Design Parameters of Tissue‐Engineering Scaffolds at the Atomic Scale. Issue 47 (30th October 2019) - Jekhmane, Shehrazade
Abstract: Stem‐cell behavior is regulated by the material properties of the surrounding extracellular matrix, which has important implications for the design of tissue‐engineering scaffolds. However, our understanding of the material properties of stem‐cell scaffolds is limited to nanoscopic‐to‐macroscopic length scales. Herein, a solid‐state NMR approach is presented that provides atomic‐scale information on complex stem‐cell substrates at near physiological conditions and at natural isotope abundance. Using self‐assembled peptidic scaffolds designed for nervous‐tissue regeneration, we show at atomic scale how scaffold‐assembly degree, mechanics, and homogeneity correlate with favorable stem cell behavior. Integration of solid‐state NMR data with molecular dynamics simulations reveals a highly ordered fibrillar structure as the most favorable stem‐cell scaffold. This could improve the design of tissue‐engineering scaffolds and other self‐assembled biomaterials. Abstract : In good molecular order : Solid‐state NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that atomic‐scale properties, including molecular order and mechanics, of tissue‐engineering scaffolds correlate with the viability of stem cell cultures. This insight could improve the design of tissue‐engineering scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications.