Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2018, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (14): 2197-2202.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.0769

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Properties of a liposomes-mediated thermo-sensitive alginate/alpha-tricalcium phosphate/collagen I composite hydrogel

Xie Yi-gang1, 2, Li Xiao-li3, Chen Chang-sheng3, Liao Zhen-hua3, Liu Wei-qiang1, 3   

  1. 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China; 3Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Implant Devices, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2017-12-14 Online:2018-05-18 Published:2018-05-18
  • Contact: Liu Wei-qiang, M.D., Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Implant Devices, Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518057, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Xie Yi-gang, Master candidate, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 51403116; the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, No. 2015A030313698

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The thermo-sensitive composite hydrogels have gained increasing interest in bone regeneration domain due to their biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, good biocompatibility, minimal invasive performance and in situ molding.

OBJECTIVE: To prepare a thermo-sensitive injectable alginate/α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP)/collagen I (Alg/TCP/Col) composite hydrogel and explore its characterization.
METHODS: Ca-carrying interdigitation-fusion vesicles (Ca-IFVs) were prepared. The liposomes carrying the optimal concentration of calcium ions were selected for the following experiments by investigating their encapsulation efficiency and drug loading rate. Alg/TCP/Col precursor solution (Alg or Alg/TCP precursor solution) was mixed with Ca-IFVs at 37 ℃ in different proportions (5, 10, 15, 20) to prepare thermosensitive hydrogels. The structure, rheology behavior, volume swelling ratio, and mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel were observed. MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with Alg/TCP/Col, Alg, and Alg/TCP hydrogels, respectively. Then, morphology of the cells was observed by confocal microscopy at 1, 3, 7 days after co-culture.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The pore size of the freeze-dried hydrogel was 50-100 μm, and TCP particles uniformly adhered to the surface of the Alg/TCP hydrogel surface. The Alg/TCP/Col hydrogel was a dense aggregate with collagen fibers in contrast to the Alg/TCP hydrogel. (2) The Alg/TCP/Col hydrogel exhibited a suitable phase transition temperature (Tm) between 35-39 ℃. (3) The volume swelling ratio of the hydrogel was increased with the increase of Ca-IFVs size. When the α-TCP complex was added into the Alg/TCP hydrogel, the swelling ratio decreased slightly. Alg/TCP/Col hydrogel exhibited a higher swelling ratio than the Alg/TCP hydrogel. (4) When the mixture ratio of precursor solution to liposome was 10, the compressive modulus of Alg/TCP/Col hydrogel and Alg/TCP hydrogel was significantly higher than that of the Alg hydrogel (P < 0.05). (5) When the mixture ratio of precursor solution to liposome was 10, round MC3T3-E1 cells were observed on the Alg hydrogel; the cells on the surface of the Alg/TCP hydrogel were scattered and tended to extend; the cells on the surface of the Alg/TCP/Col hydrogel had a stress-extended morphology, and grew into the hydrogel, and meanwhile, the cell number increased significantly. To conclude, the liposome-mediated Alg/TCP/Col has good mechanical properties and cytocompatibility.

Key words: Hydrogel, Collagen, Liposomes, Calcium phosphates, Tissue Engineering

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