Electric field-driven building blocks for introducing multiple gradients to hydrogels.

Electric field-driven building blocks for introducing multiple gradients to hydrogels. Protein Cell. 2020 Feb 12;: Authors: Xu G, Ding Z, Lu Q, Zhang X, Zhou X, Xiao L, Lu G, Kaplan DL Abstract Gradient biomaterials are considered as preferable matrices for tissue engineering due to better simulation of native tissues. The introduction of gradient cues usually needs special equipment and complex process but is only effective to limited biomaterials. Incorporation of multiple gradients in the hydrogels remains challenges. Here, beta-sheet rich silk nanofibers (BSNF) were used as building blocks to introduce multiple gradients into different hydrogel systems through the joint action of crosslinking and electric field. The blocks migrated to the anode along the electric field and gradually stagnated due to the solution-hydrogel transition of the systems, finally achieving gradient distribution of the blocks in the formed hydrogels. The gradient distribution of the blocks could be tuned easily through changing different factors such as solution viscosity, which resulted in highly tunable gradient of mechanical cues. The blocks were also aligned under the electric field, endowing orientation gradient simultaneously. Different cargos could be loaded on the blocks and form gradient cues through the same crosslinking-electric field strategy. The building blocks could be introduced to various hydrogels such as Gelatin and NIPAM, indicating th...
Source: Protein and Cell - Category: Cytology Tags: Protein Cell Source Type: research