A 3D in vitro co-culture model for evaluating biomaterial-mediated modulation of foreign-body responses

The immune response after implantation of a biomaterial may shorten the functional life implant, depending on degree response. In this study, we used polyacrylamide-alginate (PAAm-Alg) hydrogel, which has been previously characterized as biocompatible material and shown to enhance regeneration cartilage in vivo, along with graphite-enhanced hydrogel (PAAm-Alg-G) non-biocompatible counterpart, evaluate macrophage attachment polarization pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes. performance each presence fibroblasts chondrocytes was validated by an vitro model demonstrated modulation foreign-body A blend 5% gelatin methacryloyl 0.1% methacrylated hyaluronic acid optimized mimic extracellular matrix (ECM) support cell viability, proliferation, migration, functionality at initial concentration 3.25 × 105 cells/mL. PAAm-Alg-G localized simulated ECM showed cytotoxic genotoxic effects for both chondrocytes, while exhibiting proliferative effect macrophages elevated M1/M2 ratio 0.73 PAAm-Alg but 2.64 PAAm-Alg-G, leading significant M1 dominance (p < 0.0001), expected, day 13. Moreover, loading transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-β3) resulted slightly more balanced 0.87 > 0.05). interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted (4.58 pg/mL) significantly decreased 0.0001) 13, increase interleukin-10 (IL-10) (120.73 confirmed switch from pro-inflammatory Predicting responses developing simplistic yet powerful three-dimensional provides advantages preparing clinical use biomaterials.