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Review
. 2020 Oct 20;8(10):436.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines8100436.

Angiogenic Potential in Biological Hydrogels

Maria Vittoria Giraudo  1 , Dalila Di Francesco  1 , Marta Calvo Catoira  2 , Diego Cotella  1 , Luca Fusaro  2 , Francesca Boccafoschi  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Angiogenic Potential in Biological Hydrogels

Maria Vittoria Giraudo et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) materials able to absorb and retain water in large amounts while maintaining their structural stability. Due to their considerable biocompatibility and similarity with the body's tissues, hydrogels are one of the most promising groups of biomaterials. The main application of these hydrogels is in regenerative medicine, in which they allow the formation of an environment suitable for cell differentiation and growth. Deriving from these hydrogels, it is, therefore, possible to obtain bioactive materials that can regenerate tissues. Because vessels guarantee the right amount of oxygen and nutrients but also assure the elimination of waste products, angiogenesis is one of the processes at the base of the regeneration of a tissue. On the other hand, it is a very complex mechanism and the parameters to consider are several. Indeed, the factors and the cells involved in this process are numerous and, for this reason, it has been a challenge to recreate a biomaterial able to adequately sustain the angiogenic process. However, in this review the focal point is the application of natural hydrogels in angiogenesis enhancing and their potential to guide this process.

Keywords: decellularized matrix; hydrogel; natural polymers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Current model of VEGF-Notch signaling pathway.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Gelation agents in natural hydrogels.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hydrogel’s release of growth factors stimulates new capillary formation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Decellularized ECM hydrogel’s process obtention.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Summary of the different decellularization agents and techniques [69,70,71].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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