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Albumin-enriched Fibrin Hydrogel Embedded in Active Ferromagnetic Networks Improves Osteoblast Differentiation and Vascular Self-organisation

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Katarivas Levy, Galit 
Ong, John 
Birch, Mark 
Justin, Alexander W 
Markaki, Athina E 

Abstract

Porous coatings on prosthetic implants encourage implant fixation. Enhanced fixation may be achieved using a magneto-active porous coating that can deform elastically in vivo on application of an external magnetic field, straining in-growing bone. Such coating, made of 444 ferritic stainless steel fibres, was previously characterised in terms of its mechanical and cellular responses. In this work, co-cultures of human osteoblasts and endothelial cells were seeded into a novel fibrin-based hydrogel embedded in a 444 ferritic stainless steel fibre network. Albumin was successfully incorporated into fibrin hydrogels improving the specific permeability and the diffusion of fluorescently-tagged dextrans without affecting their Young’s modulus. The beneficial effect of albumin was demonstrated by the upregulation of osteogenic and angiogenic gene expression. Furthermore, mineralisation, extracellular matrix production and formation of vessel-like structures were enhanced in albumin-enriched fibrin hydrogels compared to fibrin hydrogels. Collectively, the results indicate that the albumin-enriched fibrin hydrogel is a promising bio-matrix for bone tissue engineering and orthopaedic applications.

Description

Keywords

ferromagnetic fibre network, fibrin hydrogel, human albumin, human endothelial cells, human foetal osteoblasts

Journal Title

Polymers, MDPI

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2073-4360
2073-4360

Volume Title

11

Publisher

MDPI AG
Sponsorship
EPSRC (EP/R511675/1) Blavatnik Family Foundation. Reuben Foundation. WD Armstrong Studentship Isaac Newton Trust Rosetrees Trust (M787).