"Self-Assembling Hydrogels Based on Glycosaminoglycan-Peptide Hybrid Molecules for Tissue Engineering"
Department: Bioengineering
Advisor: Lesley Chow
Abstract:
Articular cartilage has insufficient repair mechanisms, emphasizing the need for regenerative therapies. This project aims to provide a biomaterials-based strategy to promote cartilage regeneration by creating injectable hydrogels that mimic the body’s natural cartilaginous extracellular matrix. We modified glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), a major component of cartilage, with β-sheet-forming peptides to generate GAG-peptide hybrid molecules that self-assemble into hydrogels via β-sheet formation. These non-covalent interactions introduce reversible gelation properties that allow the hydrogel to reassemble after injection. Hydrogel synthesis and properties were characterized by NMR and rheology, respectively. Preliminary work with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) showed that the cells could be encapsulated in the hydrogels. Current and future work include in vitro studies to observe hMSC behavior and differentiation. This work suggests these biomaterials will provide novel, minimally invasive treatments for patients with damaged or diseased cartilage.
