GRGD‐decorated three‐dimensional nanoworm hydrogels for culturing human embryonic stem cells. Issue 18 (20th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kessel, Stefanie; Thakar, Nilay; Jia, Zhongfan; Wolvetang, Ernst J.; Monteiro, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of polymer science. Volume 57:Issue 18(2019)
• Page Start: 1956
• Page End: 1963
• Publication Date: 2019-02-20
• Subjects: block copolymers -- cell culturing -- emulsion polymerization -- nanoworms -- reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) -- stem cells -- TDMT; 547
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.29342
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-624X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) offer great hope in the development of regenerative medicine. This article demonstrates a method to prepare temperature induced three‐dimensional (3D) hydrogels consisting of soft and flexible polymer nanoworms with a radius of 10 nm and lengths on the micrometer scale. We decorated the surface of the nanoworms with the integrin‐binding peptide (RGD) using our novel physical adsorption process, and show that the resulting gels are able to immobilize and maintain the survival of hESCs. We conclude that the unique PNIPAM nanoworm hydrogels allow binding of undifferentiated hESC through small integrin‐binding peptides. Their temperature sensitivity, biocompatibility, ability to present combinations of multiple ligands and moldability into any desired 3D shape should make this nanoworm system a versatile platform for organoid engineering and regenerative medicine in the future. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1956–1963 Abstract : Polymer nanoworms in combination with an integrin‐binding peptide, RGD, formed hydrogels for the survival of human embryonic stem cells.