(334g) The Incorporation of Retinoic Acid-like Peptoids Onto an Artificial Extracellular Matrix for Increased Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells into Neural Cells

Neural cells differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provide a compelling component for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a major role in the differentiation and proliferation of neural cells. The hESCs are extremely sensitive to properties of the matrix in that even small changes to the chemical composition, physical makeup, or topography of the ECM can drastically effect neural cell differentiation. Promising studies have focused on the development of nano-sized scaffolds through which neural differentiation enhancers can be adapted. Classically, the vitamin A pathway has been explored as a promoter of neural cell differentiation and proliferation. Retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A, can be incorporated into the ECM, and results have shown an increased number of neurons differentiated. We have proposed the formation of a distinct artificial extracellular matrix coated with retinoic acid-like peptoid microspheres to promote the differentiation of hESCs into neurons and astrocytes.