Andrea Carolina Jimenez-Vergara

Characterization of sequential collagen-poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate interpenetrating networks and initial assessment of their potential for vascular tissue engineering.

Collagen hydrogels have been widely investigated as scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering due in part to the capacity of collagen to promote robust cell adhesion and elongation. However, collagen hydrogels display relatively low stiffness and strength, are thrombogenic, and are highly susceptible to cell-mediated contraction. In the current work, we develop and characterize a sequentially-formed interpenetrating network (IPN) that retains the benefits of collagen, but which displays enhanced mechanical stiffness and strength, improved thromboresistance, high physical stability and resistance to contraction. In this strategy, we first form a collagen hydrogel, infuse this hydrogel with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and subsequently crosslink the PEGDA by exposure to longwave UV light. These collagen-PEGDA IPNs allow for cell encapsulation during the fabrication process with greater than 90% cell viability via inclusion of cells within the collagen hydrogel precursor solution. Furthermore, the degree of cell spreading within the IPNs can be tuned from rounded to fully elongated by varying the time delay between the formation of the cell-laden collagen hydrogel and the formation of the PEGDA network. We also demonstrate that these collagen-PEGDA IPNs are able to support the initial stages of smooth muscle cell lineage progression by elongated human mesenchymal stems cells.

Probing vocal fold fibroblast response to hyaluronan in 3D contexts

A number of treatments are being investigated for vocal fold (VF) scar, including designer implants. The aim of the present study was to validate a 3D model system for probing the effects of various bioactive moieties on VF fibroblast (VFF) behavior toward rational implant design. We selected poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels as our base‐scaffold due to their broadly tunable material properties. However, since cells encapsulated in PEGDA hydrogels are generally forced to take on rounded/stellate morphologies, validation of PEGDA gels as a 3D VFF model system required that the present work directly parallel previous studies involving more permissive scaffolds. We therefore chose to focus on hyaluronan (HA), a polysaccharide that has been a particular focus of the VF community. Toward this end, porcine VFFs were encapsulated in PEGDA hydrogels containing consistent levels of high M w HA (

Inorganic–organic hybrid scaffolds for osteochondral regeneration

{\rm HA}_{{\rm H}{M}_{\rm W} }

Influence of glycosaminoglycan identity on vocal fold fibroblast behavior

), intermediate Mw HA (

Regulation of smooth muscle cell phenotype by glycosaminoglycan identity.

{\rm HA}_{{\rm I}{M}_{\rm W} }

In vitro evaluation of a basic fibroblast growth factor‐containing hydrogel toward vocal fold lamina propria scar treatment

), or the control polysaccharide, alginate, and cultured for 7 and 21 days.

In vitro evaluation of anti-fibrotic effects of select cytokines for vocal fold scar treatment: HGF and IL-10 for vocal fold scar treatment

{\rm HA}_{{\rm H}{M}_{\rm W} }

A bioactive “self-fitting” shape memory polymer scaffold with potential to treat cranio-maxillo facial bone defects

promoted sustained increases in active ERK1/2 relative to

Hydrogel–Electrospun Mesh Composites for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts

{\rm HA}_{{\rm I}{M}_{\rm W} }

Evaluation of the Osteoinductive Capacity of Polydopamine-Coated Poly(ε-caprolactone) Diacrylate Shape Memory Foams

. Furthermore, VFFs in