Controlling the behavior of stem cells through the supramolecular architecture of the extracellular matrix remains an important challenge in the culture of stem cells. Herein, we report on a new generation of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWG) for the culture of isolated stem cells. The bola-amphiphile structures derived from nucleolipids feature unique rheological and biological properties suitable for tissue engineering applications. The bola-amphiphile-based hydrogel scaffold exhibits the following essential properties: it is nontoxic, easy to handle, injectable, and features a biocompatible rheology. The reported glycosyl-nucleoside bola-amphiphiles (GNBA) are the first examples of LMWG that allow the culture of isolated stem cells in a gel matrix. The results (TEM observations and rheology) suggest that the supramolecular organizations of the matrix play a role in the behavior of stem cells in 3D environments.

Polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was used to characterize self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Novel ester-terminated organosilicon coupling agents possessing a trialkoxysilyl headgroup and a urea group in the linear alkyl chains (4) were synthesized and grafted onto SiO(2)/Au substrates (SiO(2) film of 200 Å thickness deposited on gold mirror). This composite substrate allowed the anchoring of SAMs and preserved the high reflectivity for infrared radiation. PM-IRRAS spectra with very high signal-to-noise ratios have been obtained in the mid-infrared spectral range allowing monitoring of the grafted SAMs. Quantitative analysis of the measured signal is described to compare PM-IRRAS and conventional IRRAS spectra. This quantitative analysis has been validated since the band intensities in the corrected PM-IRRAS and conventional IRRAS spectra are identical. Orientation information on the different functional groups has been obtained comparing the corrected PM-IRRAS spectrum with the one calculated using isotropic optical constants of ester-terminated organosilicon coupling agents 4. The carbonyls of the urea groups are preferentially parallel to the substrate surface favoring intermolecular hydrogen bonding and consequently a close packing of the molecules attached to the surface. By contrast, the alkyl chains present gauche defects and are poorly oriented.

No abstract