Multifunctionalized hydrogels foster hNSC maturation in 3D cultures and neural regeneration in spinal cord injuries.

ABSTRACT: Three-dimensional cell cultures are leading the way to the fabrication of tissue-like constructs useful to developmental biology and pharmaceutical screenings. However, their reproducibility and translational potential have been limited by biomaterial and culture media compositions, as well as cellular sources. We developed a construct comprising synthetic multifunctionalized hydrogels, serum-free media, and densely seeded good manufacturing practice protocol-grade human neural stem cells (hNSC). We tracked hNSC proliferation, differentiation, and maturation into GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic neurons, showing entangled electrically active neural networks. The neuroregenerative potential of the "engineered tissue" was assessed in spinal cord injuries, where hNSC-derived progenit

SUBMITTER: Marchini A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6462084 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature