Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation
A hallmark of angiogenesis is the sprouting of endothelial cells. To replicate this event in vitro, biomaterial approaches can play an essential role in promoting cell migration. To study the capacity of a scaffold of fibrin (fibrinogen:thrombin mix) to support the movement of the endothelial cells,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-09-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/9/265 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850260683743035392 |
|---|---|
| author | Joana A. Moura Hugh J. Barlow Shareen H. Doak Karl Hawkins Iris Muller Martin J. D. Clift |
| author_facet | Joana A. Moura Hugh J. Barlow Shareen H. Doak Karl Hawkins Iris Muller Martin J. D. Clift |
| author_sort | Joana A. Moura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A hallmark of angiogenesis is the sprouting of endothelial cells. To replicate this event in vitro, biomaterial approaches can play an essential role in promoting cell migration. To study the capacity of a scaffold of fibrin (fibrinogen:thrombin mix) to support the movement of the endothelial cells, the migration area of spheroids formed with the HULEC cell line was measured. The cells were first allowed to form a spheroid using the hanging drop technique before being encapsulated in the fibrin gel. The cells’ migration area was then measured after two days of embedding in the fibrin gel. Various conditions affecting fibrin gel polymerization, such as different concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin, were evaluated alongside rheology, porosity, and fiber thickness analysis to understand how these factors influenced cell behavior within the composite biomaterial. Data point toward thrombin’s role in governing fibrin gel polymerization; higher concentrations result in less rigid gels (loss tangent between 0.07 and 0.034) and increased cell migration (maximum concentration tested: 5 U/mL). The herein presented method allows for a more precise determination of the crosslinking conditions of fibrin gel that can be used to stimulate angiogenic sprouting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-46b8d699eee14c9b8f4d8c196c06b0ec |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2079-4983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-46b8d699eee14c9b8f4d8c196c06b0ec2025-08-20T01:55:34ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832024-09-0115926510.3390/jfb15090265Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature FormationJoana A. Moura0Hugh J. Barlow1Shareen H. Doak2Karl Hawkins3Iris Muller4Martin J. D. Clift5Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKUnilever, Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UKSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKUnilever, Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UKSwansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UKA hallmark of angiogenesis is the sprouting of endothelial cells. To replicate this event in vitro, biomaterial approaches can play an essential role in promoting cell migration. To study the capacity of a scaffold of fibrin (fibrinogen:thrombin mix) to support the movement of the endothelial cells, the migration area of spheroids formed with the HULEC cell line was measured. The cells were first allowed to form a spheroid using the hanging drop technique before being encapsulated in the fibrin gel. The cells’ migration area was then measured after two days of embedding in the fibrin gel. Various conditions affecting fibrin gel polymerization, such as different concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin, were evaluated alongside rheology, porosity, and fiber thickness analysis to understand how these factors influenced cell behavior within the composite biomaterial. Data point toward thrombin’s role in governing fibrin gel polymerization; higher concentrations result in less rigid gels (loss tangent between 0.07 and 0.034) and increased cell migration (maximum concentration tested: 5 U/mL). The herein presented method allows for a more precise determination of the crosslinking conditions of fibrin gel that can be used to stimulate angiogenic sprouting.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/9/265cell migrationvasculaturesproutingendothelial cellsbiomaterialfibrin |
| spellingShingle | Joana A. Moura Hugh J. Barlow Shareen H. Doak Karl Hawkins Iris Muller Martin J. D. Clift Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation Journal of Functional Biomaterials cell migration vasculature sprouting endothelial cells biomaterial fibrin |
| title | Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation |
| title_full | Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation |
| title_short | Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation |
| title_sort | exploring the role of fibrin gels in enhancing cell migration for vasculature formation |
| topic | cell migration vasculature sprouting endothelial cells biomaterial fibrin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/9/265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joanaamoura exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation AT hughjbarlow exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation AT shareenhdoak exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation AT karlhawkins exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation AT irismuller exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation AT martinjdclift exploringtheroleoffibringelsinenhancingcellmigrationforvasculatureformation |