@article {217131,
	title = {Cellular cross-linking of peptide modified hydrogels},
	journal = {J Biomech Eng},
	volume = {127},
	number = {2},
	year = {2005},
	month = {2005 Apr},
	pages = {220-8},
	abstract = {Peptide modification of hydrogel-forming materials is being widely explored as a means to regulate the phenotype of cells immobilized within the gels. Alternatively, we hypothesized that the adhesive interactions between cells and peptides coupled to the gel-forming materials would also enhance the overall mechanical properties of the gels. To test this hypothesis, alginate polymers were modified with RGDSP-containing peptides and the resultant polymer was used to encapsulate C2C12 myoblasts. The mechanical properties of these gels were then assessed as a function of both peptide and cell density using compression and tensile tests. Overall, it was found that above a critical peptide and cell density, encapsulated myoblasts were able to provide additional mechanical integrity to hydrogels composed of peptide-modified alginate. This occurred presumably by means of cell-peptide cross-linking of the alginate polymers, in addition to the usual Ca++ cross-linking. These results are potentially applicable to other polymer systems and important for a range of tissue engineering applications.},
	keywords = {Alginates, Animals, Biocompatible Materials, Cell Culture Techniques, Cell Line, Cells, Immobilized, Compressive Strength, Cross-Linking Reagents, Elasticity, Hydrogels, Materials Testing, Mice, Myoblasts, Oligopeptides, Stress, Mechanical, Tensile Strength, Tissue Engineering},
	issn = {0148-0731},
	author = {Drury, Jeanie L and Boontheekul, Tanyarut and Boontheeku, Tanyarut and Mooney, David J}
}
