Heparin-mediated electrostatic immobilization of bFGF via functional polymer films for enhanced self-renewal of human neural stem cells. Issue 8 (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cho, Younghak; Baek, Jieung; Lee, Eunjung; Im, Sung Gap
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 9:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 2084
• Page End: 2091
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0tb02799e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : A novel copolymer film of pGMA- co -DMAEMA is generated to modulate the electrostatic interaction with heparin, thereby facilitating bFGF immobilization. hNSCs cultured on this surface exhibited enhanced stemness-related properties and neurogenesis. Abstract : Preserving the self-renewal capability of undifferentiated human neural stem cells (hNSCs) is one of the crucial prerequisites for efficient hNSC-based regenerative medicine. Considering that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is one of the key contributing factors in maintaining the self-renewal property of hNSCs, the bioactivity and stability of bFGF in the hNSC culture should be regulated carefully. In this study, we developed a functional polymer film of poly(glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)- co-N, N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)) (coGD, or p(GMA- co -DMAEMA)) via initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), which facilitated a stable, electrostatic adsorption of heparin and subsequent immobilization of bFGF. The bFGF-immobilized coGD surface substantially enhanced the proliferation rate and neurosphere forming ability of hNSCs compared to tissue culture plate (TCP). The expression of the stemness markers of hNSCs such as NESTIN and SOX-2 was also upregulated prominently on the coGD surface. Also, the hNSCs cultured on the coGD surface showed enhanced neurogenesis upon spontaneous differentiation. The immobilized bFGF on the coGD surface stimulated the expression of bFGF receptors and subsequently activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, attributed to the increase in self-renewal property of hNSCs. Our results indicate that the coGD surface allowed in situ heparin-mediated bFGF immobilization, which served as a robust platform to generate hNSC neurospheres with enhanced self-renewal and differentiation capabilities and thereby will prompt an advance in the field of therapeutics of neurodegenerative diseases.