Reinforced Hyaluronic Acid-Based Matrices Promote 3D Neuronal Network Formation

Janzen D, Bakirci E, Faber J, Mier MA, Hauptstein J, Pal A, Forster L, Hazur J, Boccaccini AR, Detsch R, Tessmar J, Budday S, Blunk T, Dalton PD, Villmann C (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Advanced Healthcare Materials Wiley

DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201826

Abstract

3D neuronal cultures attempt to better replicate the in vivo environment to study neurological/neurodegenerative diseases compared to 2D models. A challenge to establish 3D neuron culture models is the low elastic modulus (30-500 Pa) of the native brain. Here, an ultra-soft matrix based on thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) reinforced with a microfiber frame is formulated and used. Hyaluronic acid represents an essential component of the brain extracellular matrix (ECM). Box-shaped frames with a microfiber spacing of 200 mu m composed of 10-layers of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibers (9.7 +/- 0.2 mu m) made via melt electrowriting (MEW) are used to reinforce the HA-SH matrix which has an elastic modulus of 95 Pa. The neuronal viability is low in pure HA-SH matrix, however, when astrocytes are pre-seeded below this reinforced construct, they significantly support neuronal survival, network formation quantified by neurite length, and neuronal firing shown by Ca2+ imaging. The astrocyte-seeded HA-SH matrix is able to match the neuronal viability to the level of Matrigel, a gold standard matrix for neuronal culture for over two decades. Thus, this 3D MEW frame reinforced HA-SH composite with neurons and astrocytes constitutes a reliable and reproducible system to further study brain diseases.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jessica Faber Lehrstuhl für Technische Mechanik Jonas Hazur Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Aldo Boccaccini Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Rainer Detsch Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Silvia Budday Lehrstuhl für Technische Mechanik

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Janzen, D., Bakirci, E., Faber, J., Mier, M.A., Hauptstein, J., Pal, A.,... Villmann, C. (2022). Reinforced Hyaluronic Acid-Based Matrices Promote 3D Neuronal Network Formation. Advanced Healthcare Materials. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202201826

MLA:

Janzen, Dieter, et al. "Reinforced Hyaluronic Acid-Based Matrices Promote 3D Neuronal Network Formation." Advanced Healthcare Materials (2022).

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