Multiscale characterization of a chimeric biomimetic polypeptide for stem cell culture

Sbrana, F., Fotia, C., Bracalello, A., Baldini, N., Marletta, G., Ciapetti, G., Bochicchio, B. and Vassalli, M. (2012) Multiscale characterization of a chimeric biomimetic polypeptide for stem cell culture. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 7(4), 046007. (doi: 10.1088/1748-3182/7/4/046007)

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Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells have attracted great interest in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine because of their multipotentiality and relative ease of isolation from adult tissues. The medical application of this cellular system requires the inclusion in a growth and delivery scaffold that is crucial for the clinical effectiveness of the therapy. In particular, the ideal scaffolding material should have the needed porosity and mechanical strength to allow a good integration with the surrounding tissues, but it should also assure high biocompatibility and full resorbability. For such a purpose, protein-inspired biomaterials and, in particular, elastomeric-derived polypeptides are playing a major role, in which they are expected to fulfil many of the biological and mechanical requirements. A specific chimeric protein, designed starting from elastin, resilin and collagen sequences, was characterized over different length scales. Single-molecule mechanics, aggregation properties and compatibility with human mesenchymal stem cells were tested, showing that the engineered compound is a good candidate as a stem cell scaffold to be used in tissue engineering applications.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Vassalli, Professor Massimo
Authors: Sbrana, F., Fotia, C., Bracalello, A., Baldini, N., Marletta, G., Ciapetti, G., Bochicchio, B., and Vassalli, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
Journal Name:Bioinspiration and Biomimetics
Publisher:IOP Publishing
ISSN:1748-3182
ISSN (Online):1748-3190

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