A step closer to elastogenesis on demand; Inducing mature elastic fibre deposition in a natural biomaterial scaffold

Elastic fibres play a key role in bodily functions where fatigue resistance and elastic recovery are necessary while regulating phenotype, proliferation migration cells. While vivo created at late foetal stage, major obstacle the development of engineered tissue is that human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs), one principal elastogenic cells, unable to spontaneously promote elastogenesis vitro. Therefore, overall aim this study was activate vitro by hVSMCs seeded fibrin, collagen, glycosaminoglycan (FCG) scaffolds, following addition recombinant tropoelastin. This combination scaffold, tropoelastin induced deposition elastin formation lamellar maturing fibres, similar those found skin, blood vessels heart valves. Furthermore, higher numbers branched were synthesised when cell density used drop-loading onto cell-seeded FCG scaffolds prior adding growth medium. The showed no effect on or mechanical properties scaffold which remained dimensionally stable throughout. With these results, we have established natural biomaterial can undergo controlled demand, suitable for engineering applications.