SAPs|self-assembling peptide

A neurotrophic peptide-functionalized self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel enhances rat sciatic nerve regeneration

Author：Jiaju Lu, Xun Sun, Heyong Yin, Xuezhen Shen, Shuhui Yang, Yu Wang, Wenli JiangYue Sun, Lingyun Zhao, Xiaodan Sun, Shibi Lu, Antonios G. Mikos, Jiang Peng, Xiumei Wang 《Nano Research》

ABSTRACTS

Nerve guidance conduit (NGC) is a potential alternative to autologous nerve for peripheral nerve regeneration. A promising therapeutic strategy is to modify the nerve guidance conduit intraluminal microenvironment using physical and/or chemical guidance cues. In this study, a neurotrophic peptide-functionalized self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel that could promote PC12 cell adhesion, proliferation, and neuronal differentiation in vitro was prefilled in the lumen of a hollow chitosan tube (hCST) to accelerate axonal regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve defect model. The functionalized self-assembling peptide was developed by introducing a neurotrophic peptide (RGI, RGIDKRHWNSQ) derived from brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to the C-terminus of the self-assembling peptide RADA16-I (Ac-(RADA)4-CONH2). Morphological, histological, electrophysiological, and functional analyses demonstrated that the RGI-functionalized, self-assembling, peptide nanofiber hydrogel RAD/RGI could produce a neurotrophic microenvironment that markedly improved axonal regeneration with enhanced re-myelination and motor functional recovery.