Three-dimensional synthetic niche components to control germ cell proliferation.

ABSTRACT: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are increasingly studied for potential use in tissue regeneration due to their ability to dedifferentiate into embryonic stem cell-like cells. For their successful therapeutic use, these cells must first be expanded in vitro using an appropriate culture system. We hypothesized that a hydrogel with proper biochemical and biomechanical properties may mimic the composition and structure of the native basement membrane onto which SSCs reside, thus allowing us to control SSC proliferation. This hypothesis was examined in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cultures using hydrogels formed from calcium cross-linked alginate molecules conjugated with synthetic oligopeptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence (RGD peptides). The RGD peptide density (N(R

SUBMITTER: Chu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3120087 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature