Two-dimensional Effects of Hydrogel Self-organized from IKVAV-containing Peptides on Growth and Differentiation of NSCs

The neural stem cells (NSCs) were seeded in the surface layer of hydrogels made of IKVAV-containing peptide amphiphile. Two-dimensional effects of hydrogel on growth and differ- entiation of NSCs were investigated. Peptide was synthesized in solid way. Cells were harvested from the cerebral cortex of neonatal mice, identified by immunohistochemical methods. Cells were incu- bated in the surface layer of self-assembled peptide hydrogel and coverslips for seven days respec- tively,detected immunocytochemically for NF and GFAP. The molecular weight (MW) of Peptide was 1438 and purity was 95.22%. Cells were identified as Nestin-positive NSCs. TEM showed that hy- drogel was composed of interactive nanofibers. NSCs extended processes, and were able to be dif- ferentiated into NF-positive neurons with red fluorescence and GFAP-positive astrocytes with green one in the surface of hydrogel. However, NSCs only formed undifferentiated neurospheres in the surface layer of coverslips. Results indicate that the self-assembled hydrogel from peptide amphiphile has good cyto-compatibility to NSCs and induced their differentiation.