A new class of biological materials: Cell membrane-derived hydrogel scaffolds

• Published in: Biomaterials 2019-03, Vol.197, p.244-254
• Main Authors: Fan, Zhiyuan, Deng, Junjie, Li, Peter Y., Chery, Daphney R., Su, Yunfei, Zhu, Pu, Kambayashi, Taku, Blankenhorn, Elizabeth P., Han, Lin, Cheng, Hao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Cells, Cultured; Delayed-Action Preparations - chemistry; Drug delivery; Erythrocyte Membrane - chemistry; Female; Immune modulation; Immunoengineering; Macrophages - cytology; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Pyrenes - administration & dosage; Regenerative medicine; Tissue Engineering; Tissue regeneration; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.01.020

Biological materials are superior to synthetic biomaterials in biocompatibility and active interactions with cells. Here, a new class of biological materials, cell membrane-derived hydrogel scaffolds are reported for harnessing these advantages. To form macroporous scaffolds, vesicles derived from red blood cell membranes (RBCMs) are chemically crosslinked via cryogelation. The RBCM scaffolds with a pore size of around 70 μm are soft and injectable. Highly biocompatible scaffolds are typically made of superhydrophilic polymers and lack the ability to encapsulate and release hydrophobic drugs in a controlled manner. However, hydrophobic molecules can be efficiently encapsulated inside RBCM scaffolds and be sustainedly released. RBCM scaffolds show low neutrophil infiltration after subcutaneous injection in mice, and a significantly higher number of infiltrated macrophages than methacrylate alginate (MA-alginate) scaffolds. According to gene expression and surface markers, these macrophages have an M2-like phenotype, which is anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive. There are also higher percentages of macrophages presenting immunosuppressive PD-L1 in RBCM-scaffolds than in MA-alginate scaffolds. Interestingly, the concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 in both types of scaffolds are higher than those in normal organ tissues. This study sheds light on cell membrane-derived hydrogels, which can actively modulate cells in unique ways unavailable to existing hydrogel scaffolds. [Display omitted]