A hyaluronic acid/graphene oxide hydrogel for enhanced ex vivo expansion of cord blood-derived CD34+ cells

- A novel HA/GO hybrid hydrogels was first prepared by in-situ free-radical polymerization.
- The hydrogels have adjustable mechanical property.
- The hydrogels could support the expansion of CD34+ cells ex vivo.

HA/GO hydrogels were prepared by methacrylated GO (MeGO) and methacrylated HA (MeHA) via an in-situ free radical polymerization, and then a series of HA/GO hydrogels with highly porous structure were obtained. All hydrogels exhibited excellent water absorption ability. Additionally, the elastic moduli of hydrogels were clearly enhanced by GO. CD34+ cells cultured on HA/GO-0.05 hydrogel showed higher expansion of CD34+ cells and CD34+CD38− cells compared to the other three hydrogels. Therefore, HA/GO-0.05 hydrogels have a potential for clinical-applied ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.

HA/GO hybrid hydrogels with adjustable mechanical property were prepared via an in-situ free-radical polymerization, and then utilized for ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells. Subsequently, the influence of physical property of the hydrogels on ex vivo expansion of CD34+ cells was evaluated.63