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Local deformation in a hydrogel induced by an external magnetic field

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to prove the feasibility of a system able to apply local mechanical loading on cells seeded in a hydrogel for tissue engineering applications. This experimental study is based on a previously developed artificial cartilage model with different concentrations of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) that simulates the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) microspheres with dispersed magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were produced with an emulsion method. These microspheres were embedded in aqueous PVA solutions with varying concentration to resemble increased viscosity of growing tissue during regeneration. The ability to induce a local deformation in the ECM was assessed by applying a steady or an oscillatory magnetic field gradient to different PVA solutions containing the magnetic microparticles, similarly as in ferrogels. PLLA microparticle motion was recorded, and the images were analyzed. Besides, PVA gels and PLLA microparticles were introduced into the pores of a polycaprolactone scaffold, and the microparticle distribution and the mechanical properties of the construct were evaluated. The results of this experimental model show that the dispersion of PLLA microparticles containing MNPs, together with cells in a supporting gel, will allow applying local mechanical stimuli to cells during tissue regeneration. This local stimulation can have a positive effect on the differentiation of seeded cells and improve tissue regeneration.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the MAT2013-46467-C4-1-R project, including the Feder funds. CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008–2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program. CIBER Actions are financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund. The authors thank “Servicio de Microscopia Electrónica” of Universitat Politècnica de València for their invaluable help. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

      Line Vikingsson, Alvaro Vinals-Guitart, Alfonso Valera-Martínez, Ana Vidaurre, Gloria Gallego Ferrer & Jose Luis Gómez Ribelles

    2. Instituto Universitario de Matemática Multidisciplinar, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain

      Jaime Riera

    3. Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valencia, Spain

      Ana Vidaurre, Gloria Gallego Ferrer & Jose Luis Gómez Ribelles

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    1. Line Vikingsson
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    2. Alvaro Vinals-Guitart
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    Correspondence to Gloria Gallego Ferrer.

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    L. Vikingsson and A. Vinals-Guitart have contributed equally to this work.

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    Vikingsson, L., Vinals-Guitart, A., Valera-Martínez, A. et al. Local deformation in a hydrogel induced by an external magnetic field. J Mater Sci 51, 9979–9990 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0226-8

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