| 초록 |
Biomimetic engineering can facilitate development of functional biomaterials for stem cell and tissue engineering. Catechol chemistry inspired from marine mussel adhesion can be applied to engineer biomaterial scaffolds for enhanced regenerative efficacy of stem cell therapy and tissue engineering. In this study, dopamine containing catechol group, an unusual amino acid repeatedly observed in mussel adhesive protein, was used for modification of substrates and scaffolds for stem cell culture and transplantation. Polymerized dopamine coating mediated efficient immobilization of bioactive molecules such as growth factor proteins and peptides, which greatly enhanced lineage specification and proliferation of various types of stem cells including neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. Catechol-conjugated polymers efficiently formed three-dimensional hydrogel scaffolds for stem cell transplantation via oxidative crosslinking of catechol groups. The stem cells encapsulated in catechol-functionalized hydrogels exhibited higher viability than them in the hydrogels prepared by conventional crosslinking methods (photopolymerization, electrostatic interaction). Accordingly, catechol-functionalized hydrogels improved the efficacy of stem cell transplantation in various diseased animal models such as ischemic stroke, hindlimb ischemia, liver resection, and critical calvarial bone defect. In summary, mussel-inspired catechol functionalization of biomaterials can provide a versatile platform technology to develop functional, biocompatible substrates and scaffolds for improving therapeutic applications of tissue engineering and stem cells. |
