The application of beta-sheet self-assembling peptide hydrogels in neural tissue engineering / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Self-assembling peptides, which allow for an optimal control over the scaffold structure and composition, are described as the innovative tissue-engineered scaffolds in the field of biological medicine. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the biological features of β-sheet self-assembling peptides and current research progress in the neural tissue engineering. METHODS: We took "β sheet, self-assembling peptide, hydrogel, neural stem cell, neural tissue engineering" as the key words in Chinese and English, respectively, to retrieve the related literatures (2000-2017) from PubMed, CNKI, WanFang databases based on internet search. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: β-sheet self-assembling peptide, designed to function as an engineered mimic of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM), may be used with as a medium to direct growth and axonal connection, promoting neural stem cells adhesion, migration, division, outgrowth, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. The self-assembling peptides RADA16, LDLK12, QL6 and their functionalized sequences have been proven to be of good utility. As the excellent performance of inducing peripheral nerve regeneration, mediating spinal cord injury and attenuating neuroinflammation, β-sheet self-assembling peptides have promising applications in the neural tissue engineering.