Developing Biomaterial-Based Stem Cell Therapies for Sea Anemone and Coral Reefs Restoration

Coral reefs, essential ecosystems hosting immense biodiversity, face severe threats from climate change, including coral bleaching caused by the disruption of symbiosis between corals and their symbiotic algae. Tissue engineering offers innovative solutions to enhance coral resilience, with hydrogel scaffolds playing a central role. This study focuses on optimizing hydrogel-based delivery systems for the transplantation of candidate stem cell populations in Hexacorallia species, including stony corals and the model organism Nematostella vectensis.

Using hydrogels—biocompatible materials with tunable properties—we aim to improve stem cell survival, engraftment, and integration. Our approach involves encapsulating stem cells from heat-tolerant corals within hydrogels designed for controlled degradation and injection. Initial experiments with alginate hydrogels demonstrated stable matrix formation and effective retention of cells within the scaffolds in vivo. However, further studies revealed that the matrix was entirely emitted by the animal, indicating a rejection of alginate-based materials. Consequently, the focus shifted to a recombinant collagen hydrogel (CollMa) of human origin, modified for UV-induced crosslinking. This material shows promise as a more biocompatible alternative for Hexacorallia.

Current research involves optimizing cell transplantation protocols using CollMa in N. vectensis. In addition, ex vivo experiments are being conducted to investigate the effects of CollMa on N. vectensis cells, including cell survival, hydrogel degradation kinetics, and stability in an aqueous environment.

This interdisciplinary research combines biotechnology, ecology, and regenerative medicine to address the urgent ecological crisis of coral reef degradation. By developing innovative delivery systems for stem cell transplantation, our work seeks to enhance coral resilience and contribute to the long-term sustainability of reef ecosystems.