Materials displaying neural growth factor gradients and applications in neural differentiation of embryoid body cells

Bahman Delalat, Agnieszka Mierczynska, Soraya Rasi Ghaemi, Alex Cavallaro, Frances J. Harding, Krasimir Vasilev, Nicolas H. Voelcker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The critical growth factor density required to support neural lineage generation from mouse embryonic stem cells is assessed by constructing a surface density gradient of immobilized nerve growth factor (NGF) from a plasma polymer film base. A chemical surface gradient varying from high hydroxyl group density to high aldehyde group density is prepared through diffusion-controlled plasma polymerization of two monomers (ethanol and propionaldehyde) under a moving mask. NGF density gradients are then produced by reductive amination with the aldehyde groups on the plasma polymer surface. Mouse embryoid body derived (mEB) cell differentiation on the gradient surface is evaluated by immunofluorescence staining against Nestin. mEB cell density and the percentage of Nestin-positive cells increase with increasing NGF density up to a critical value corresponding to 52.9 ng cm-2, above which cell attachment and differentiation do not increase further. This gradient-based screening approach allows the growth factor surface densities to be optimized for biomaterials intended for cell differentiation or expansion, which is highly relevant to creating efficient manufacture processes for cell therapies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2737-2744
Number of pages8
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume25
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 May 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • embryonic stem cells
  • high throughput screening
  • nerve growth factor gradients
  • neural differentiation

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