Non-animal derived recombinant collagen-based biomaterials as a promising strategy towards adipose tissue engineering

Biomed Mater. 2024 Oct 4;19(6). doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/ad7e90.

Abstract

Adipose tissue engineering (ATE) has been gaining increasing interest over the past decades, offering promise for new and innovative breast reconstructive strategies. Animal-derived gelatin-methacryloyl (Gel-MA) has already been applied in a plethora of TE strategies. However, due to clinical concerns, related to the potential occurrence of immunoglobulin E-mediated immune responses and pathogen transmission, a shift towards defined, reproducible recombinant proteins has occurred. In the present study, a recombinant protein based on human collagen type I, enriched with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid was functionalized with photo-crosslinkable methacryloyl moieties (RCPhC1-MA), processed into 3D scaffolds and compared with frequently applied Gel-MA from animal origin using an indirect printing method applying poly-lactic acid as sacrificial mould. For both materials, similar gel fractions (>65%) and biodegradation times were obtained. In addition, a significantly lower mass swelling ratio (17.6 ± 1.5 versus 24.3 ± 1.4) and mechanical strength (Young's modulus: 1.1 ± 0.2 kPa versus 1.9 ± 0.3 kPa) were observed for RCPhC1-MA compared to Gel-MA scaffolds.In vitroseeding assays showed similar cell viabilities (>80%) and a higher initial cell attachment for the RCPhC1-MA scaffolds. Moreover, the seeded adipose-derived stem cells could be differentiated into the adipogenic lineage for both Gel-MA and RCPhC1-MA scaffolds, showing a trend towards superior differentiation for the RCPhC1-MA scaffolds based on the triglyceride and Bodipy assay. RCPhC1-MA scaffolds could result in a transition towards the exploitation of non-animal-derived biomaterials for ATE, omitting any regulatory concerns related to the use of animal derived products.

Keywords: 3D scaffolds; adipose tissue engineering; photo-crosslinkable hydrogels; recombinant proteins.

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipogenesis / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue* / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials* / chemistry
  • Biocompatible Materials* / pharmacology
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Collagen Type I / chemistry
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Gelatin* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Materials Testing
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Recombinant Proteins*
  • Tissue Engineering* / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds* / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Gelatin
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Methacrylates
  • Collagen
  • gelatin methacryloyl
  • Polyesters
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid
  • poly(lactide)
  • Collagen Type I
  • Oligopeptides