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  4. Impact of Molecular Dynamics of Polyrotaxanes on Chondrocytes in Double-Network Supramolecular Hydrogels under Physiological Thermomechanical Stimulation
 
research article

Impact of Molecular Dynamics of Polyrotaxanes on Chondrocytes in Double-Network Supramolecular Hydrogels under Physiological Thermomechanical Stimulation

Stampoultzis, Theofanis  
•
Rana, Vijay Kumar  
•
Guo, Yanheng  
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January 2, 2024
Biomacromolecules

Hyaline cartilage, a soft tissue enriched with a dynamic extracellular matrix, manifests as a supramolecular system within load-bearing joints. At the same time, the challenge of cartilage repair through tissue engineering lies in replicating intricate cellular-matrix interactions. This study attempts to investigate chondrocyte responses within double-network supramolecular hybrid hydrogels tailored to mimic the dynamic molecular nature of hyaline cartilage. To this end, we infused noncovalent host-guest polyrotaxanes, by blending alpha-cyclodextrins as host molecules and polyethylene glycol as guests, into a gelatin-based covalent matrix, thereby enhancing its dynamic characteristics. Subsequently, chondrocytes were seeded into these hydrogels to systematically probe the effects of two concentrations of the introduced polyrotaxanes (instilling different levels of supramolecular dynamism in the hydrogel systems) on the cellular responsiveness. Our findings unveiled an augmented level of cellular mechanosensitivity for supramolecular hydrogels compared to pure covalent-based systems. This is demonstrated by an increased mRNA expression of ion channels (TREK1, TRPV4, and PIEZO1), signaling molecules (SOX9) and matrix-remodeling enzymes (LOXL2). Such outcomes were further elevated upon external application of biomimetic thermomechanical loading, which brought a stark increase in the accumulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycans and collagen. Overall, we found that matrix adaptability plays a pivotal role in modulating chondrocyte responses within double-network supramolecular hydrogels. These findings hold the potential for advancing cartilage engineering within load-bearing joints.

  • Details
  • Metrics
Type
research article
DOI
10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01132
Web of Science ID

WOS:001161598100001

Author(s)
Stampoultzis, Theofanis  
Rana, Vijay Kumar  
Guo, Yanheng  
Pioletti, Dominique P  
Date Issued

2024-01-02

Publisher

American Chemical Society

Published in
Biomacromolecules
Volume

25

Issue

2

Start page

1144

End page

1152

Subjects

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

•

Physical Sciences

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LBO  
FunderGrant Number

SNF

CRSII5_189913

Available on Infoscience
February 23, 2024
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/205557
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