INEB RECENT PUBLICATION: Biofunctionalized pectin hydrogels as 3D cellular microenvironments

INEB researchers recently published an article in the Journal of Materials Chemistry B, available since February 2015. The article is entitled "Biofunctionalized pectin hydrogels as 3D cellular microenvironments" and is authored by Sara C. Neves, David B. Gomes, Aureliana Sousa, Sílvia J. Bidarra, Paola Petrini, Lorenzo Moroni, Cristina C. Barrias, Pedro L. Granja.

Hydrogels of pectin, a polysaccharide present in the cell wall of higher plants, were obtained by internal ionotropic gelation and explored as cell delivery vehicles for the first time. Since no ultrapure pectins are commercially available yet, a simple and efficient purification method was established. Pectin was then functionalized with a cell-adhesive peptide (RGD), its gelation was optimized, and human mesenchymal stem cells were embedded within unmodified and RGD-pectin hydrogels. Cells remained viable and metabolically active for up to 14 days and, within the RGD-pectin hydrogels, they elongated, spread, established cell-to-cell contacts, produced extracellular matrix, and migrated outwards the hydrogels. After 7 days of subcutaneous implantation in mice, acellular pectin hydrogels were considerably degraded. Altogether, these findings show the great potential of pectin-based hydrogels for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies.

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2015/TB/C4TB00885E#!divAbstract