Generating dual structurally and functionally skin-mimicking hydrogels by crosslinking cell-membrane compartments

Generating dual structurally and functionally skin-mimicking hydrogels by crosslinking cell-membrane compartments

27 January 2024 | Feng Wu, Yusheng Ren, Wenyuan Lv, Xiaobing Liu, Xinyue Wang, Chuhan Wang, Zhenping Cao, Jinyao Liu, Jie Wei, Yan Pang
This study presents a method to generate dual structurally and functionally skin-mimicking hydrogels (SFSHs) by crosslinking cell-membrane compartments. The hydrogels are created using extracellular vesicles (OMVs) functionalized with olefinic double bonds as crosslinkers, enabling the formation of a network with enhanced mechanical strength and biological functions. The crosslinked network is formed via free radical polymerization of acrylamide, with OMVs acting as crosslinkers. The resulting hydrogels exhibit improved mechanical properties compared to traditional hydrogels due to the energy dissipation capability of the OMVs. Additionally, the hydrogels show specific antibacterial activity and the ability to promote the maturation and activation of dendritic cells, attributed to the presence of bioactive substances in the OMVs. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by incorporating a second network through a catalyst-free click reaction between alkyne-double-ended PEG and azido-modified OMVs, allowing for the tuning of both structure and function of the hydrogels. The study highlights the potential of this biomimetic approach for developing advanced skin-inspired biomaterials with dual structure- and function-controllable properties.This study presents a method to generate dual structurally and functionally skin-mimicking hydrogels (SFSHs) by crosslinking cell-membrane compartments. The hydrogels are created using extracellular vesicles (OMVs) functionalized with olefinic double bonds as crosslinkers, enabling the formation of a network with enhanced mechanical strength and biological functions. The crosslinked network is formed via free radical polymerization of acrylamide, with OMVs acting as crosslinkers. The resulting hydrogels exhibit improved mechanical properties compared to traditional hydrogels due to the energy dissipation capability of the OMVs. Additionally, the hydrogels show specific antibacterial activity and the ability to promote the maturation and activation of dendritic cells, attributed to the presence of bioactive substances in the OMVs. The versatility of this approach is demonstrated by incorporating a second network through a catalyst-free click reaction between alkyne-double-ended PEG and azido-modified OMVs, allowing for the tuning of both structure and function of the hydrogels. The study highlights the potential of this biomimetic approach for developing advanced skin-inspired biomaterials with dual structure- and function-controllable properties.
Reach us at info@study.space
Understanding Generating dual structurally and functionally skin-mimicking hydrogels by crosslinking cell-membrane compartments