Three-Dimensional Cultures of Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue-Derived Progenitor Cells Based on RAD16-I Self-Assembling Peptide

Abstract

The prolonged ischemia after myocardial infarction leads to a high degree of cardiomyocyte death, which leads to a reduction of normal heart function. Valuable lessons can be learnt from human myocardium and stem cell biology that would help scientists to develop new, effective, safe, and affordable regenerative therapies. In vivo models are of high interest, but their high complexity limits the possibility to analyze specific factors. In vitro models permit analyzing specific factors of tissue physiology or pathophysiology providing accurate approaches that may guide the creation of three-dimensional (3D) engineered cell aggregates. These systems provide a simplistic way to examine individual factors as compared to animal models, and better mimic the reality than 2D models. In this sense, the objective of this work is to better understand the behavior of a human mesenchymal stem cell-like cell line (subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells [subATDPCs], susceptible to be used in cell therapies) when they are embedded in the 3D environment provided by RAD16-I self-assembling peptide (SAP). Specifically, we study the effect in subATDPCs viability, morphology, proliferation, and protein and gene expression of matrix composition (i.e., RGD motif and heparin polysaccharide modifications) in RAD16-I matrix under different media conditions. Results demonstrated that the 3D environment provided by RAD16-I SAP is able to maintain subATDPCs in this new milieu and at the same time its cardiac commitment. Additionally, it has been observed that chemical induction can induce upregulation of cardiac markers, such as TBX5, MEF2C, ACTN1, and GJA1. Therefore, we propose this 3D model as a promising platform to analyze the effect of specific cues that can help improve cell performance for future cell therapy.

Cartilage Tissue Engineering Using Self-Assembling Peptides Composite Scaffolds

“…However, the self-assembling peptide scaffold RAD16-I can be functionalized by solid-phase synthesis by extending at the N-termini with signaling motifs, such as ECM ligands for cell receptors, to trigger different cellular Cartilage Tissue Engineering Using Self-Assembling Peptides Composite Scaffolds DOI: http://dx.doi.org /10.5772/intechopen.83716 responses [16,19]. Several studies showed the capacity of RAD16-I to support cell maintenance of multiple cell types, including endothelial cells [20], hepatocytes [19,21], fibroblasts [22], embryonic [23] and somatic stem cells [24,25].…”

Balancing hydrophobicity and sequence pattern to influence self‐assembly of amphipathic peptides

“…The development of biomaterials derived from self‐assembled peptides is of great current interest due to biomedical applications including controlled release drug delivery, vaccine development, tissue engineering, and wound healing . Amphipathic peptides that consist of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids are a privileged class of peptide that readily self‐assembles into β‐sheet bilayer nanoribbons that share the basic characteristics of cross‐β amyloid assemblies (Figure ) .…”

Crafting Polymeric and Peptidic Hydrogels for Improved Wound Healing

“…Self‐complementary peptide hydrogels such as RADA 16 are also capable of delivering functional proteins and signal molecules including fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, and other therapeutic agents crucial for wound healing . Furthermore, functionalizing peptide hydrogels with active motifs like IKVAV and RGD assists in cell differentiation, adhesion, and migration …”