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Controlling Fibrin Network Morphology, Polymerization, and Degradation Dynamics in Fibrin Gels for Promoting Tissue Repair

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Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1758))

Abstract

Fibrin is an integral part of the clotting cascade and is formed by polymerization of the soluble plasma protein fibrinogen. Following stimulation of the coagulation cascade, thrombin activates fibrinogen, which binds to adjacent fibrin(ogen) molecules resulting in the formation of an insoluble fibrin matrix. This fibrin network is the primary protein component in clots and subsequently provides a scaffold for infiltrating cells during tissue repair. Due to its role in hemostasis and tissue repair, fibrin has been used extensively as a tissue sealant. Clinically used fibrin tissue sealants require supraphysiological concentrations of fibrinogen and thrombin to achieve fast polymerization kinetics, which results in extremely dense fibrin networks that are inhibitory to cell infiltration. Therefore, there is much interest in developing fibrin-modifying strategies to achieve rapid polymerization dynamics while maintaining a network structure that promotes cell infiltration. The properties of fibrin-based materials can be finely controlled through techniques that modulate fibrin polymerization dynamics or through the inclusion of fibrin-modifying biomaterials. Here, we describe methods for characterizing fibrin network morphology, polymerization, and degradation (fibrinolysis) dynamics in fibrin constructs for achieving fast polymerization dynamics while promoting cell infiltration.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this work was supported by the American Heart Association (16SDG29870005), North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Erin P. Sproul & Ashley C. Brown

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Riley T. Hannan

Authors
  1. Erin P. Sproul
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  2. Riley T. Hannan
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  3. Ashley C. Brown
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashley C. Brown .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cellerant Therapeutics, San Carlos, California, USA

    Kanika Chawla

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Sproul, E.P., Hannan, R.T., Brown, A.C. (2018). Controlling Fibrin Network Morphology, Polymerization, and Degradation Dynamics in Fibrin Gels for Promoting Tissue Repair. In: Chawla, K. (eds) Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1758. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7741-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7741-3_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7739-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7741-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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