Work

Hydroxyapatite-Mediated Mechanical Modulation of GelMA Hydrogels Influences Osteogenic Differentiation of 3D Spheroids

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Substrate stiffness critically regulates osteogenic differentiation, yet systematic identification of optimal mechanical conditions in three-dimensional culture remains limited. This study investigated how hydroxyapatite (HAp)-mediated mechanical modulation of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels influences osteogenic differentiation of encapsulated SAOS-2 spheroids. GelMA hydrogels with HAp at 5, 10, and 15 μg/mL were characterized for mechanical properties and used to encapsulate pre-formed spheroids under osteogenic conditions. GelMA+HAp5 achieved the highest compressive modulus, while higher HAp concentrations reduced crosslinking efficiency. All formulations maintained comparable viability and metabolic activity. Notably, GelMA+HAp10 produced the highest alkaline phosphatase activity at Days 7 and 14, despite lower stiffness than GelMA+HAp5, demonstrating a non-linear relationship between substrate mechanics and osteogenic response. These results establish that optimizing rather than maximizing mechanical properties represents a more effective scaffold design strategy for bone tissue engineering.

Source: Gels

DOI: 10.3390/gels12010092

Authors: Narantungalag Amarbayasgalan, Ji Hyeon Kim, Won-Gun Koh, Karthika Muthuramalingam, Hyun Jong Lee

Institutions: Gachon University, Yonsei University

Language: English

Topic: Bone Tissue Engineering Materials

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534

Funders: National Research Foundation, Gachon University, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea