title: Novel triblock co-polymer nanofibre system as an alternative support for embryonic stem cells growth and pluripotency.
abstract: Conventionally, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are cultured on gelatin or over a mitotically inactivated monolayer of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFsi). Considering the lack of versatile, non-animal-derived and inexpensive materials for that purpose, we aimed to find a biomaterial able to support ESC growth in a pluripotent state that avoids the need for laborious and time-consuming MEFsi culture in parallel with mouse ESC (mESC) culture. Undifferentiated mESCs were cultured in a new nanofibre material designed for ESC culture, which is based on the self-assembly of a triblock co-polymer, poly(ethyleneglycol-β-trimethylsilyl methacrylate-β-methacrylic acid), conjugated with the peptide glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartate-serine, to evaluate its potential application in ESC research. The morphology, proliferation, viability, pluripotency and differentiation potential of mESCs were assessed. Compared to conventional stem cell culture methodologies, the nanofibres promoted a higher increase in mESCs number, enhanced pluripotency and were able to support differentiation after long-term culture. This newly developed synthetic system allows the elimination of animal-derived matrices and provides an economic method of ESC culture, made of a complex network of nanofibres in a scale similar to native extracellular matrices, where the functional properties of the cells can be observed and manipulated. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Embryology and Genetic Manipulation, Regenerative Medicine Programme, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina (DCBM), Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.|Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centro de Biomedicina Estrutural e Molecular (IBB/CBME), Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.|PhD Programme in Biomedical Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Rubina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Perestrelo
authors.affiliation: Kuwait University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Fouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mouffouk
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação em Química do Algarve (CIQA) and Departamento de Química e Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana M Rosa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Embryology and Genetic Manipulation, Regenerative Medicine Programme, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina (DCBM), Universidade do Algarve, Portugal. jbelo@ualg.pt.|Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centro de Biomedicina Estrutural e Molecular (IBB/CBME), Universidade do Algarve, Portugal. jbelo@ualg.pt.
authors.forename: José António
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Belo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers
keywords: embryonic stem cell culture; embryonic stem cells; gelatin substitute; growth support; pluripotency; polymeric nanofibres