Extracellular matrix mimetics by crosslinked peptide hydrogels: application to neural 3D cell cultures

Self-supporting, shapeable hydrogels that consist of self-assembling synthetic peptides mimic the structural blocks of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Although they have been developed for regenerative medicine purposes, with a potential of grafting into patients without transplantation from organ donors, this class of materials are attractive as scaffolds for advanced cell culture/ in vitro tissue applications. In the present study, we have combined a series of peptides with functional motives (collagen, fibronectin, and laminin-like) for promoting granule layer-like organization of primary cerebellar cells and for controlling the cell attachment, neuritogenesis, cluster size and organization. We show that the micro/nanofabricated hydrogel scaffolds are applicable as multiwell plate inserts helping to analyse cell migration, differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, ultimately forming organotypic cell culture and artificial tissue structures.