Survival, proliferation and differentiation enhancement of neural stem cells cultured in three-dimensional polyethylene glycol-RGD hydrogel with tenascin

Abstract

Polyethylene glycol hydrogel (PEG) conjugated with arginyl glycyl aspartic acid (RGD) (PEG-RGD) has been considered to be a scaffold in three-dimensional (3D) culture that improves neurite outgrowth; on the other hand, tenascin C controls neural growth and differentiation. In this study, the effect of a combined RGD and tenascin C mixture in 3D culture (3D-PEG-RGD-TnC) on the survival, growth and differentiation of neural stem cells. The viability of the culture has been evaluated by live/dead assay and the results show that the viability of NSCs in 3D-PEG-RGD-TnC is significantly higher than its value in 3D-PEG-RGD. The proliferation was evaluated by MTS test and was found to be slightly improved but statistically not significant. Accordingly, the differentiation was evaluated by immunoreactivity to nestin, neurofilament 68, neurofilament 160, neurofilament 200 and GFAP; and the expression of nestin, neuro D, musashi1, β-tubulin III, GFAP, MBP and Oct4 was studied using RT-PCR. The results showed enhancement of the differentiation of NSCs into the neuronal phenotype in 3D-PEG-RGD-TnC. The morphology of NSCs cultured in 3D-PEG-RGD-TnC showed neurite outgrowths and increase in the contact between the differentiated cells' extensions. The conclusion of this study was that NSC survival, proliferation and differentiation are enhanced when the cells are cultured in 3D-PEG-RGD-TnC.

Lithium prevents cell apoptosis through autophagy induction

“…In recent years, cell therapy (1,2) and gene therapy have gained a considerable attention as a solution for disease treatments (3,4). BMSCs are widely used as an available source for cell therapy and tissue engineering (5). These cells can differentiate into other cell lineages via appropriate induction conditions (5)(6)(7).…”

“…BMSCs are widely used as an available source for cell therapy and tissue engineering (5). These cells can differentiate into other cell lineages via appropriate induction conditions (5)(6)(7). However, these cells quickly disappear after transplantation into the affected area due to serum deprivation, and they usually have low survival rate (8).…”

Development and characterization of polyethylene glycol–carbon nanotube hydrogel composite

“…9 Not surprisingly, various CNT-hydrogel composites have been developed, including both natural and synthetic polymers such as polyacrylamide, 15 polymethacrylic acid, 16 polysaccharides, 17 gelatin, 18,19 collagen, 6,20 and PEG 3, 13 among others. 21 Furthermore, PEG hydrogels have shown promise as neural and neural stem cell scaffolds 22,23 or neural cell delivery vehicles, 24 CNT-PEG-acrylate hydrogels have shown excellent promise as neural electrode coatings, 13,25 and PEGfunctionalized CNTs have been shown to promote neural regeneration. 21 Furthermore, PEG hydrogels have shown promise as neural and neural stem cell scaffolds 22,23 or neural cell delivery vehicles, 24 CNT-PEG-acrylate hydrogels have shown excellent promise as neural electrode coatings, 13,25 and PEGfunctionalized CNTs have been shown to promote neural regeneration.…”

PTMAc-PEG-PTMAc hydrogel modified by RGDC and hyaluronic acid promotes neural stem cells' survival and differentiation in vitro

“…2B-F). According to previous studies, 22 the pore size was directly inuenced by the cross-linking density, which related to the density of amino groups and aldehyde groups of the hydrogel.…”

“…The short peptides Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motifs have been previously immobilized onto various substrates to promote the adhesion, differentiation, or neurite sprouting/outgrowth of NSCs. 21,22 Hyaluronic acid (HA), one of the major components of native ECMs, has been used in remodeling and healing tissues and enables high cell proliferation and migration. 17,23,24 In the central nervous system, HA is particularly abundant near neural stem cell niches and neuroblast migration routes (within the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream, respectively).…”