Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration
Three-dimensional (3D) neuronal cultures grown in hydrogels are promising platforms to design brain-like neuronal networks in vitro. However, the optimal properties of such cultures must be tuned to ensure a hydrogel matrix sufficiently porous to promote healthy development but also sufficiently rig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/116 |
| _version_ | 1797298175582666752 |
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| author | Clara F. López-León Ramon Planet Jordi Soriano |
| author_facet | Clara F. López-León Ramon Planet Jordi Soriano |
| author_sort | Clara F. López-León |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Three-dimensional (3D) neuronal cultures grown in hydrogels are promising platforms to design brain-like neuronal networks in vitro. However, the optimal properties of such cultures must be tuned to ensure a hydrogel matrix sufficiently porous to promote healthy development but also sufficiently rigid for structural support. Such an optimization is difficult since it implies the exploration of different hydrogel compositions and, at the same time, a functional analysis to validate neuronal culture viability. To advance in this quest, here we present a combination of a rheological protocol and a network-based functional analysis to investigate PEGylated fibrin hydrogel networks with gradually higher stiffness, achieved by increasing the concentration of thrombin. We observed that moderate thrombin concentrations of 10% and 25% in volume shaped healthy networks, although the functional traits depended on the hydrogel stiffness, which was much higher for the latter concentration. Thrombin concentrations of 65% or higher led to networks that did not survive. Our results illustrate the difficulties and limitations in preparing 3D neuronal networks, and stress the importance of combining a mechano-structural characterization of a biomaterial with a functional one. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:32:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dbf1c2577e3e47639bc3eead9a641325 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:32:05Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-dbf1c2577e3e47639bc3eead9a6413252024-02-23T15:17:30ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-02-0110211610.3390/gels10020116Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin ConcentrationClara F. López-León0Ramon Planet1Jordi Soriano2Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, SpainDepartament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, SpainThree-dimensional (3D) neuronal cultures grown in hydrogels are promising platforms to design brain-like neuronal networks in vitro. However, the optimal properties of such cultures must be tuned to ensure a hydrogel matrix sufficiently porous to promote healthy development but also sufficiently rigid for structural support. Such an optimization is difficult since it implies the exploration of different hydrogel compositions and, at the same time, a functional analysis to validate neuronal culture viability. To advance in this quest, here we present a combination of a rheological protocol and a network-based functional analysis to investigate PEGylated fibrin hydrogel networks with gradually higher stiffness, achieved by increasing the concentration of thrombin. We observed that moderate thrombin concentrations of 10% and 25% in volume shaped healthy networks, although the functional traits depended on the hydrogel stiffness, which was much higher for the latter concentration. Thrombin concentrations of 65% or higher led to networks that did not survive. Our results illustrate the difficulties and limitations in preparing 3D neuronal networks, and stress the importance of combining a mechano-structural characterization of a biomaterial with a functional one.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/116biomaterialsrheological characterizationneuronal cultureshydrogelscomplex networksfunctional connectivity |
| spellingShingle | Clara F. López-León Ramon Planet Jordi Soriano Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration Gels biomaterials rheological characterization neuronal cultures hydrogels complex networks functional connectivity |
| title | Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration |
| title_full | Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration |
| title_fullStr | Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration |
| title_short | Preparation and Mechano-Functional Characterization of PEGylated Fibrin Hydrogels: Impact of Thrombin Concentration |
| title_sort | preparation and mechano functional characterization of pegylated fibrin hydrogels impact of thrombin concentration |
| topic | biomaterials rheological characterization neuronal cultures hydrogels complex networks functional connectivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/116 |
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