Hyaluronic acid and α-elastin based hydrogel for three dimensional culture of vascular endothelial cells

The aim of this work was to demonstrate that employing a copolymer of hyaluronic acid and α-elastin (HA-EDA-g-α-elastin) is possible to produce a scaffold able to support the adhesion and growth of human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) thanks to its ability to incorporate and control the diffusion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). HA-EDA-g-α-elastin was crosslinked with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HALMW) to obtain a hydrogel that gives rise to the formation of three dimensional sponge after the freeze drying process. The physicochemical features the obtained material along with its ability to act as a support for the three dimensional culture of endothelial cells were here investigated. The obtained hydrogel is able to seize the VEGF and control its release in the first days of incubation. The presence of the growth factor stimulates the proliferation of HUVEC and induces the formation of tubular structures.