ABSTRACT
Growth and differentiation factors play a central role in modulation and control of cell migration, differentiation and maturation, and morphogenesis [1]. The proteins in the collagenous phase of the bone matrix play a central role in controlling the function of osteoblasts and progenitor bone mesenchymal stem (BMS) cells [2]. For example, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins including collagen, bronectin, sialoprotein, osteopontin (OP), and small integrinbinding ligands (SIBLINGS) contain the short RGD peptide, which is critical for cell adhesion to the matrix through integrin-binding cell surface receptors [3,4]. The RGD peptide has been conjugated to poly(ε-caprolactone) [5], poly(l-lactide) (PLA)[6], poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) [7], and polyethylene glycol [8,9] to improve cell adhesion and differentiation. The previous studies have shown that conjugation of the RGD peptide to tissue-engineered
CONTENTS
8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 169 8.2 Peptide-Grafted Scaffolds ......................................................................... 171
8.2.1 Hydrogel Synthesis ........................................................................ 171 8.2.2 Synthesis of Functionalized Peptides ......................................... 172 8.2.3 Grafting Peptides to the Hydrogel .............................................. 172 8.2.4 Osteogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of the
BMS Cells ........................................................................................ 174 8.3 Protein-Grafted Nanoparticles ................................................................ 175
8.3.1 Nanoparticle Synthesis ................................................................. 176 8.3.2 Protein Grafting ............................................................................. 176 8.3.3 Osteogenic Activity of Protein-Grafted Nanoparticles ............ 178
8.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 179 Acknowledgments .............................................................................................. 180 References ............................................................................................................. 180
(TE) scaffolds promotes focal-point adhesion of BMS cells and their osteogenic differentiation by increasing alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity, osteocalcin (OC) and OP expression, and mineralization in a dose-dependent manner.
