Biomimetic cell-adhesive ligand-functionalized peptide composite hydrogels maintain stemness of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: In vivo, stem cells reside in a three-dimensional (3D) extracellular microenvironment in which complicated biophysical and biochemical factors regulate their behaviors. Biomimicking of the stem cell-matrix interactions is an ideal approach for controlling the stem cell fate. This study investigates the effects of the incorporation of cell-adhesive ligands in 3D self-assembling peptide hydrogels to modulate stem cell survival, proliferation, maintenance of stemness, and osteogenic differentiation. The results show that the composite hydrogels were non-cytotoxic and effective for maintaining human amniotic mesenchymal stem cell (hAMSC) survival, proliferation and phenotypic characterization. The expression levels of pluripotent markers were also upregulated in the composite hydrogels.

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7953499 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature