Using Mean Field Theory to Guide Biofunctional Materials Design

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2012-04, Vol.22 (7), p.1391-1398
• Main Authors: Freudenberg, Uwe, Sommer, Jens-Uwe, Levental, Kandice R., Welzel, Petra B., Zieris, Andrea, Chwalek, Karolina, Schneider, Katja, Prokoph, Silvana, Prewitz, Marina, Dockhorn, Ron, Werner, Carsten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biohybrid materials; heparin; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; hydrogels; mesenchymal stem cells; starPEG
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201101868

Cell‐instructive characteristics of extracellular matrices (ECM) resulting from a subtle balance of biomolecular and biophysical signals must be recapitulated in engineered biomaterials to facilitate regenerative therapies. However, no material explored so far allows the independent tuning of the involved molecular and physical cues due to the inherent correlation between biopolymer concentration and material properties. Addressing the resulting challenge, a rational design strategy for ECM‐inspired biohybrid hydrogels based on multi‐armed poly(ethylene glycol) and heparin, adapting a mean field approach to identify conditions at which the balance of elastic, electrostatic, and excluded volume forces results in constant heparin concentrations within swollen polymer networks with gradually varied physical properties is introduced. Applying heparin‐based biofunctionalization schemes, multiple distinct combinations of matrix parameters could be identified to effectively stimulate the pro‐angiogenic state of human endothelial cells and the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. The study demonstrates the power of joint theoretical and experimental efforts in creating bioactive materials with specifically and independently controllable characteristics. A mean field approach is applied to develop extracellular matrix (ECM)‐inspired biohybrid hydrogels that allow for the independent variation of physical and biomolecular properties. Using this material, multiple combinations of matrix parameters are identified to effectively stimulate morphogenesis of human endothelial cells and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.