Three-dimensional extracellular matrix-directed cardioprogenitor differentiation: Systematic modulation of a synthetic cell-responsive PEG-hydrogel

Thomas P. Kraehenbuehl, Prisca Zammaretti, André J. Van der Vlies, Ronald G. Schoenmakers, Matthias P. Lutolf, Marisa E. Jaconi, Jeffrey A. Hubbell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

282 Scopus citations

Abstract

We show that synthetic three-dimensional (3D) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels can direct differentiation of pluripotent cardioprogenitors, using P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells as a model, along a cardiac lineage in vitro. In order to systematically probe 3D matrix effects on P19 EC differentiation, matrix elasticity, MMP-sensitivity and the concentration of a matrix-bound RGDSP peptide were modulated. Soft matrices (E = 322 ± 64.2 Pa, stoichiometric ratio: 0.8), mimicking the elasticity of embryonic cardiac tissue, increased the fraction of cells expressing the early cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5 around 2-fold compared to embryoid bodies (EB) in suspension. In contrast, stiffer matrices (E = 4036 ± 419.6 Pa, stoichiometric ratio: 1.2) decreased the number of Nkx2.5-positive cells significantly. Further indicators of cardiac maturation were promoted by ligation of integrins relevant in early cardiac development (α5β1, αvβ3) by the RGDSP ligand in combination with the MMP-sensitivity of the matrix, with a 6-fold increased amount of myosin heavy chain (MHC)-positive cells as compared to EB in suspension. This precisely controlled 3D culture system thus may serve as a potential alternative to natural matrices for engineering cardiac tissue structures for cell culture and potentially therapeutic applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2757-2766
Number of pages10
JournalBiomaterials
Volume29
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2008

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Bioengineering
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Biophysics
  • Biomaterials
  • Mechanics of Materials

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