Engineering a Bilayered Hydrogel to Control ASC Differentiation

Summary

This protocol focuses on utilizing the inherent ability of stem cells to take cue from their surrounding extracellular matrix and be induced to differentiate into multiple phenotypes. This methods manuscript extends our description and characterization of a model utilizing a bilayered hydrogel, composed of PEG-fibrin and collagen, to simultaneously co-differentiate adipose-derived stem cells¹.

Abstract

Natural polymers over the years have gained more importance because of their host biocompatibility and ability to interact with cells in vitro and in vivo. An area of research that holds promise in regenerative medicine is the combinatorial use of novel biomaterials and stem cells. A fundamental strategy in the field of tissue engineering is the use of three-dimensional scaffold (e.g., decellularized extracellular matrix, hydrogels, micro/nano particles) for directing cell function. This technology has evolved from the discovery that cells need a substrate upon which they can adhere, proliferate, and express their differentiated cellular phenotype and function ^2-3. More recently, it has also been determined that cells not only use these substrates for adherence, but also interact and take cues from the matrix substrate (e.g., extracellular matrix, ECM)⁴. Therefore, the cells and scaffolds have a reciprocal connection that serves to control tissue development, organization, and ultimate function. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are mesenchymal, non-hematopoetic stem cells present in adipose tissue that can exhibit multi-lineage differentiation and serve as a readily available source of cells (i.e. pre-vascular endothelia and pericytes). Our hypothesis is that adipose-derived stem cells can be directed toward differing phenotypes simultaneously by simply co-culturing them in bilayered matrices¹. Our laboratory is focused on dermal wound healing. To this end, we created a single composite matrix from the natural biomaterials, fibrin, collagen, and chitosan that can mimic the characteristics and functions of a dermal-specific wound healing ECM environment.

Protocol

1. Isolating Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ASCs) ^{1, 5}

Note: All procedures were performed at room temperature unless otherwise noted.

1. Isolate rat perirenal and epididymal adipose and wash with sterile Hank's buffered salt solution (HBSS) containing 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as previously described ⁵. This study has been conducted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, the implementing Animal Welfare Regulations and in accordance with the principles of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
2. Mince the tissue and transfer 1-2 g into 25 mL of HBSS containing 1% ....

Discussion

ASCs are well-known for their ease of isolation and ability to differentiate toward various cell types. With the techniques described in this manuscript, we are able to exploit the plasticity of ASCs by exposing these cells to multiple biomatrices simultaneously. As cells migrate away from their CSM base and enter their surrounding extracellular environment, the cells take cue from the scaffold and can either maintain "stemness" (collagen) or be induced to differentiate toward vascular- and vascular-supportive cell types.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)	GIBCO, by Life Technologies	14175	Consumable
Fetal Bovine Serum	Hyclone	SH30071.03	Consumable
Collagenase Type II	Sigma-Aldrich	C6685	Consumable
70-μm Nylon Mesh Filter	BD Biosciences	352350	Consumable
100-μm Nylon Mesh Filter	BD Biosciences	352360	Consumable
MesenPRO Growth Medium System	Invitrogen	12746-012	Consumable
L-Glutamine	GIBCO, by Life Technologies	25030	Consumable
CaCl2.2H2O	Sigma-Aldrich	C8106	Consumable
T75 Tissue Culture Flask	BD Biosciences	137787	Consumable
Chitosan	Sigma-Aldrich	448869	Consumable
Acetic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	320099	Consumable
N-Octanol	Acros Organics	150630025	Consumable
Sorbitan-Mono-Oleate	Sigma-Aldrich	S6760	Consumable
Potassium Hydroxide	Sigma-Aldrich	P1767	Consumable
Acetone	Fisher Scientific	L-4859	Consumable
Ethanol	Sigma-Aldrich	270741	Consumable
Trinitro Benzenesulfonic Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	P2297	Consumable
Hydrochloric Acid	Sigma-Aldrich	320331	Consumable
Ethyl Ether	Sigma-Aldrich	472-484	Consumable
8-μm Tissue Culture Plate Inserts	BD Biosciences	353097	Consumable
1.5-ml Microcentrifuge Tubes	Fisher Scientific	05-408-129	Consumable
MTT Reagent	Invitrogen	M6494	Consumable
Dimethyl Sulfoxide	Sigma-Aldrich	D8779	Consumable
Qtracker Cell Labeling Kit(Q Tracker 655)	Molecular Probes, Life Technologies	Q2502PMP	Consumable
Type 1 Collagen	Travigen	3447-020-01	Consumable
Sodium Hydroxide	Sigma-Aldrich	S8045	Consumable
12-Well Tissue Culture Plates	BD Biosciences	353043	Consumable
Fibrinogen	Sigma-Aldrich	F3879	Consumable
Thrombin	Sigma-Aldrich	T6884	Consumable
Benztriazole Derivative of Polyethylene	Sunbio	DE-034GS	Consumable
Tris Buffer Tablet (pH 7.6)	Sigma-Aldrich	T5030	Consumable
Centrifuge	Eppendorf	5417R	Equipment
Orbital Shaker	New Brunswick Scienctific	C24	Equipment
Humidified Incubator with Air-5% CO2	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.	Model 370	Equipment
Overhead Stirrer	IKA	Visc6000	Equipment
Magnetic Stirrer	Corning	PC-210	Equipment
Vacuum Desiccator	-	-	Equipment
Particle Size Analyzer	Malvern Instruments	STP2000 Spraytec	Equipment
Water Bath	Fisher Scientific	Isotemp210	Equipment
Spectrophotometer	Beckman Coulter Inc.	Beckman Coulter DU 800UV/Visible Spectrophotometer	Equipment
Vortex	Diagger	3030a	Equipment
Microplate Reader	Molecular Devices	SpectraMax M2	Equipment
Light/Fluorescence Microscope	Olympus Corporation	IX71	Equipment
Confocal Microscope	Olympus Corporation	FV-500 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope	Equipment
Scanning Electron Microscope	Carl Zeiss, Inc.	Leo 435 VP	Equipment
Transmission Electron Microscope	JEOL	JEOL 1230	Equipment