Engineering 3D vascularized tissue construct by encapsulation of co-cultured stem cell spheroids with endothelial cells within GelMA hydrogels
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초록
내용
The encapsulation of co-cultured spheroids consisting of endothelial cells and stem cells within GelMA hydrogels has been investigated to engineer a 3D vascularized tissue since they are biocompatible and similar in structure and chemical composition to natural ECM. However, the optimal ratio of co-cultured cell populations and the mechanical property of the hydrogels for cell sprouting, and ECM remodeling under 3D microenvironment have been barely studied. In this study, the cellular behaviors of co-cultured spheroids within GelMA hydrogels were examined to find the optimal 3D micro-environment for engineering 3D vascularized tissue. We varied the co-culture ratio by adjusting the number of stem cells to endothelial cells for spheroid formation, as well as mechanical property of the hydrogels by various UV exposure times. As a result, the capillary-like 3D luminal structures were successfully engineered under the optimized culture conditions.