Design of dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels for proliferation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells

Tzu Cheng Sung, Yen Hung Chen, Ting Wang, Liu Qian, Wen Hui Chao, Jun Liu, Jiandong Pang, Qing Dong Ling, Henry Hsin Chung Lee, Akon Higuchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Completely synthetic cell cultivation materials for human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are important for the future clinical use of hPSC-derived cells. Currently, cell culture materials conjugated with extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived peptides are being prepared using only one specific integrin-targeting peptide. We designed dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels, for which each peptide was selected from different ECM sites: the laminin β4 chain and fibronectin or vitronectin, which can target α6β1 and α2β1 or αVβ5. hPSCs cultured on dual peptide-conjugated hydrogels, especially on hydrogels conjugated with peptides obtained from the laminin β4 chain and vitronectin with a low peptide concentration of 200 μg/mL, showed high proliferation ability over the long term and differentiated into cells originating from 3 germ layers in vivo as well as a specific lineage of cardiac cells. The design of grafting peptides was also important, for which a joint segment and positive amino acids were added into the designed peptide. Because of the designed peptides on the hydrogels, only 200 μg/mL peptide solution was sufficient for grafting on the hydrogels, and the hydrogels supported hPSC cultures long-term; in contrast, in previous studies, greater than 1000 μg/mL peptide solution was needed for the grafting of peptides on cell culture materials.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100969
JournalMaterials Today Bio
Volume25
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2024

Keywords

  • Cardiomyocyte
  • Human pluripotent stem cells
  • Hydrogel
  • Integrin
  • Peptide
  • Proliferation

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