Structural characteristics and advantages of a self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold

Yuan Liang-liang; Liang Peng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.29.018

Abstract： BACKGROUND:Three-dimensional self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel scaffold can simulate the in vivo microenvironment and provide a structural model for cells, which promotes the right composition of extracel ular matrix and cel growth, as wel as improves the cel functions. OBJECTIVE:To review the fundamental research and the experimental study of the self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold in the nerve tissue engineering. METHODS:Literatures concerning basic and experimental studies on the self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold in the nerve tissue engineering were reviewed via searching PubMed and VIP databases (2000/2013) using the key words of“self-assembling peptide, nanofiber scaffold, RADA16, nerve tissue engineering, neural stem cel . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold is a novel and ideal tissue engineering material which provides new method for nerve injury repairing, for it not only solves the problem of poor compatibility between the material and cells, but also plays a much more pivotal role in maintaining three-dimensional properties, promoting cel activities and mimicking the extracel ular matrix, which is superior to other materials. However, there stil exist some chal enges in the area of self-assembling peptides, including short-term issues such as integrating of self-assembling peptide with bio-macromolecular material or relatively developed traditional transplant;and long-term issues such as adapting immune system in vivo, treating targets within cells and anticipating the future fate of highly integrated scaffolds.