Delivery of growth factors is an indispensable part of tissue engineering. Here, we describe a detachable membrane-based release system composed of extracellular matrix components that can be attached to hydrogels to achieve directional release of bioactive molecules. This way, the release of cytokines/growth factors can be started at a desired point of tissue maturation or directly in vivo. As a model, we develop thin films of an interpenetrating network of double-cross-linked gelatin and hyaluronic acid derivatives. The use of the auxiliary release system with vascular endothelial growth factor results in extensive sprouting by encapsulated vascular endothelial cells. The presence of the release system with interleukin-4 results in clustering of encapsulated macrophages with a significant decrease in M1 macrophages (proinflammatory). This system can be used in conjunction with three-dimensional structures as an auxiliary system to control artificial tissue maturation and growth.

Contipro Biotech S R O Dolni Dobrouc 401 561 02 Dolni Dobrouc Czech Republic

Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire Université de Strasbourg 8 rue Sainte Elisabeth 67000 Strasbourg France

INSERM UMR 1121 11 rue Humann 67085 Strasbourg France

Laboratoire de Chimie Physique et Microbiologie pour l'Environnement CNRS UMR 7564 405 rue de Vandoeuvre 54600 Villers les Nancy France

PROTiP Medical 8 Place de l'Hôpital 67000 Strasbourg France

Protobios LLC 12618 Tallinn Estonia

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Creating a 3D microenvironment for monocyte cultivation: ECM-mimicking hydrogels based on gelatine and hyaluronic acid derivatives