title: Neuronal commitment of human circulating multipotent cells by carbon nanotube-polymer scaffolds and biomimetic peptides.
abstract: We aimed to set up a self-standing, biomimetic scaffold system able to induce and support per se neuronal differentiation of autologous multipotent cells.
  
  
  
  We isolated a population of human circulating multipotent cells (hCMCs), and used carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposite scaffolds to mimic electrical/nanotopographical features of the neural environment, and biomimetic peptides reproducing axon guidance cues from neural proteins.
  
  
  
  hCMCs showed high degree of stemness and multidifferentiative potential; stimuli from the scaffolds and biomimetic peptides could induce and boost hCMC differentiation toward neuronal lineage despite the absence of exogenously added, specific growth factors.
  
  
  
  This work suggests the scaffold-peptides system combined with autologous hCMCs as a functional biomimetic, self-standing prototype for neural regenerative medicine applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bertalot
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tescari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Filippis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marega
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menna
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman & Child Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gasparella
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering & Signaling ONLUS, Caselle di Selvazzano Dentro, 35030 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Parnigotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Liddo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filippini
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010455:Peptides; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)
keywords: biomimetic peptides; carbon nanotubes; human circulating multipotent cells; nanocomposite scaffold; neuronal differentiation; regenerative medicine