In Vivo Vascularization of Cell-Supplemented Spider Silk-Based Hydrogels in the Arteriovenous Loop Model

Osterloh J, Heltmann-Meyer S, Trossmann VT, Cai A, Kulicke Y, Terörde K, Sörgel C, Lang I, Wajant H, Scheibel T, Fey T, Steiner D, Arkudas A, Horch RE (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Biomimetics Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)

Book Volume: 10

Article Number: 117

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics10020117

Abstract

The goal of reconstructive surgery in treating tissue defects is to achieve a stable reconstructive outcome while minimizing donor site morbidity. As a result, tissue engineering has emerged as a key focus in the pursuit of this goal. One approach is to create a tissue container that can be preconditioned and later transplanted into the defect area. The characteristics of the matrices used in the tissue container are critical to this approach’s success. Matrices generated with recombinant, functionalized spider silk (eADF4(C16)-RGD) have been reported to be biocompatible and easy to vascularize. However, the effect of exogenously added proangiogenic cells, such as endothelial cells (T17b), on the vascularization process of matrices generated with this hydrogel in vivo has not been described yet. In this study, we implanted arteriovenous (AV) loop containers filled with a spider silk hydrogel consisting of an eADF4(C16)-RGD matrix and encapsulated, differentiated endothelial T17b cells producing the reporter protein TNFR2-Fc-Flag-GpL. The histological and µCT analyses revealed spontaneous angiogenesis and fibrovascular tissue formation in the container at 2 and 4 weeks post-implantation. The reporter protein was detected after 4 weeks. No severe immune response was observed. Altogether, this study demonstrates that cell-supplemented recombinant spider silk is a highly promising hydrogel to produce matrices for tissue engineering applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Justus Osterloh Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Stefanie Heltmann-Meyer Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Aijia Cai Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Yvonne Kulicke Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Klara Terörde Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Celena Sörgel Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Tobias Fey Lehrstuhl für Glas und Keramik (WW3) Dominik Steiner Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery Andreas Arkudas Medizinische Fakultät Raymund Horch Professur für Plastische Chirurgie und Handchirurgie

Involved external institutions

Universität Bayreuth DE Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Osterloh, J., Heltmann-Meyer, S., Trossmann, V.T., Cai, A., Kulicke, Y., Terörde, K.,... Horch, R.E. (2025). In Vivo Vascularization of Cell-Supplemented Spider Silk-Based Hydrogels in the Arteriovenous Loop Model. Biomimetics, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10020117

MLA:

Osterloh, Justus, et al. "In Vivo Vascularization of Cell-Supplemented Spider Silk-Based Hydrogels in the Arteriovenous Loop Model." Biomimetics 10.2 (2025).

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