Enzymatic, physicochemical and biological properties of MMP-sensitive alginate hydrogels

Date
2013-01-01Author
Fonseca, Keila B.
Raquel Maia, F.
Cruz, Filipe A.
Andrade, Douglas [UNIFESP]
Juliano, Maria A. [UNIFESP]
Granja, Pedro L.
Barrias, Cristina C.
Type
ArtigoISSN
1744-683XIs part of
Soft MatterDOI
10.1039/c3sm27560dMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Protease-sensitive hydrogels that recapitulate the mechanisms of cell-driven enzymatic remodelling of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) have been gaining popularity as artificial 3D cell-microenvironments. Here, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive peptide Pro-Val-Gly-Leu-Iso-Gly (PVGLIG) was double-end grafted to alginate forming water-soluble PVGLIG-alginate conjugates. the PVGLIG peptide was synthesized as a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) sensor and showed to be a good substrate for MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13 and MMP-14. After demonstrating that human MSC (hMSC) expressed both MMP-2 and MMP-14 under basal and osteogenic in vitro conditions, the effect of 3D-culture within MMP-sensitive alginate hydrogels on hMSC behaviour was addressed. in situ-forming alginate hydrogels containing only cell-adhesive RGD peptides (RGD-alginate, MMP-insensitive) or both peptides (PVGLIG/RGD-alginate, MMP-sensitive) were used. Cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions were enhanced in hMSC-laden MMP-sensitive alginate hydrogels, as compared to MMP-insensitive hydrogels with identical viscoelastic and microstructural properties. hMSC underwent osteogenic differentiation in both types of matrices. However, the presence of PVGLIG stimulated the secretion of proteases (most likely MMP-2) by hMSC, in both undifferentiated and differentiated cultures. By using the FRET sensor, it was possible to demonstrate that the cocktail of hMSC-secreted MMPs was effectively active in cleaving the PVGLIG motif. Protease-sensitive alginates can be used to creat(e) cell-responsive 3D microenvironments and offer promise as injectable carriers for therapeutic hMSC-delivery.
Citation
Soft Matter. Cambridge: Royal Soc Chemistry, v. 9, n. 12, p. 3283-3292, 2013.Sponsorship
FEDER funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETEPortuguese funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia
INL
FCT
INEB/Unidade
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- EPM - Artigos [17701]