Physical and Soluble Cues Enhance Tendon Progenitor Cell Invasion into Injectable Synthetic Hydrogels

Synthetic hydrogels represent an exciting avenue in the field of regenerative biomaterials given their injectability, orthogonally tunable mechanical properties, and potential for modular inclusion cellular cues. Separately, recent advances soluble factor release technology have facilitated control over milieu cell microenvironments via microparticles. A composite hydrogel incorporating both these components can robustly mediate tendon healing following a single injection. Here, synthetic system with encapsulated electrospun fiber segments novel microgel-based delivery achieves precise topographical features engineered microenvironment, respectively. It is demonstrated that three-dimensional migration progenitor cells be enhanced combined mechanical, topographical, microparticle-delivered cues spheroid model ex vivo murine Achilles model. These results indicate reinforced drive recruitment endogenous relevant to regeneration and, likely, broad range connective tissues.