Improved neural progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds coated with elastin-like polypeptide

Poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) and elastin‐like polypeptide (ELP) have been widely used as a biodegradable scaffold and thermoresponsive matrix, respectively. However, little attention has focused on the combinatorial use of these biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. An ELP matrix TGPG[VGRGD(VGVPG)6]20WPC (referred to as REP) contains multiple Arg‐Gly‐Asp motifs. This study fabricated porous PLGA scaffolds coated with various concentration of matrix via thermally induced phase transition to improve adhesion‐mediated proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells. Matrix‐coated scaffolds were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and hematoxylin and eosin staining with respect to coating efficiency, porosity, and pore size and shape. On the matrix‐coated scaffolds, cells grew as a single cell or associated each other to form a multicellular layer or cluster. In biological evaluations, cell adhesion and proliferation were significantly promoted in a matrix concentration‐dependent manner. More importantly, in combination with retinoic acid, the differentiation of progenitor cells into neuronal and astroglial lineages was highly stimulated in the cells cultured on matrix‐coated scaffolds than on untreated controls. Taken together, our results indicated that the REP matrix‐functionalized PLGA scaffolds are suitable for improving neuronal cell functions, and thus applicable for neural tissue engineering. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 101B: 1329–1339, 2013.