ABSTRACT
Background:
V. carteri f. nagariensis constitutes, in its most simplified form, a cellularized spheroid built around and stabilised by a form of primitive
extracellular matrix (ECM).
Methods:
We developed a modular approach to soft
tissue engineering, by compact stacking V. carteri-based building blocks. This approach is made possible by the structure and
cell adhesive properties of these building blocks, which results from the composition of their algal ECM.
Results:
A primary biocompatibility assessment demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the algal
suspension, its histogenesis-promoting properties, and that it did not induce an inflammatory response
in vitro. These results allowed us to consider the use of this algal
suspension for soft
tissue augmentation, and to initiate an in vivo biocompatibility study. V. carteri exhibited cellular fate-directing properties, causing (i)
fibroblasts to take on an
alkaline phosphatase+
stem-
cell-like
phenotype and (ii) both
human adipose-derived
stem cells and
mouse embryonic stem cells to differentiate into preadipocytes to
adipocytes. The
ability of V. carteri to support histogenesis and
adipogenesis was also observed in vivo by
subcutaneous tissue augmentation of
athymic mice, highlighting the potential of V. carteri to support or influence
tissue regeneration.
Conclusions:
We present for the first
time V. carteri as an innovative and inspiring
biomaterial for
tissue engineering and soft
tissue regeneration. Its
strategies in terms of shape, structure and composition can be central in the design of a new generation of bio-inspired heterogeneous
biomaterials recapitulating more appropriately the complexity of body
tissues when guiding their
regeneration.