within these constructs to form a vascular network. Here, we aimed to develop a 3D hydrogel that can regulate angiogenesis. We tested the effect of fibronectin and vascular smooth muscle cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-VSMC) on the morphogenesis of endothelial cells. The results demonstrate that fibronectin increases the number of EC networks. However, hiPSC-VSMC in the hydrogel further substantiated the number and size of EC networks by vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor secretion. A mechanistic study shows that blocking αvβ3 integrin signaling between hiPSC-VSMC and fibronectin impacts the EC network formation via reduced cell viability and proangiogenic growth factor secretion. Collectively, this study set forth initial design criteria in developing an improved pre-vascularized construct.

Keywords