Crosslinking substrate regulates frictional properties of tissue-engineered cartilage and chondrocyte response to loading.

IF 7.5 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Communications Materials Pub Date : 2025-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-03-27 DOI:10.1038/s43246-025-00781-8

Christoph Meinert, Angus Weekes, Chun-Wei Chang, Karsten Schrobback, Amy Gelmi, Molly M Stevens, Dietmar W Hutmacher, Travis J Klein

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Hydrogels are frequently used in regenerative medicine due to their hydrated, tissue-compatible nature, and tuneable mechanics. While many strategies enable bulk mechanical modulation, little attention is given to tuning surface tribology, and its impact on cellular behavior under mechanical stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that photocrosslinking hydrogels on hydrophobic substrates leads to significant, long-lasting reductions in surface friction, ideal for cartilage tissue regeneration. Gelatin methacryloyl and hyaluronic acid methacrylate hydrogels photocrosslinked on polytetrafluoroethylene possess more hydrated, lubricious surfaces, with lower friction coefficients and crosslinking densities than those crosslinked on glass. This facilitated self-lubrication via water exudation, limiting shear during biaxial stimulation. When subject to intermittent biaxial loading mimicking joint movement, low-friction chondrocyte-laden neo-tissues formed superior hyaline cartilage, confirming the benefits of reduced friction on tissue development. Finally, in situ photocrosslinking enabled precise hydrogel formation in a full-thickness cartilage defect, highlighting the clinical potential and emphasizing the importance of crosslinking substrate in regenerative medicine.

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交联底物调节组织工程软骨的摩擦特性和软骨细胞对负载的反应。

水凝胶由于其水合性、组织相容性和可调节的力学特性而经常用于再生医学。虽然许多策略能够实现大量机械调制，但很少关注调谐表面摩擦学及其在机械刺激下对细胞行为的影响。在这里，我们证明了在疏水基质上的光交联水凝胶可以显著地、持久地减少表面摩擦，这是软骨组织再生的理想选择。在聚四氟乙烯上光交联的明胶甲基丙烯酰和透明质酸甲基丙烯酸酯水凝胶具有比在玻璃上交联的水凝胶更水化，表面更光滑，摩擦系数和交联密度更低。这促进了通过水渗出的自润滑，限制了双轴刺激过程中的剪切。当受到模拟关节运动的间歇性双轴负荷时，低摩擦软骨细胞负载的新组织形成了优越的透明软骨，证实了减少摩擦对组织发育的好处。最后，原位光交联可以在全层软骨缺损中形成精确的水凝胶，突出了交联底物在再生医学中的临床潜力和重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Communications Materials MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

1.30%

发文量

审稿时长

17 weeks

期刊介绍： Communications Materials, a selective open access journal within Nature Portfolio, is dedicated to publishing top-tier research, reviews, and commentary across all facets of materials science. The journal showcases significant advancements in specialized research areas, encompassing both fundamental and applied studies. Serving as an open access option for materials sciences, Communications Materials applies less stringent criteria for impact and significance compared to Nature-branded journals, including Nature Communications.