Journal article
Peptide-Based Scaffolds Support Human Cortical Progenitor Graft Integration to Reduce Atrophy and Promote Functional Repair in a Model of Stroke
Fahad A Somaa, Ting-Yi Wang, Jonathan C Niclis, Kiara F Bruggeman, Jessica A Kauhausen, Haoyao Guo, Stuart McDougall, Richard J Williams, David R Nisbet, Lachlan H Thompson, Clare L Parish
CELL REPORTS | CELL PRESS | Published : 2017
Abstract
Stem cell transplants offer significant hope for brain repair following ischemic damage. Pre-clinical work suggests that therapeutic mechanisms may be multi-faceted, incorporating bone-fide circuit reconstruction by transplanted neurons, but also protection/regeneration of host circuitry. Here, we engineered hydrogel scaffolds to form "bio-bridges" within the necrotic lesion cavity, providing physical and trophic support to transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived cortical progenitors, as well as residual host neurons. Scaffolds were fabricated by the self-assembly of peptides for a laminin-derived epitope (IKVAV), thereby mimicking the brain's major extracellular protein. Following fo..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was supported by funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (APP1122974), the Australian Research Council (130103131), and CASS Foundation, Australia. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health acknowledges support from the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support grant. K.F.B. was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarship Doctoral award; D.R.N. was supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship; and C.L.P. was supported by a Senior Medical Research Fellowship provided by the Viertel Charitable Foundation, Australia. Access to the facilities of the Centre for Advanced Microscopy, with funding through the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility, is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Ms. Mong Tien for her technical assistance with tissue processing and histochemistry.