(190g) Peptoid-Based Coatings for 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 scaffolds with nanoscale features that can incorporate neural differentiation enhancers. In this work, we have coated surfaces with peptoid microspheres as well as gold nanorods functionalized with peptoid. Preliminary studies show that the peptoid coatings enhance differentiation to neurons and support neurite outgrowth. This work is being extended to determine the mechanism of action, as well as incorporation of other hESC differentiation modifiers.