Dextran-based hydrogel to regulate tissue growth

A dextran hydrogel was synthesized from cross-linking a blend of acryloylated dextran and dextran bioconjugate. The conjugated dextran contains matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) sensitive peptides forming crosslinks that promotes cell-induced enzymatic degradation of the hydrogel and migration through the gel. By changing the ratio of cleavable cross-links to stable cross-links in the hydrogel, the extent of cell invasion into the gel (tissue ingrowth) can be regulated. At twenty-four hours, the extent of migration ranged from 0.25 to 13.6% area covered by cells based on the level of degradable crosslinks within the gel. It was discovered that the gel proportion containing 80% acryloylated dextran and 20% conjugated dextran limited the most cell migration.