Designer Self‐Assembling Peptide Scaffolds for 3‐D Tissue Cell Cultures and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Biomaterial science has made enormous progress in the last few decades. Nonetheless, innovative biomaterials are still urgently needed to provide in vitro cell-culture models that more closely resemble three-dimensional (3-D) cell interactions and cyto-architectures in bodies and tissues. In this review, the recent advances toward this goal through molecular engineering of various designer self-assembling peptide scaffolds are discussed. These peptide scaffolds can be commercially and custom-tailor synthesized materials with high purity and may be not only useful for specific 3-D tissue cell cultures but also for tissue repair and regenerative therapies. Furthermore, these designer self-assembling peptide scaffolds have recently become powerful tools for regenerative medicine to repair nervous tissue, to stop bleeding in seconds, to repair infarctuated myocardia, as well as being useful medical devices for slow drug release.

Hydrogel scaffolds composed of genetically synthesized self-assembling peptides for three-dimensional cell culture

“…For example, a peptide hydrogel functionalized with bone marrow homing peptide in addition to RADA16 not only enhanced cell attachment but also promoted neural stem cell differentiation without the addition of soluble growth factors. 17 These experiments demonstrate the applicability of attaching a functional peptide motif to RADA16. In these experiments, however, the functionalized self-assembling peptides were chemically synthesized, presenting a limitation for functional motifs that can fuse to RADA16.…”

“…RADA16 spontaneously assembles in the presence of monovalent salt or under physiological conditions as a result of both the ionic side chain interactions and the conventional b-sheet propensity of the backbone, ultimately forming a macroscopic hydrogel known to facilitate cell culture. 14,[16][17][18] Cell attachment and neurite outgrowth were enhanced when neural cells were cultured on this hydrogel. Moreover, cells may be embedded in RADA16 peptide hydrogels, providing a 3-D environment for the cells to grow.…”

Peptide hydrogel in vitro non‐inflammatory potential

“…4, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 β ‐sheet peptides are of particular interest as they allow the fabrication of very stable hydrogels with properties that can be tailored through peptide design, media properties and processing. We have recently investigated the self‐assembly and gelation properties of a family of β ‐sheet peptides 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 based on the design developed by Zhang and co‐workers.…”

Self-assembled peptide nanomaterials for biomedical applications: promises and pitfalls

“…Since then, the rapid development of this type of self-assembling peptide has fostered numerous applications, including three-dimensional (3D) cell culture, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and sensory devices. [25][26][27] This peptide has one side group with charged side chains and another side group with hydrophobic chains. In water, the charged side is exposed on the outside and the hydrophobic side forms a double sheet inside the nanofiber.…”