In vitro studies on space-conforming self-assembling silk hydrogels as a mesenchymal stem cell-support matrix suitable for minimally invasive brain application

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Osama, I. and Gorenkova, N. and McKittrick, C.M. and Wongpinyochit, T. and Goudie, A. and Seib, F.P. and Carswell, H.V.O. (2018) In vitro studies on space-conforming self-assembling silk hydrogels as a mesenchymal stem cell-support matrix suitable for minimally invasive brain application. Scientific Reports, 8. 13655. ISSN 2045-2322 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-31905-5)

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Abstract

Advanced cell therapies require robust delivery materials and silk is a promising contender with a long clinical track record. Our aim was to optimise self-assembling silk hydrogels as a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-support matrix that would allow future minimally invasive brain application. We used sonication energy to programme the transition of silk (1-5% w/v) secondary structure from a random coil to a stable β-sheet configuration. This allowed fine tuning of self-assembling silk hydrogels to achieve space conformity in the absence of any silk hydrogel swelling and to support uniform cell distribution as well as cell viability. Embedded cells underwent significant proliferation over 14 days in vitro, with the best proliferation achieved with 2% w/v hydrogels. Embedded MSCs showed significantly better viability in vitro after injection through a 30G needle when the gels were in the pre-gelled versus post-gelled state. Silk hydrogels (4% w/v) with physical characteristics matching brain tissue were visualised in preliminary in vivo experiments to exhibit good space conformity in an ischemic cavity (intraluminal thread middle cerebral artery occlusion model ) in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=3). This study informs on optimal MSC-hydrogel matrix conditions for minimally invasive application as a platform for future experiments targeting brain repair.

ORCID iDs

Osama, I. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2775-5417, Gorenkova, N. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6319-6640, McKittrick, C.M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6374-2728, Wongpinyochit, T. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1339-6908, Goudie, A., Seib, F.P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-1975 and Carswell, H.V.O. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0938-1212;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)