title: Self-Assembled Peptide-Based Hydrogels as Scaffolds for Proliferation and Multi-Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.
abstract: Fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) and Fmoc-arginine-glycine--aspartate (Fmoc-RGD) peptides self-assemble to form a 3D network of supramolecular hydrogel (Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGD), which provides a nanofibrous network that uniquely presents bioactive ligands at the fiber surface for cell attachment. In the present study, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGD hydrogel increase in proliferation and survival compared to those in Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGE hydrogel. Moreover, MSCs encapsulated in Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGD hydrogel and induced in each defined induction medium undergo in vitro osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. For in vivo differentiation, MSCs encapsulated in hydrogel are induced in each defined medium for one week, followed by injection into gelatin sponges and transplantation into immunodeficient mice for four weeks. MSCs in Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGD hydrogel increase in differentiation into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation, compared to those in Fmoc-FF/Fmoc-RGE hydrogel. This study concludes that nanofibers formed by the self-assembly of Fmoc-FF and Fmoc-RGD are suitable for the attachment, proliferation, and multi-differentiation of MSCs, and can be applied in musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
authors: Yung-Li
authors: YL
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Pei
authors: SP
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
authors: Srinivasa Rao
authors: SR
authors: Nelli
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
authors: Fu-Kai
authors: FK
authors: Zhan
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
authors: Hsun
authors: H
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
authors: Tsung-Sheng
authors: TS
authors: Lai
authors: Integrative Stem Cell Center, Department of Orthopedics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
authors: Mei-Yu
authors: MY
authors: Yeh
authors: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin-Chieh
authors: HC
authors: Lin
authors: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.|Integrative Stem Cell Center, Department of Orthopedics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.|Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Research and Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 112, Taiwan.|Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Chieh
authors: SC
authors: Hung
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005449:Fluorenes; D020100:Hydrogels; C110467:N(alpha)-fluorenylmethoxycarbonylarginine; D010455:Peptides; D001120:Arginine
keywords: differentiation; hydrogels; mesenchymal stem cells; self-assembled peptides; supramolecular chemistry