Title: Development of self-assembled polygalacturonic acid-peptide composites and their interactions with mesenchymal stem cells for potential applications in tendon tissue engineering

Authors: Grant A. Knoll; Harrison T. Pajovich; Steven M. Romanelli; Ipsita A. Banerjee

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, 10458, New York, USA ' Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, 10458, New York, USA ' Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, 10458, New York, USA ' Department of Chemistry, Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, 10458, New York, USA

Abstract: We have developed a new biomimetic scaffold for potential applications in tendon tissue engineering (TE). The scaffold template was synthesised by conjugating polygalacturonic acid with the dipeptide leucyl-leucine to mimic the leucine rich proteoglycans found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tenocytes. To the template, type I collagen and an elastin derived peptide were incorporated in order to form the final PG-Leu-Leu-Col-El scaffold. Results indicated the formation of gelatinous, fibrous scaffolds. DSC analysis showed phase changes that included crystallisation and thermal melting due to re-organisation of the scaffold components. Young's modulus was determined to be 832 ± 2 MPa. Rheology studies showed that the scaffold maintained a constant G´ / G˝ ratio over a wide range of angular frequency. Cell studies with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) indicated that the scaffolds promoted cell proliferation and formed three dimensional cell-scaffold matrices. This newly developed scaffold may open new opportunities for tissue engineering applications.

Keywords: self-assembly; tissue engineering; composites; biocompatibility; microscale; peptide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2019.097594

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2019 Vol.8 No.1, pp.64 - 80

Received: 29 Aug 2017
Accepted: 12 May 2018
Published online: 30 Jan 2019 *

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