Abstract
BackgroundBiomaterials that promote the self-renewal ability and differentiation capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) are desirable for improving stem cell therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Incorporation of micro- and nanoparticles into stem cell culture has gained great attention for the control of stem cell behaviors, including proliferation and differentiation.MethodIn this study, ferritin, an iron-containing natural protein nanoparticle, was applied as a biomaterial to improve the self-renewal and differentiation of NSCs and neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Ferritin nanoparticles were added to NSC or NPC culture during cell growth, allowing for incorporation of ferritin nanoparticles during neurosphere formation.ResultsCompared to neurospheres without ferritin treatment, neurospheres with ferritin nanoparticles showed significantly promoted self-renewal and cell-cell interactions. When spontaneous differentiation of neurospheres was induced during culture without mitogenic factors, neuronal differentiation was enhanced in the ferritin-treated neurospheres.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we found that natural nanoparticles can be used to improve the self-renewal ability and differentiation potential of NSCs and NPCs, which can be applied in neural tissue engineering and cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases.
Highlights
Biomaterials that promote the self-renewal ability and differentiation capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) are desirable for improving stem cell therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases
When spontaneous differentiation of neurospheres was induced during culture without mitogenic factors, neuronal differentiation was enhanced in the ferritin-treated neurospheres
In conclusion, we found that natural nanoparticles can be used to improve the self-renewal ability and differentiation potential of NSCs and neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which can be applied in neural tissue engineering and cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases
Summary
Biomaterials that promote the self-renewal ability and differentiation capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) are desirable for improving stem cell therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Incorporation of micro- and nanoparticles into stem cell culture has gained great attention for the control of stem cell behaviors, including proliferation and differentiation. Several studies have suggested biomaterialbased strategies for promoting the self-renewal and differentiation of NSCs using functional hydrogels, Previously, incorporation of micro- and nanoparticles into stem cell culture was shown to be an efficient method for controlling various cellular behaviors of stem cells. The enhanced gap junction formation of stem cells by iron oxide nanoparticles was previously reported to improve therapeutic efficacy of stem cells for ischemia treatment [12]. In NSC culture, the stage of neurosphere formation for NSC expansion is a critical step that can determine the self-renewal ability and differentiation
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