3D cell culture, including bioprinting, allows for the creation of more physiological cell models by allowing cells to simultaneously interact with integrins on all cell surfaces, resulting in the activation of specific signaling pathways not activated in traditional 2D cell culture methods. Hydrogels are water swollen polymers that allow for the culture of cells in 3-dimensions and can have profound effects on cellular development, differentiation, migration, and function. New areas of tissue engineering such as 3D bioprinting, have utilized UV photocrosslinked methacrylated hydrogel biomaterials (PEGMA, GelMA, HAMA and ColMA etc.) to encapsulate cells to make printable bioinks. Hyaluronic acid is the most abundant glycosaminoglycan in the body being an important component of several tissues throughout the body. While it is abundant in extracellular matrices, hyaluronan also contributes to tissue hydrodynamics, movement and proliferation of cells, and participates in a number of cell surface receptor interactions. Hyaluronic acid is a polymer of disaccharides, themselves composed of D-glucuronic acid and Nacetyl- D-glucosamine, linked via alternating β-(1→4) and β-(1→3) glycosidic bonds. The PhotoHA-LAP, Methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Kit (CC327: CC327-1, CC327-2) is based upon purified hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA), which when photocrosslinked provides a native-like 3D environment for cells. In addition to hyaluronic acid methacrylate, the kit includes the photoinitiator lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) for users to easily fine tune their photocrosslinking experiments (i.e. altering hydrogel stiffness or gelling speeds).PhotoHA is a registered trademark of Advanced BioMatrix, Inc.
Application: Photocrosslinking is initiated using a 405 nm blue light source.