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Exploring the Role of Fibrin Gels in Enhancing Cell Migration for Vasculature Formation

Joana A. Moura Orcid Logo, Hugh J. Barlow, Shareen Doak Orcid Logo, Karl Hawkins Orcid Logo, Iris Muller, Martin Clift Orcid Logo

Journal of Functional Biomaterials, Volume: 15, Issue: 9, Start page: 265

Swansea University Authors: Shareen Doak Orcid Logo, Karl Hawkins Orcid Logo, Martin Clift Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.3390/jfb15090265

Abstract

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 ca-pacity of a scaffold of fibrin (fibrinogen:thrombin mix) to support the movement of the endothelial cells...

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Published in: Journal of Functional Biomaterials
ISSN: 2079-4983
Published: MDPI AG 2024
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67608
Abstract: 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 ca-pacity 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 bio-material. Data point toward thrombin’s role in governing fibrin gel polymerization; higher con-centrations result in less rigid gels (loss tangent between 0.07 and 0.034) and increased cell mi-gration (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 an-giogenic sprouting.
Keywords: cell migration; vasculature; sprouting; endothelial cells; biomaterial; fibrin
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Funders: This project was funded by Unilever (Project #: MA-2016-02191N).
Issue: 9
Start Page: 265