Ultrasoft alginate aldehyde-collagen hydrogels promote hESC-derived neural stem cell survival and neuronal differentiation in 3D culture
Zhu H, Huang X, Hui X, Xie H, Peng J, Shang G, Xu Z, Liao Y, Jiang Y, Li D, Boccaccini AR (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Book Volume: 399
Article Number: 139040
DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139040
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogels mimicking the neural extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical for enhancing human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived NSC viability and differentiation in neural disease modeling and regenerative therapies. Conventional hydrogels often inadequately replicate the soft stiffness and bioactivity of native neural tissues, leading to mechanotransduction disruption and poor cell outcomes. To address this, we engineered an ultrasoft hydrogel via Schiff base chemistry, combining alginate aldehyde (ADA) and collagen (COL) to synergize neural-tissue-like mechanics with sustained bioactivity. Hydrogels with varying ADA:COL ratios were synthesized, characterized rheologically, and tested for 3D hESC-NSC culture. Over 14 days, hESC-NSCs in ADA1-COL4 showed superior viability (>95 %), enhanced cell spreading with neurite extensions, and elevated neuronal differentiation markers (MAP2, βIII-tubulin) compared to pure COL, where cells remained rounded with weak differentiation. This study reports ADA-COL hydrogel as a potential cost-effective and biomimetic platform that offers significant potential for advancing neural tissue engineering and regenerative applications.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering (SKLMS)
China (CN)
Southwest Medical University
China (CN)
Tang Du Hospital
China (CN)
China (CN)
Southwest Medical University
China (CN)
Tang Du Hospital
China (CN)
How to cite
APA:
Zhu, H., Huang, X., Hui, X., Xie, H., Peng, J., Shang, G.,... Boccaccini, A.R. (2025). Ultrasoft alginate aldehyde-collagen hydrogels promote hESC-derived neural stem cell survival and neuronal differentiation in 3D culture. Materials Letters, 399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2025.139040
MLA:
Zhu, Hui, et al. "Ultrasoft alginate aldehyde-collagen hydrogels promote hESC-derived neural stem cell survival and neuronal differentiation in 3D culture." Materials Letters 399 (2025).
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