Enhanced vascularization and de novo tissue formation in hydrogels made of engineered RGD-tagged spider silk proteins in the arteriovenous loop model

Steiner D, Winkler S, Heltmann-Meyer S, Trossmann VT, Fey T, Scheibel T, Horch RE, Arkudas A (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Biofabrication IOP Publishing

Book Volume: 13

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac0d9b

Abstract

Due to its low immunogenic potential and the possibility to fine-tune their properties, materials made of recombinant engineered spider silks are promising candidates for tissue engineering applications. However, vascularization of silk-based scaffolds is one critical step for the generation of bioartificial tissues and consequently for clinical application. To circumvent insufficient vascularization, the surgically induced angiogenesis by means of arteriovenous loops (AVL) represents a highly effective methodology. Here, previously established hydrogels consisting of nano-fibrillary recombinant eADF4(C16) were transferred into Teflon isolation chambers and vascularized in the rat AVL model over 4 weeks. To improve vascularization, also RGD-tagged eADF4(C16) hydrogels were implanted in the AVL model over 2 and 4 weeks. Thereafter, the specimen were explanted and analyzed using histology and microcomputed tomography. We were able to confirm biocompatibility and tissue formation over time. Functionalizing eADF4(C16) with RGD-motifs improved hydrogel stability and enhanced vascularization even outperforming other hydrogels, such as fibrin. This study demonstrates that the scaffold ultrastructure as well as biofunctionalization with RGD-motifs are powerful tools to optimize silk-based biomaterials for tissue engineering applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dominik Steiner Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Sophie Winkler Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Stefanie Heltmann-Meyer Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Tobias Fey Lehrstuhl für Glas und Keramik Raymund Horch Professur für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie Andreas Arkudas Medizinische Fakultät

Involved external institutions

Universität Bayreuth DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Steiner, D., Winkler, S., Heltmann-Meyer, S., Trossmann, V.T., Fey, T., Scheibel, T.,... Arkudas, A. (2021). Enhanced vascularization and de novo tissue formation in hydrogels made of engineered RGD-tagged spider silk proteins in the arteriovenous loop model. Biofabrication, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/ac0d9b

MLA:

Steiner, Dominik, et al. "Enhanced vascularization and de novo tissue formation in hydrogels made of engineered RGD-tagged spider silk proteins in the arteriovenous loop model." Biofabrication 13.4 (2021).

BibTeX: Download