Objective: To observe the biocompatibility of self-assembled FGL peptide nano-fibers scaffold with neural stem cells (NSCs).
Methods: FGL peptide-amphiphile (FGL-PA) was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis technique and thereafter It was analyzed and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The diluted hydrochloric acid was added into FGL-PA solution to reduce the pH value and accordingly induce self-assembly. The morphological features of the assembled material were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM). NSCs were cultured and different concentrations of FGL-PA assembled material were added with the terminal concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 400 mg/L, respectively. CCK-8 kit was used to test the effect of FGL assembled material on proliferation of NSCs. NSCs were added into differentiation mediums (control group: DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% B27 supplement and 10% FBS; experimental group: DMEM/F12 medium containing 2% B27 supplement, 10% FBS and 100 mg/L FGL-PA, respectively). Immunofluorescence was applied to test the effect of FGL-PA assembled material on differentiation of NSCs.
Results: FGL-PA could be self-assembled to form a gel. TEM showed the self-assembled gel was nano-fibers with diameter of 10-20 nm and length of hundreds nanometers. After NSCs were incubated for 48 hours with different concentrations of FGL-PA assembled material, the result of CCK-8 assay showed that FGL-PA with concentrations of 50, 100 or 200 mg/L could promote the proliferation of NSCs and absorbance of them was increased (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis notified that the differentiation ratio of neurons from NSCs in control group and experimental group were 46.35% +/- 1.27% and 72.85% +/- 1.35%, respectively, when NSCs were induced to differentiation for 14 days, showing significant difference between 2 groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: FGL-PA can self-assemble to nano-fiber gel, which has good biocompatibility and neural bioactivity.