I developed a system to release multiple growth factors from PEGylated fibrin gels with varying profiles to induce vasculogenesis from embedded human MSCs. Zero-order release can be obtained by conjugating a growth factor with a homobifunctional, amine-reactive, PEG derivative. Growth factors can be entrapped during thrombin-mediated crosslinking and released rapidly. Growth factors with physical affinity for fibrinogen or fibrin can be sequestered within the matrix and released via degradation and/or disassociation. PDGF-BB was loaded via entrapment while TGF-β1 was sequestered through a combination of physical affinity and conjugation. The affinity of TGF-β1 and fibrinogen had never been previously examined or quantified. I aimed to determine the Ka and Kd between TGF-β1 and fibrinogen through a variety of assays. Binding ELISAs were developed for TGF-β1 and fibronectin, a protein associated with fibrin gels, and TGF-β1 and fibrinogen. However, background was high due to insufficient blocking agents. Other assays explored included western blots, surface plasmon resonance, and radiolabeled TGF-β1 with limited success. The affect of TGF-β1 on human MSC differentiation towards vascular cell phenotypes was examined both in 2D and fibrin gels embedded with MSCs. With exposure to TGF-β1, MSC proliferation was significantly inhibited in both 2D and within fibrin gels indicating that loaded TGF-β1 maintained bioactivity for at least 7 days. Gene expression of MSCs exposed to TGF-β1 demonstrated inhibited endothelial cell differentiation and stimulated smooth muscle cell differentiation. However, confocal and light microscopy indicated that endothelial cell differentiation is maintained with TGF-β1 loaded PEGylated fibrin gels. The system developed is highly modular and can be applied to other tissue engineering systems. Furthermore, other growth factors could be incorporated to promote vascular cell differentiation. / text
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTEXAS/oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/ETD-UT-2010-05-1231 |
| Date | 07 January 2011 |
| Creators | Drinnan, Charles Thomas |
| Source Sets | University of Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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