Authors:	Stengelin, Elena Kuzmina, Alena Beltramo, Guillermo L. Koziol, Martha F. Besch, Laura Schröder, Romina Unger, Ronald E. Tremel, Wolfgang Seiffert, Sebastian
Title:	Bone scaffolds based on degradable vaterite/PEG-composite microgels
Online publication date:	9-Aug-2021
Year of first publication:	2020
Language:	english
Abstract:	Vaterite, a metastable modification of calcium carbonate, embedded in a flexible microgel packaging with adjustable mechanical properties, functionality, and biocompatibility, provides a powerful scaffolding for bone tissue regeneration, as it is easily convertible to bone-like hydroxyapatite (HA). In this study, the synthesis and physical analysis of a packaging material to encapsulate vaterite particles and osteoblast cells into monodisperse, sub-millimeter-sized microgels, is described whereby a systematic approach is used to tailor the microgel properties. The size and shape of the microgels is controlled via droplet-based microfluidics. Key requirements for the polymer system, such as absence of cytotoxicity as well as biocompatibility and biodegradability, are accomplished with functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), which reacts in a cytocompatible thiol–ene Michael addition. On a mesoscopic level, the microgel stiffness and gelation times are adjusted to obtain high cellular viabilities. The co-encapsulation of living cells provides i) an in vitro platform for the study of cellular metabolic processes which can be applied to bone formation and ii) an in vitro foundation for novel tissue-regenerative therapies. Finally, the degradability of the microgels at physiological conditions caused by hydrolysis-sensitive ester groups in the polymer network is examined.
DDC:	540 Chemie 540 Chemistry and allied sciences 570 Biowissenschaften 570 Life sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 09 Chemie, Pharmazie u. Geowissensch.
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-6249
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	Advanced healthcare materials 9 11
Pages or article number:	1901820
Publisher:	Wiley-VCH
Publisher place:	Weinheim
Issue date:	2020
ISSN:	2192-2659
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201901820
Publisher DOI:	10.1002/adhm.201901820
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen