Using endometrial-inspircd cues to drive angiogenic processes in collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds

摘要

We are developing a biomaterial platform to explore the impact of endometrial-inspired signals on pro-angiogenic processes. Increasing the degree of GAG sulfation in the CG scaffolds led to increase in metabolic activity of both HUVECs and endometrial epithelial cells. VEGF and E2 supplementation resulted in increased metabolic activity in HUVECs and Ishikawa cells respectively. Further, E2 supplementation led to increases in VEGF production by epithelial cells. Ongoing efforts are using co-culture approaches to examine the use of template E2 and progesterone within the CG scaffold to regulate feedback between endometrial epithelial cells, HUVECs, and resultant pro-angiogenic processes.