Cellulose Nanocrystal-Based Hydrogels as Tunable Platforms for 2D and 3D cell culture system

Abstract

Hydrogel platforms combining biomimetic composition, controllable mechanics, and compatibility with living cells are of particular interest for tissue engineering and the development of two- and three-dimensional cell culture systems. In this work, we developed a multicomponent hydrogel based on aldehyde cellulose nanocrystals (aCNC), gelatin, an acrylamide–acrylic acid hydrazide copolymer (Pam-Hyd), and hyaluronic acid as a prospective matrix for cell culture and subsequent extrusion-based fabrication.

The formulation of the gel was optimized with respect to composition, pH, and total polymer concentration to obtain a stable hydrated network and minimize syneresis under physiologically relevant conditions. Mechanical characterization was used to evaluate the possibility of tuning the hydrogel properties through composition, while scanning electron microscopy revealed the morphology and organization of the resulting porous network. To assess the material as a cell-culture platform, primary brain cells were cultured directly on the hydrogel surface and their interaction with the matrix was evaluated.

The combination of a nanocellulose-based reinforcing network, biologically relevant polymer components, and tunable physicochemical properties provides a basis for designing cell-compatible hydrogel matrices. These results support the further development of the system toward biomimetic scaffolds with controlled mechanics for extrusion 3D printing and tissue-engineering applications.

The research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 26-79-10340)

Speaker

Anastasia Belyaeva
Centre for Soft Matter and Physics of Fluids, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 2nd Baumanskaya str., 5, Moscow, Russia
Russia

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