Functionalized α-helical peptide hydrogels for neural tissue engineering

Mehrban, N. et al. (2015) Functionalized α-helical peptide hydrogels for neural tissue engineering. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 1(6), pp. 431-439. (doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00051) (PMID:26240838) (PMCID:PMC4517957)

Abstract

Trauma to the central and peripheral nervous systems often lead to serious morbidity. Current surgical methods for repairing or replacing such damage have limitations. Tissue engineering offers a potential alternative. Here we show that functionalized α-helical-peptide hydrogels can be used to induce attachment, migration, proliferation and differentiation of murine embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs). Specifically, compared with undecorated gels, those functionalized with Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptides increase the proliferative activity of NSCs; promote their directional migration; induce differentiation, with increased expression of microtubule-associated protein-2, and a low expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein; and lead to the formation of larger neurospheres. Electrophysiological measurements from NSCs grown in RGDS-decorated gels indicate developmental progress toward mature neuron-like behavior. Our data indicate that these functional peptide hydrogels may go some way toward overcoming the limitations of current approaches to nerve-tissue repair.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (H01716X, D.N.W. and M.A.B.); the European Research Council (StG243261, BS; and ADG340764, D.N.W.); the Royal Society (UF051616, B.S.); the Medical Research Council (G1100623, A.D.R.); and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Bristol Chemical Synthesis Centre for Doctoral Training, EP/G036764/1, K.L.H.). D.N.W. holds a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thomson, Dr Drew
• Authors: Mehrban, N., Zhu, B., Tamagnini, F., Young, F. I., Wasmuth, A., Hudson, K. L., Thomson, A. R., Birchall, M. A., Randall, A. D., Song, B., and Woolfson, D. N.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 2373-9878
• ISSN (Online): 2373-9878
• Published Online: 28 April 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 American Chemical Society
• First Published: First published in ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering 1(6): 431-439
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy