Tissue Engineering Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration and Cell Encapsulation

BioCure has demonstrated the utility of the fast crosslinking PVA based prepolymers as scaffolds for tissue engineering and cell encapsulation. This material has been shown to sustain cell growth.

:: Rationale

Tissue engineered (TE) devices are based on the principle of natural physiological replacement of organ and tissue structure and function. The ultimate aim of TE is to create novel biomaterials and devices that when healed are completely integrated into the body and are indistinguishable from native tissue and organ structures. One of the ways that this may be achieved is by delivery of constructs of autologous cells to the diseased or damaged site using a biological or synthetic vehicle.

:: Technology Description

BioCure's fast crosslinking PVA based hydrogels can be loaded with cells before crosslinking and either preformed or formed in situ. Preformed gels are fabricated by curing polymer-cell mixtures into appropriate shapes using photoinitiation or systems initiated by oxidation-reduction reactions. An alternative method of delivery is by in situ curing following injection of uncured cell loaded polymer. The PVA prepolymer can be sterilized by filtration and can be easily modified for promoting cell specific functions by attaching active molecules via the abundant hydroxyl groups on the PVA backbone or via amine groups on aminated PVA

:: Results to Date

In vitro studies conducted to assess cell viability showed that various cell types, including smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, chondrocytes and dermal fibroblasts were able to maintain their viability within gels for weeks. Figure A below shows the high viability of human dermal fibroblasts cultured in vitro for up to 2 weeks in gels. Collagen production measured by hydroxyproline content of gels increased over the incubation periods demonstrating that matrix production was occurring. Bioactive PVA hydrogels were synthesized by coupling cell adhesion peptides via amine groups on aminated PVA. Figure B shows the preferential spreading of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) on PVA modified with the adhesion peptide RGDS compared with unmodified PVA and PVA modified by a similar, but non-adhesive peptide (RGES).

Figure A.	Figure B.

The three images below illustrate HASMC cell spreading on BioCure's PVA based hydrogel. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using PVA based hydrogels for cell delivery.

Figure C.

:: Patent Position

Issued patents for the fast crosslinking PVA hydrogel system. Patents pending for use of the PVA hydrogel system for preformed and in situ formed biomedical articles.

Please contact us if you have any questions. We'd be happy to provide you with more information.