Branched peptide-amphiphiles as self-assembling coatings for tissue engineering scaffolds.
An important challenge in regenerative medicine is the design of suitable bioactive scaffold materials that can act as artificial extracellular matrices. We reported previously on a family of peptide-amphiphile (PA) molecules that self-assemble into high-aspect ratio nanofibers under physiological conditions, and can display bioactive peptide epitopes along each nanofiber's periphery. One type of PA displays its epitope at a branched site using a lysine dendron, a molecular feature that improves epitope availability on the nanofiber surface. In this work, we describe the application of these branched PA (b-PA) systems as self-assembling coatings for fiber-bonded poly(glycolic acid) scaffolds. b-PAs bearing variations of the RGDS adhesion epitope from fibronectin were shown by elemental analysis to coat repeatably onto fiber scaffolds. The retention of supramolecular organization after coating on the scaffold was demonstrated through spectroscopic identification of beta-sheet structures and the close association of hydrophobic tails in a model pyrene-containing PA system. Primary human bladder smooth muscle cells demonstrated greater initial adhesion to b-PA-functionalized scaffolds than to bare scaffolds or to those coated with linear PAs. This strategy of molecular design and coating may have potential application in bladder tissue regeneration.
Harrington
Daniel A
DA
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, and Division of Pediatric Urology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago 60614, USA.
Cheng
Earl Y
EY
Guler
Mustafa O
MO
Lee
Leslie K
LK
Donovan
Jena L
JL
Claussen
Randal C
RC
Stupp
Samuel I
SI
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005353:Fibronectins; D009842:Oligopeptides