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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nicola Hunt, Professor Deborah HendersonORCiD
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Vascularization of engineered or damaged tissues is essential to maintain cell viability and proper tissue function. Revascularization of the left ventricle (LV) of the heart after myocardial infarction is particularly important, since hypoxia can give rise to chronic heart failure due to inappropriate remodeling of the LV after death of cardiomyocytes (CMs). Fibroblasts can express vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a major role in angiogenesis and also acts as a chemoattractant and survival factor for CMs and cardiac progenitors. In this in vitro model study, mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts encapsulated in 2% w/v Ca-alginate were shown to remain viable for 150 days. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that over 21 days of encapsulation, fibroblasts continued to express VEGF, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that there was sustained release of VEGF from the Ca-alginate during this period. The scaffold degraded gradually over the 21 days, without reduction in volume. Cells released from the Ca-alginate at 7 and 21 days as a result of scaffold degradation were shown to retain viability, to adhere to fibronectin in a normal manner, and continue to express VEGF, demonstrating their potential to further contribute to maintenance of cardiac function after scaffold degradation. This model in vitro study therefore demonstrates that fibroblasts encapsulated in Ca-alginate provide sustained release of VEGF.
Author(s): Hunt NC, Shelton RM, Henderson DJ, Grover LM
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Tissue Engineering Part A
Year: 2013
Volume: 19
Issue: 7-8
Pages: 905-914
Print publication date: 07/12/2012
ISSN (print): 1937-3341
ISSN (electronic): 1937-335X
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ten.tea.2012.0197
DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2012.0197
PubMed id: 23082964
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