Incorporation of Extracellular Matrix-Binding Peptides into Hydrogel Network: A Strategy to Mimic the Stem Cells Microenvironment in 3D Conditions

Abstract

The advancement of science and medicine in recent decades has improved human health care resulting in increased quality and length of life. The progress of regenerative medicine has opened new venues for therapeutic techniques to treat cancer and traumatic injuries. The development of three-dimensional materials that can closely mimic the conditions cells are presented with in vivo is a great challenge in biomaterials development for regenerative medicine applications. Synthesised scaffolds should be tuneable in terms of their mechanical properties to be suited for regenerative applications. In addition, these materials should provide cells with a platform such that they can survive, differentiate, and proliferate. The incorporation of ECM proteins binding peptides into the polymeric network can be an effective strategy to provide cell-supporting biomaterials with the additional benefit of supporting cells to generate their in vivo-like microenvironment within hydrogels.