AVS 49th International Symposium
    Biomaterials Wednesday Sessions
       Session BI-WeP

Paper BI-WeP1
Bioactive Surfaces for Control of Stem Cell Differentiation

Wednesday, November 6, 2002, 11:00 am, Room Exhibit Hall B2

Session: Biointerfaces and Surfaces II
Presenter: J. Kelly, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Authors: J. Kelly, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
D. Dahlborg, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
S. Svedhem, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
D. Sutherland, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
P. Eriksson, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden
J. Gold, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Correspondent: Click to Email
Tissue engineering of the peripheral and central nervous systems stands to make great progress if the regenerative potential of the recently isolated neural stem cells can be harnessed and directed by the use of synthetic materials and constructs. We have produced surfaces with bound stimulatory molecules (proteins and growth factors) to control neural progenitor cells from the hippocampus of adult rats (AHPs) which have the ability to regenerate the progenitor phenotype or differentiate down one of two possible lineages to become neuron- or glial-like cells. The stimulatory molecule of interest may be patterned on surfaces with high spatial resolution by microcontact printing with a stamp fabricated by casting polydimethyl siloxane on a master with a negative of the desired pattern. We have combined this initial biopatterning step with either adsorption of a second, co-active protein or with a supported lipid bilayer (SLB). SLBs are membrane-like thin films which form by fusion of lipid vesicles on SiO2 or glass surfaces. Unmodified SLBs are resistant to protein adsorption and cell adhesion thus offering the ability to pattern areas of adhesive and unadhesive character. Moreover by inclusion of modified lipids we functionalised a SLB with a neuroactive 19-mer IKVAV sequence derived from laminin, via a maleimide coupling. This surface promoted high levels of cell attachment and presented an otherwise non-perturbing background to cells and proteins. We have assessed the biological activity of several proteins for control of cell function and lineage, including laminin, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) by adsorption or printing on glass surfaces. Laminin supported a mixed population of proliferative and differentiated cells. AHPs on CNTF differentiated to glial phenotype as shown by expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein while on FGF-2, cell proliferation was maintained without differentiation.