Channeled polysaccharide-based hydrogel reveals influence of curvature to guide endothelial cell arrangement in vessel-like structures

Within the biomaterials proposed for tissue regeneration, synthetic 3D hydrogels that mimic soft tissues possess great potential regenerative medicine but their poor vascularization rate is usually incompatible with long-term cell survival. Fabrication of promote and/or accelerate remains nowadays a challenge. In present work, tubular geometries ranging from 28 to 680 μm in diameter, correspond those human small artery/veins and arterioles venules, were prepared. The surface this tubes was coated proteins extracellular matrix assuring adhesion endothelial cells monolayer. Interestingly, case diameter channels, polysaccharide-based made neutral pullulan dextran do not allow adhesion, transformed into active materials guiding behavior solely by modification internal microarchitecture, without addition proteins. Under static conditions, migration, proliferation polarization on hydrogel induced, any protein or peptide; property found be directly dependent curvature channels. last years, impact geometry regulate has been highlighted paving way use non-flat as cues develop guide regeneration. Here, we report functional material based geometrical assure arrangement vessel-like structures providing new pro-vascularizing properties.