(182ah) The Incorporation of Bio-Inspired Polymeric Coatings for Enhanced Schwann Cell Proliferation and Stem Cell Differentiation

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and Schwann cells provide a compelling component for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. hESCs and Schwann cells have potential for treating many neurodegenerative diseases and nerve trauma by bridging structural gaps that occur within the brain and the peripheral nervous system, respectively. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a non-cellular scaffold composed of collagen, heparin, laminin, and other macromolecules to provide a structural support system for cell adhesion and communication, along with tissue development. The physical, chemical, and topological composition of the ECM plays a major role in Schwann cell proliferation and the differentiation of hESCs into functional neurons. Both hESCs and Schwann cells are extremely sensitive to properties of the matrix in that even small changes to the ECM can drastically affect cell growth. Promising studies have focused on the development of scaffolds with nano scale features that can incorporate neural differentiation enhancers. In this work, we have fabricated peptoid microsphere surfaces with multilayered films (layer-by-layer) consisting of type I collagen and heparin bi-layers. Previous studies show that the morphology of the peptoid microsphere coatings enhance cell adhesion and differentiation of hESCs to neurons and supports neurite outgrowth. The layer-by-layer coatings with collagen and heparin have shown promising results in Schwann cell adhesion and proliferation without the need for growth factors. By combining the morphology of the peptoid microspheres with the composition of the collagen/heparin bi-layer depositions, we have created a novel biopolymeric material that directly mimics the natural ECM with enhanced proliferation of Schwann cells and the differentiation of hESCs into functional neurons. This work is being extended to determine the mechanism of action, as well as incorporation of other cell proliferation and differentiation modifiers.