| 초록 |
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in cell growth, migration and differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effect of matrix metalloproteinase sensitiveness of hydrogel on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) chondrogenesis. We encapsulated hMSCs in PEG hydrogel crosslinked with dithiothreitol (DTT) and matrix metalloproteinase sensitive peptide linker (KCGPQGIWGQCK). Hydrogels formed with a larger amount of MMP relatively quickly degraded in alpha-chymotrypsin solution compared to non-sensitive PEG hydrogels, which indicates that the degradation rate could be controlled by changing the mixture ratio of DTT and peptide crosslinker. hMSCs were then encapsulated in PEG hydrogels of different MMP sensitivity. Through qPCR and glycan deposition assay, we have confirmed that MMP sensitivity of hydrogel matrix promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated hMSCs in 3D. |
