title: Neural progenitor cells survival and neuronal differentiation in peptide-based hydrogels.
abstract: We designed nanofibrous hydrogels as 2-D and 3-D scaffolds for anchorage-dependent cells. The IKVAV-containing peptide amphiphile molecules spontaneously self-assembled into higher-order nanofiber hydrogels under cell-containing media. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were incubated in peptide-based hydrogels. Effects of self-assembling hydrogels on survival and neural differentiation of NPCs were observed. Peptide was synthesized using a solid-phase method. TEM study of the hydrogel revealed a network of nanofibers. Phase-contrast light micrographs showed that the described hydrogel had no observable cytotoxicity to NPCs. Additionally this hydrogel could induce cells to differentiate into neuron-like cells and glial-like cells. Moreover, the cells encapsulated within hydrogel had a higher neuronal differentiation rate than in the surface of the hydrogel. This self-assembled hydrogel might serve as nerve tissue-engineering scaffold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, PR China. song_yulin2001@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yulin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yixiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qixin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yongchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D010455:Peptides