Highly Controllable 3D Scaffolds with Inverted Colloidal Crystal Geometry as Hematapoietic Stem Cell Niches

Increasing numbers of studies have demonstrated that the 3D organization of ex vivo bone marrow analogs is essential for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) expansion, development, and function. These 3D recapitulations of HSC niches could prove useful in the expansion and production of HSCs and their progenitors for therapeutic functions, as well as for drug toxicity testing. The goal of our research is to develop 3D HSC niche analogs for the expansion and differentiation of HSCs for drug toxicity testing. For this purpose, our 3D hydrogel matrix possesses inverted colloidal crystal (ICC) geometry, which consists of highly interconnected empty spherical cavities arranged in an ordered hexagonal crystal lattice. To improve cell adhesion and to deliver cell signals, the surface of hydrogel ICC scaffold is coated with clay nanoplatelets utilizing the layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly technique.