Enhancement of chondrogenic differentiation in ATDC5 cells using GFOGER-modified peptide nanofiber scaffold

Owing to its avascular nature, cartilage tissue has a restricted capacity for regeneration. These structural features make it difficult for a fully functional tissue to regenerate after damage. Therefore, studies aiming at cartilage tissue regeneration are getting quite interesting. In this study, we employed a novel approach to induce chondrogenic differentiation using a collagen mimetic peptide amphihile (PA) nanofiber. The nanofiber comprised a specific peptide sequence – glycine-phenylalanine-hydroxyproline-glycine-glutamate-arginine (GFOGER), corresponding to the α1 (I) collagen chain. This sequence was selected for its ability to mimic the structure and function of natural collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM). This specific peptide sequence is expected to enhance the chondrogenic differentiation process by providing a more efficient and effective method for tissue engineering applications.