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Review
. 2017 Jan:57-58:324-333.
doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2016.06.002. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Synthetic hydrogels mimicking basement membrane matrices to promote cell-matrix interactions

Ricardo Cruz-Acuña  1 , Andrés J García  2
Affiliations
Review

Synthetic hydrogels mimicking basement membrane matrices to promote cell-matrix interactions

Ricardo Cruz-Acuña et al. Matrix Biol. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Naturally-derived materials have been extensively used as 3D cellular matrices as their inherent bioactivity makes them suitable for the study of many cellular processes. Nevertheless, lot-to-lot variability, inability to decouple biochemical and biophysical properties and, in some types, their tumor-derived nature limits their translational potential and reliability. One innovative approach to overcome these limitations has focused on incorporating bioactivity into cytocompatible, synthetic hydrogels that present tunable physicochemical properties. This review provides an overview of successful approaches to convey basement membrane-like bioactivity into 3D artificial hydrogel matrices in order to recapitulate cellular responses to native matrices. Recent advances involving biofunctionalization of synthetic hydrogels via incorporation of bioactive motifs that promote cell-matrix interactions and cell-directed matrix degradation will be discussed. This review highlights how the tunable physicochemical properties of biofunctionalized synthetic hydrogel matrices can be exploited to study the separate contributions of biochemical and biophysical matrix properties to different cellular processes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Three-dimensional arrangement of basement membrane components and its interaction with cellular receptors. Based on LeBleu et al., 2007
(A) BM-directed cellular response is primarily initiated by interactions between integrin cell receptors and specific peptide motifs in BM proteins. (B) Three-dimensional arrangement of the four major basement membrane components.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Synthesis methods of engineered synthetic hydrogels
Photo-polymerization of two water-soluble polymers (A) and copolymerization of one monomer and one multi-functional monomer (B) via covalent reaction after UV irradiation. (C) Direct chemical reaction of a branched polymer with a di-functional crosslinking agent. (D) Electrostatic interactions of an anionic polymer with divalent cations yields an “ionotropic” hydrogel. (E) Encapsulated cells in an engineered biofunctionalized hydrogel exhibiting adhesive ligand, growth factor-binding domain and MMP-degradable crosslinks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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