Artificial polymeric scaffolds as extracellular matrix substitutes for autologous conjunctival goblet cell expansion

Min He, Thomas Storr-Paulsen, Annie L. Wang, Chiara E. Ghezzi, Siran Wang, Matthew Fullana, Dimitrios Karamichos, Tor P. Utheim, Rakibul Islam, May Griffith, M. Mirazul Islam, Robin R. Hodges, Gary E. Wnek, David L. Kaplan, Darlene A. Dartt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE. We fabricated and investigated polymeric scaffolds that can substitute for the conjunctival extracellular matrix to provide a substrate for autologous expansion of human conjunctival goblet cells in culture. METHODS. We fabricated two hydrogels and two silk films: (1) recombinant human collagen (RHC) hydrogel, (2) recombinant human collagen 2-methacryloylxyethyl phosphorylcholine (RHC-MPC) hydrogel, (3) arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) modified silk, and (4) poly-Dlysine (PDL) coated silk, and four electrospun scaffolds: (1) collagen, (2) poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), (3) poly(caprolactone) (PCL), and (4) poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Coverslips and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were used for comparison. Human conjunctival explants were cultured on scaffolds for 9 to 15 days. Cell viability, outgrowth area, and the percentage of cells expressing markers for stratified squamous epithelial cells (cytokeratin 4) and goblet cells (cytokeratin 7) were determined. RESULTS. Most of cells grown on all scaffolds were viable except for PCL in which only 3.6 ± 2.2% of the cells were viable. No cells attached to PVA scaffold. The outgrowth was greatest on PDL-silk and PET. Outgrowth was smallest on PCL. All cells were CK7-positive on RHCMPC while 84.7 ± 6.9% of cells expressed CK7 on PDL-silk. For PCL, 87.10 ± 3.17% of cells were CK7-positive compared to PET where 67.10 ± 12.08% of cells were CK7-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS. Biopolymer substrates in the form of hydrogels and silk films provided for better adherence, proliferation, and differentiation than the electrospun scaffolds and could be used for conjunctival goblet cell expansion for eventual transplantation once undifferentiated and stratified squamous cells are included. Useful polymer scaffold design characteristics have emerged from this study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6134-6146
Number of pages13
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume57
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2016

Keywords

  • Cell growth
  • Goblet cells
  • Polymeric scaffolds

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