Biomimetic microenvironment modulates neural stem cell survival, migration, and differentiation

Advances in 3D tissue models for neural engineering: self-assembled versus engineered tissue models

Neural tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field that aims to create functional neural tissue for therapeutic applications, drug screening, and disease modelling. It is becoming evident in the literature that this goal requires development of three-dimensional (3D) constructs that can mimic the complex microenvironment of native neural tissue, including its biochemical, mechanical, physical, and electrical properties. These 3D models can be broadly classified as self-assembled models, which include spheroids, organoids, and assembloids, and engineered models, such as those based on decellularized or polymeric scaffolds. Self-assembled models offer advantages such as the ability to recapitulate neural development and disease processes in vitro, and the capacity to study the behaviour and interactions of different cell types in a more realistic environment. However, self-assembled constructs have limitations such as lack of standardised protocols, inability to control the cellular microenvironment, difficulty in controlling structural characteristics, reproducibility, scalability, and lengthy developmental timeframes. Integrating biomimetic materials and advanced manufacturing approaches to present cells with relevant biochemical, mechanical, physical, and electrical cues in a controlled tissue architecture requires alternate engineering approaches. Engineered scaffolds, and specifically 3D hydrogel-based constructs, have desirable properties, lower cost, higher reproducibility, long-term stability, and they can be rapidly tailored to mimic the native microenvironment and structure. This review explores 3D models in neural tissue engineering, with a particular focus on analysing the benefits and limitations of self-assembled organoids compared with hydrogel-based engineered 3D models. Moreover, this paper will focus on hydrogel based engineered models and probe their biomaterial components, tuneable properties, and fabrication techniques that allow them to mimic native neural tissue structures and environment. Finally, the current challenges and future research prospects of 3D neural models for both self-assembled and engineered models in neural tissue engineering will be discussed.

In Vitro Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is one of the commonest neurodegenerative diseases of adult-onset, which is characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem and spinal cord. The dysfunction and death of motor neurons lead to the progressive muscle weakness, atrophy, fasciculations, spasticity and ultimately the whole paralysis of body. Despite the identification of several genetic mutations associated with the pathogenesis of ALS, including mutations in chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 leading to the abnormal expansion of GGGGCC repeat sequence, TAR DNA-binding protein 43, fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and TANK-binding kinase 1, the exact mechanisms underlying the specific degeneration of motor neurons that causes ALS remain incompletely understood. At present, since the transgenic model expressed SOD1 mutants was established, multiple in vitro models of ALS have been developed for studying the pathology, pathophysiology and pathogenesis of ALS as well as searching the effective neurotherapeutics. This review reviewed the details of present established in vitro models used in studying the pathology, pathophysiology and pathogenesis of ALS. Meanwhile, we also discussed the advantages, disadvantages, cost and availability of each models.

IL-10-Functionalized Hydrogels Support Immunosuppressive Dendritic Cell Phenotype and Function

Biomaterial systems such as hydrogels enable localized delivery and postinjection modulation of cellular therapies in a wide array of contexts. Biomaterials as adjuvants have been an active area of investigation, but the study of functionalized biomaterials supporting immunosuppressive cell therapies for tolerogenic applications is still nascent. Here, we developed a 4-arm poly(ethylene-glycol)-maleimide (PEG-4MAL) hydrogel functionalized with interleukin-10 (IL-10) to improve the local delivery and efficacy of a cell therapy against autoimmune disease. The biophysical and biochemical properties of PEG-4MAL hydrogels were optimized to support dendritic cell (DC) viability and an immature phenotype. IL-10-functionalized PEG-4MAL (PEG-IL10) hydrogels exhibited controlled IL-10 release, extended the duration of DC support, and protected DCs from inflammatory assault. After incorporation in PEG-IL10 hydrogels, these DCs induced CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) during in vitro coculture. These studies serve as a proof-of-concept for improving the efficacy of immunosuppressive cell therapies through biomaterial delivery. The flexible nature of this system enables its widespread application across a breadth of other tolerogenic applications for future investigation.

Divergence between Neuronal and Oligodendroglial Cell Fate, in Postnatal Brain Neural Stem Cells, Leads to Divergent Properties in Polymorphic In Vitro Assays

Two main stem cell pools exist in the postnatal mammalian brain that, although they share some “stemness” properties, also exhibit significant differences. Multipotent neural stem cells survive within specialized microenvironments, called niches, and they are vulnerable to ageing. Oligodendroglial lineage-restricted progenitor cells are widely distributed in the brain parenchyma and are more resistant to the effects of ageing. Here, we create polymorphic neural stem cell cultures and allow cells to progress towards the neuronal and the oligodendroglial lineage. We show that the divergence of cell fate is accompanied by a divergence in the properties of progenitors, which reflects their adaptation to life in the niche or the parenchyma. Neurogenesis shows significant spatial restrictions and a dependence on laminin, a major niche component, while oligodendrogenesis shows none of these constraints. Furthermore, the blocking of integrin-β1 leads to opposing effects, reducing neurogenesis and enhancing oligodendrogenesis. Therefore, polymorphic neural stem cell assays can be used to investigate the divergence of postnatal brain stem cells and also to predict the in vivo effects of potential therapeutic molecules targeting stem and progenitor cells, as we do for the microneurotrophin BNN-20.

Functionalized Nanocellulose Drives Neural Stem Cells toward Neuronal Differentiation

Transplantation of differentiated and fully functional neurons may be a better therapeutic option for the cure of neurodegenerative disorders and brain injuries than direct grafting of neural stem cells (NSCs) that are potentially tumorigenic. However, the differentiation of NSCs into a large population of neurons has been a challenge. Nanomaterials have been widely used as substrates to manipulate cell behavior due to their nano-size, excellent physicochemical properties, ease of synthesis, and versatility in surface functionalization. Nanomaterial-based scaffolds and synthetic polymers have been fabricated with topology resembling the micro-environment of the extracellular matrix. Nanocellulose materials are gaining attention because of their availability, biocompatibility, biodegradability and bioactivity, and affordable cost. We evaluated the role of nanocellulose with different linkage and surface features in promoting neuronal differentiation. Nanocellulose coupled with lysine molecules (CNC-Lys) provided positive charges that helped the cells to attach. Embryonic rat NSCs were differentiated on the CNC-Lys surface for up to three weeks. By the end of the three weeks of in vitro culture, 87% of the cells had attached to the CNC-Lys surface and more than half of the NSCs had differentiated into functional neurons, expressing endogenous glutamate, generating electrical activity and action potentials recorded by the multi-electrode array.

Heat shock response enhanced by cell culture treatment in mouse embryonic stem cell-derived proliferating neural stem cells

Cells have a regulatory mechanism known as heat shock (HS) response, which induces the expression of HS genes and proteins in response to heat and other cellular stresses. Exposure to moderate HS results in beneficial effects, such as thermotolerance and promotes survival, whereas excessive HS causes cell death. The effect of HS on cells depends on both exogenous factors, including the temperature and duration of heat application, and endogenous factors, such as the degree of cell differentiation. Neural stem cells (NSCs) can self-renew and differentiate into neurons and glial cells, but the changes in the HS response of symmetrically proliferating NSCs in culture are unclear. We evaluated the HS response of homogeneous proliferating NSCs derived from mouse embryonic stem cells during the proliferative phase and its effect on survival and cell death in vitro. The number of adherent cells and the expression ratios of HS protein (Hsp)40 and Hsp70 genes after exposure to HS for 20 min at temperatures above 43°C significantly increased with the extension of the culture period before exposure to HS. In contrast, caspase activity was significantly decreased by extension of the culture period before exposure to HS and suppressed the decrease in cell viability. These results suggest that the culture period before HS remarkably affects the HS response, influencing the expression of HS genes and cell survival of proliferating NSCs in culture.

A synergic approach to enhance long-term culture and manipulation of MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer spheroids

Tumour spheroids have the potential to be used as preclinical chemo-sensitivity assays. However, the production of three-dimensional (3D) tumour spheroids remains challenging as not all tumour cell lines form spheroids with regular morphologies and spheroid transfer often induces disaggregation. In the field of pancreatic cancer, the MiaPaCa-2 cell line is an interesting model for research but it is known for its difficulty to form stable spheroids; also, when formed, spheroids from this cell line are weak and arduous to manage and to harvest for further analyses such as multiple staining and imaging. In this work, we compared different methods (i.e. hanging drop, round-bottom wells and Matrigel embedding, each of them with or without methylcellulose in the media) to evaluate which one allowed to better overpass these limitations. Morphometric analysis indicated that hanging drop in presence of methylcellulose leaded to well-organized spheroids; interestingly, quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis reflected the morphometric characterization, indicating that same spheroids expressed the highest values of CD44, VIMENTIN, TGF-β1 and Ki-67. In addition, we investigated the generation of MiaPaCa-2 spheroids when cultured on substrates of different hydrophobicity, in order to minimize the area in contact with the culture media and to further improve spheroid formation.

Coating Materials for Neural Stem/Progenitor Cell Culture and Differentiation

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) have a potential to treat various neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and Spinal Cord Injury. However, the limitation of NSPC sources and the difficulty to maintain their stemness or to differentiate them into specific therapeutic cells are the main hurdles for clinical research and application. Thus, for obtaining a therapeutically relevant number of NSPCs in vitro, it is important to understand factors regulating their behaviors and to establish a protocol for stable NSPC proliferation and differentiation. Coating materials for cell culture, such as Matrigel, laminin, collagen, and other coating materials, can significantly affect NSPC characteristics. This article provides a review of coating materials for NSPC culturing in both two dimensions and three dimensions, and their functions in NSPC proliferation and differentiation, and presents a useful guide to select coating materials for researchers.

Effect of Laminin Derived Peptides IKVAV and LRE Tethered to Hyaluronic Acid on hiPSC Derived Neural Stem Cell Morphology, Attachment and Neurite Extension

Low neural tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) content has led to the understudy of its effects on neural cells and tissue. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin are major neural ECM components, but direct comparisons of their cellular effects could not be located in the literature. The current study uses human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived neural stem cells to assess the effects of HA, laminin, and HA with laminin-derived peptides IKVAV and LRE on cellular morphology, attachment, neurite extension and ECM remodeling. Increased attachment was observed on HA with and without IKVAV and LRE compared to laminin. Cellular morphology and neurite extension were similar on all surfaces. Using a direct binding inhibitor of Cav2.2 voltage gated calcium channel activity, a known binding partner of LRE, reduced attachment on HA with and without IKVAV and LRE and altered cellular morphology on surfaces with laminin or IKVAV and LRE. HA with IKVAV and LRE reduced the fluorescent intensity of fibronectin staining, but did not alter the localization of ECM remodeling enzymes matrix metalloprotease 2 and 9 staining compared to HA. Overall, the data indicate HA, IKVAV and LRE have complementary effects on human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived neural stem cell behavior.

Laminin-Inspired Cell-Instructive Microenvironments for Neural Stem Cells

Laminin is a heterotrimeric glycoprotein with a key role in the formation and maintenance of the basement membrane architecture and properties, as well as on the modulation of several biological functions, including cell adhesion, migration, differentiation and matrix-mediated signaling. In the central nervous system (CNS), laminin is differentially expressed during development and homeostasis, with an impact on the modulation of cell function and fate. Within neurogenic niches, laminin is one of the most important and well described extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Specifically, efforts have been made to understand laminin assembly, domain architecture, and interaction of its different bioactive domains with cell surface receptors, soluble signaling molecules, and ECM proteins, to gain insight into the role of this ECM protein and its receptors on the modulation of neurogenesis, both in homeostasis and during repair. This is also expected to provide a rational basis for the design of biomaterial-based matrices mirroring the biological properties of the basement membrane of neural stem cell niches, for application in neural tissue repair and cell transplantation. This review provides a general overview of laminin structure and domain architecture, as well as the main biological functions mediated by this heterotrimeric glycoprotein. The expression and distribution of laminin in the CNS and, more specifically, its role within adult neural stem cell niches is summarized. Additionally, a detailed overview on the use of full-length laminin and laminin derived peptide/recombinant laminin fragments for the development of hydrogels for mimicking the neurogenic niche microenvironment is given. Finally, the main challenges associated with the development of laminin-inspired hydrogels and the hurdles to overcome for these to progress from bench to bedside are discussed.

Assessing drug response in engineered brain microenvironments

Tissue engineered systems are important models for the testing and discovery of therapeutics against a number of diseases. The use of these models in vitro can expand both our understanding of the mechanisms behind disease and allow for higher throughput and personalized modeling of therapeutic response. Over the past decade there has been an explosion of models of neurological disorders that can be used in vitro to study new therapies against devastating neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuro-oncological disease. These models span several types of engineered microenvironments which are produced using microfluidic devices, microtissue technology and/or the incorporation of biomaterial scaffolds to model neurological conditions such as; Alzheimer's disease, idiopathic autism, Parkinson's disease, Zika-induced microcephaly and neoplasms. Using engineered brain microenvironments, therapeutics can be tested in more physiologically relevant ways leading to new knowledge of the underlying causes and interactions occurring at the tissue level. However, much is still left to learn and model within these systems to make them truly valuable in the discovery and testing of novel therapies. Here we review the current state of the art of engineered brain microenvironments being used specifically to screen and test new therapeutic strategies and discuss the current benefits and limitations that still exist.

A roadmap for promoting endogenous in situ tissue restoration using inductive bioscaffolds after acute brain injury

The regeneration of brain tissue remains one of the greatest unsolved challenges in medicine and by many is considered unfeasible. Indeed, the adult mammalian brain does not regenerate tissue, but there is ongoing endogenous neurogenesis, which is upregulated after injury and contributes to tissue repair. This endogenous repair response is a conditio sine que non for tissue regeneration. However, scarring around the lesion core and cavitation provide unfavorable conditions for tissue regeneration in the brain. Based on the success of using extracellular matrix (ECM)-based bioscaffolds in peripheral soft tissue regeneration, it is plausible that the provision of an inductive ECM-based hydrogel inside the volumetric tissue loss can attract neural cells and create a de novo viable tissue. Following perturbation theory of these successes in peripheral tissues, we here propose 9 perturbation parts (i.e. requirements) that can be solved independently to create an integrated series to build a functional and integrated de novo neural tissue. Necessities for tissue formation, anatomical and functional connectivity are further discussed to provide a new substrate to support the improvement of behavioral impairments after acute brain injury. We also consider potential parallel developments of this tissue engineering effort that can support therapeutic benefits in the absence of de novo tissue formation (e.g. structural support to veterate brain tissue). It is envisaged that eventually top-down inductive "natural" bioscaffolds composed of decellularized tissues (i.e. ECM) will be replaced by bottom-up synthetic designer hydrogels that will provide very defined structural and signaling properties, potentially even opening up opportunities we currently do not envisage using natural materials.

The influence of microenvironment and extracellular matrix molecules in driving neural stem cell fate within biomaterials

Transplantation of stem cells is a promising potential therapy for central nervous system disease and injury. The capacity for self-renewal, proliferation of progenitor cells, and multi-lineage potential underscores the need for controlling stem cell fate. Furthermore, transplantation within a hostile environment can lead to significant cell death and limited therapeutic potential. Tissue-engineered materials have been developed to both regulate stem cell fate, increase transplanted cell viability, and improve therapeutic outcomes. Traditionally, regulation of stem cell differentiation has been driven through soluble signals, such as growth factors. While these signals are important, insoluble factors from the local microenvironment or extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules also contribute to stem cell activity and fate. Understanding the microenvironment factors that influence stem cell fate, such as mechanical properties, topography, and presentation of specific ECM ligands, is necessary for designing improved biomaterials. Here we review some of the microenvironment factors that regulate stem cell fate and how they can be incorporated into biomaterials as part of potential CNS therapies.

Decoding cell signalling and regulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation

Oligodendrocytes are fundamental for the functioning of the nervous system; they participate in several cellular processes, including axonal myelination and metabolic maintenance for astrocytes and neurons. In the mammalian nervous system, they are produced through waves of proliferation and differentiation, which occur during embryogenesis. However, oligodendrocytes and their precursors continue to be generated during adulthood from specific niches of stem cells that were not recruited during development. Deficiencies in the formation and maturation of these cells can generate pathologies mainly related to myelination. Understanding the mechanisms involved in oligodendrocyte development, from the precursor to mature cell level, will allow inferring therapies and treatments for associated pathologies and disorders. Such mechanisms include cell signalling pathways that involve many growth factors, small metabolic molecules, non-coding RNAs, and transcription factors, as well as specific elements of the extracellular matrix, which act in a coordinated temporal and spatial manner according to a given stimulus. Deciphering those aspects will allow researchers to replicate them in vitro in a controlled environment and thus mimic oligodendrocyte maturation to understand the role of oligodendrocytes in myelination in pathologies and normal conditions. In this study, we review these aspects, based on the most recent in vivo and in vitro data on oligodendrocyte generation and differentiation.

Hyperbranched poly(ϵ-lysine) substrate presenting the laminin sequence YIGSR induces the formation of spheroids in adult bone marrow stem cells

Unlike the fibroblast-like cells formed upon monolayer culture of human mesenchymal stem cells, the natural stem cell niche of the bone marrow and other types of tissues favours the formation of 3-dimensional (3D) cell clusters. The structuring and biological activity of these clusters are regulated by the contacts established by cells with both the basement membrane and neighbour cells and results in their asymmetric division and the consequent maintenance of both a stem population and a committed progeny. The present work demonstrates the potential of a synthetic substrate to mimic the stem cell niche in vitro. The side amino groups of a linear Poly-L-lysine were modified with hyperbranched poly-(ϵ-lysine) peptides, named as dendrons, tethered with the laminin-mimicking sequence, YIGSR. These dendrons presented the YIGSR sequence at the uppermost molecular branching ensuring a controlled spacing of the bioligand. When used to coat the surface of tissue culture plates in a serum-free in vitro cell culture system, the substrate was able to mimic the most relevant features of the basement membrane of the stem cell niche, i.e. the mesh structure of Collagen Type IV and the availability of laminin bioligands relevant to integrin biorecognition. The substrate biomimetic properties were tested for their ability to support the formation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) 3D spheroids similar to those observed in the natural stem cell niches and their ability to maintain stem cell pluripotency markers. These features were related to the substrate-specific expression and localisation of (i) cell adhesion receptors (i.e. β-integrin and N-cadherin), (ii) transcription factors of pluripotency markers and cytoskeleton protein and (iii) regulators of cell migration throughout cell culture passages 2 to 4. The results clearly demonstrate the formation of 3D spheroids starting from the asymmetric division of substrate-adhering spread cells, the clustering of relevant integrins and the expression of specific intracellular pathways controlling cytoskeleton formation suggesting their potential use as a substrate for the handling of stem cells prior to transplantation procedures.

A bioactive hyaluronic acid–based hydrogel cross-linked by Diels–Alder reaction for promoting neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells

In order to improve neurite outgrowth on the in situ formed hyaluronic acid–based hydrogel, furan and methacrylate groups were grafted on hyaluronic acid successively. Furthermore, a laminin-derived peptide CQAASIKVAV was covalently immobilized via the Michael addition. The furan- and peptide-modified hyaluronic acid was then cross-linked in situ by mixing with bismaleimide poly(ethylene glycol) at 37 °C to obtain a bioactive hyaluronic acid–based hydrogel. The hyaluronic acid derivatives were characterized by 1H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The gelation, swelling, and mechanical property of the hydrogels were analyzed. The modulus of the hydrogel could be tuned by changing furan substitution degree, while the peptide concentration could be changed by the ratio of furan- and peptide-modified hyaluronic acid with hyaluronic acid–furan. In vitro culture of PC12 cells showed that the longest neurite outgrowth appeared on the hyaluronic acid–poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel with the highest peptide content (the substitution degree of peptide in furan- and peptide-modified hyaluronic acid was 23 %) and a lower threshold modulus of 4.5 kPa. The furan and methacrylate-functionalized hyaluronic acid provides a versatile platform for diverse functionalization and can be used for modulation of other cell behaviors as well.

Recent Advances in Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics for Stroke

Regenerative medicine for central nervous system disorders, including stroke, has challenged the non-regenerative capacity of the brain. Among the many treatment strategies tailored towards repairing the injured brain, stem cell-based therapeutics have been demonstrated as safe and effective in animal models of stroke, and are being tested in limited clinical trials. We address here key lab-to-clinic translational research that relate to efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action underlying stem cell therapy. Recognizing the multi-pronged cell death processes associated with stroke that will likely require combination therapies, we next discuss potent drugs and novel technologies directed at improving the functional outcomes of stem cell-based therapeutics. We also examine discrepant transplant regimens between preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as missing appropriate control arm (i.e., stroke subjects undergoing rehabilitation) on which to directly compare the therapeutic benefits of cell therapy. Finally, the bioethics of cell therapy is presented in order to assess its prevailing social status. With preliminary results now being reported from on-going clinical trials of stem cell therapy for stroke, a careful assessment of the true functional benefits of this novel treatment will further direct the future of regenerative medicine for neurological disorders.

Injectable uncrosslinked biomimetic hydrogels as candidate scaffolds for neural stem cell delivery

Mammalian central nervous system has a limited ability for self-repair under diseased or injury conditions. Repair strategies focused on exogenously delivering autologous neural stem cells (NSCs) to replace lost neuronal populations and axonal pathways in situ, and promote endogenous repair mechanisms are gaining traction. Successful outcomes are contingent on selecting an appropriate delivery vehicle for injecting cells that promotes cell retention and survival, elicits differentiation to desired lineages, and enhances axonal outgrowth upon integration into the host tissue. Hydrogels made of varying compositions of collagen, laminin, hyaluronic acid (HA), and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) were developed, with no external crosslinking agents, to mimic the native extracellular matrix composition. The physical (porosity, pore-size, gel integrity, swelling ratio, and enzymatic degradation), mechanical (viscosity, storage and loss moduli, Young's modulus, creep, and stress-relaxation), and biological (cell survival, differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and integrin expression) characteristics of these hydrogels were assessed. These hydrogels exhibited excellent injectability, retained gel integrity, and matched the mechanical moduli of native brain tissue, possibly due to natural collagen fibril polymerization and physical-crosslinking between HA molecules and collagen fibrils. Depending on the composition, these hydrogels promoted cell survival, neural differentiation, and neurite outgrowth, as evident from immunostaining and western blots. These cellular outcomes were facilitated by cellular binding via α₆ , β₁ , and CD44 surface integrins to these hydrogels. Results attest to the utility of uncrosslinked, ECM-mimicking hydrogels to deliver NSCs for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 790-805, 2017.

Engineering Biomaterials to Influence Oligodendroglial Growth, Maturation, and Myelin Production

Millions of people suffer from damage or disease to the nervous system that results in a loss of myelin, such as through a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. Diminished myelin levels lead to further cell death in which unmyelinated neurons die. In the central nervous system, a loss of myelin is especially detrimental because of its poor ability to regenerate. Cell therapies such as stem or precursor cell injection have been investigated as stem cells are able to grow and differentiate into the damaged cells; however, stem cell injection alone has been unsuccessful in many areas of neural regeneration. Therefore, researchers have begun exploring combined therapies with biomaterials that promote cell growth and differentiation while localizing cells in the injured area. The regrowth of myelinating oligodendrocytes from neural stem cells through a biomaterials approach may prove to be a beneficial strategy following the onset of demyelination. This article reviews recent advancements in biomaterial strategies for the differentiation of neural stem cells into oligodendrocytes, and presents new data indicating appropriate properties for oligodendrocyte precursor cell growth. In some cases, an increase in oligodendrocyte differentiation alongside neurons is further highlighted for functional improvements where the biomaterial was then tested for increased myelination both in vitro and in vivo.

ECM hydrogel for the treatment of stroke: Characterization of the host cell infiltrate

Brain tissue loss following stroke is irreversible with current treatment modalities. The use of an acellular extracellular matrix (ECM), formulated to produce a hydrogel in situ within the cavity formed by a stroke, was investigated as a method to replace necrotic debris and promote the infiltration of host brain cells. Based on magnetic resonance imaging measurements of lesion location and volume, different concentrations of ECM (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 mg/mL) were injected at a volume equal to that of the cavity (14 days post-stroke). Retention of ECM within the cavity occurred at concentrations >3 mg/mL. A significant cell infiltration into the ECM material in the lesion cavity occurred with an average of ∼36,000 cells in the 8 mg/mL concentration within 24 h. An infiltration of cells with distances of >1500 μm into the ECM hydrogel was observed, but the majority of cells were at the tissue/hydrogel boundary. Cells were typically of a microglia, macrophage, or neural and oligodendrocyte progenitor phenotype. At the 8 mg/mL concentration, ∼60% of infiltrating cells were brain-derived phenotypes and 30% being infiltrating peripheral macrophages, polarizing toward an M2-like anti-inflammatory phenotype. These results suggest that an 8 mg/mL ECM concentration promotes a significant acute endogenous repair response that could potentially be exploited to treat stroke.

Generation of Homogenous Three-Dimensional Pancreatic Cancer Cell Spheroids Using an Improved Hanging Drop Technique

In vitro characterization of tumor cell biology or of potential anticancer drugs is usually performed using tumor cell lines cultured as a monolayer. However, it has been previously shown that three-dimensional (3D) organization of the tumor cells is important to provide insights on tumor biology and transport of therapeutics. Several methods to create 3D tumors in vitro have been proposed, with hanging drop technique being the most simple and, thus, most frequently used. However, in many cell lines this method has failed to form the desired 3D tumor structures. The aim of this study was to design and test an easy-to-use and highly reproducible modification of the hanging drop method for tumor sphere formation by adding methylcellulose polymer. Most pancreatic cancer cells do not form cohesive and manageable spheres when the original hanging drop method is used, thus we investigated these cell lines for our modified hanging drop method. The spheroids produced by this improved technique were analyzed by histology, light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and scanning electron microscopy. Results show that using the proposed simple method; we were able to produce uniform spheroids for all five of the tested human pancreatic cancer cell lines; Panc-1, BxPC-3, Capan-1, MiaPaCa-2, and AsPC-1. We believe that this method can be used as a reliable and reproducible technique to make 3D cancer spheroids for use in tumor biology research and evaluation of therapeutic responses, and for the development of bio-artificial tissues.

Advancing biomaterials of human origin for tissue engineering

Biomaterials have played an increasingly prominent role in the success of biomedical devices and in the development of tissue engineering, which seeks to unlock the regenerative potential innate to human tissues/organs in a state of deterioration and to restore or reestablish normal bodily function. Advances in our understanding of regenerative biomaterials and their roles in new tissue formation can potentially open a new frontier in the fast-growing field of regenerative medicine. Taking inspiration from the role and multi-component construction of native extracellular matrices (ECMs) for cell accommodation, the synthetic biomaterials produced today routinely incorporate biologically active components to define an artificial in vivo milieu with complex and dynamic interactions that foster and regulate stem cells, similar to the events occurring in a natural cellular microenvironment. The range and degree of biomaterial sophistication have also dramatically increased as more knowledge has accumulated through materials science, matrix biology and tissue engineering. However, achieving clinical translation and commercial success requires regenerative biomaterials to be not only efficacious and safe but also cost-effective and convenient for use and production. Utilizing biomaterials of human origin as building blocks for therapeutic purposes has provided a facilitated approach that closely mimics the critical aspects of natural tissue with regard to its physical and chemical properties for the orchestration of wound healing and tissue regeneration. In addition to directly using tissue transfers and transplants for repair, new applications of human-derived biomaterials are now focusing on the use of naturally occurring biomacromolecules, decellularized ECM scaffolds and autologous preparations rich in growth factors/non-expanded stem cells to either target acceleration/magnification of the body's own repair capacity or use nature's paradigms to create new tissues for restoration. In particular, there is increasing interest in separating ECMs into simplified functional domains and/or biopolymeric assemblies so that these components/constituents can be discretely exploited and manipulated for the production of bioscaffolds and new biomimetic biomaterials. Here, following an overview of tissue auto-/allo-transplantation, we discuss the recent trends and advances as well as the challenges and future directions in the evolution and application of human-derived biomaterials for reconstructive surgery and tissue engineering. In particular, we focus on an exploration of the structural, mechanical, biochemical and biological information present in native human tissue for bioengineering applications and to provide inspiration for the design of future biomaterials.

Advanced biomaterial strategies to transplant preformed micro-tissue engineered neural networks into the brain

OBJECTIVE

Connectome disruption is a hallmark of many neurological diseases and trauma with no current strategies to restore lost long-distance axonal pathways in the brain. We are creating transplantable micro-tissue engineered neural networks (micro-TENNs), which are preformed constructs consisting of embedded neurons and long axonal tracts to integrate with the nervous system to physically reconstitute lost axonal pathways.

APPROACH

We advanced micro-tissue engineering techniques to generate micro-TENNs consisting of discrete populations of mature primary cerebral cortical neurons spanned by long axonal fascicles encased in miniature hydrogel micro-columns. Further, we improved the biomaterial encasement scheme by adding a thin layer of low viscosity carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) to enable needle-less insertion and rapid softening for mechanical similarity with brain tissue.

MAIN RESULTS

The engineered architecture of cortical micro-TENNs facilitated robust neuronal viability and axonal cytoarchitecture to at least 22 days in vitro. Micro-TENNs displayed discrete neuronal populations spanned by long axonal fasciculation throughout the core, thus mimicking the general systems-level anatomy of gray matter-white matter in the brain. Additionally, micro-columns with thin CMC-coating upon mild dehydration were able to withstand a force of 893 ± 457 mN before buckling, whereas a solid agarose cylinder of similar dimensions was predicted to withstand less than 150 μN of force. This thin CMC coating increased the stiffness by three orders of magnitude, enabling needle-less insertion into brain while significantly reducing the footprint of previous needle-based delivery methods to minimize insertion trauma.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our novel micro-TENNs are the first strategy designed for minimally invasive implantation to facilitate nervous system repair by simultaneously providing neuronal replacement and physical reconstruction of long-distance axon pathways in the brain. The micro-TENN approach may offer the ability to treat several disorders that disrupt the connectome, including Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and brain tumor excision.

Cochlear nucleus whole mount explants promote the differentiation of neuronal stem cells from the cochlear nucleus in co-culture experiments

The cochlear nucleus is the first brainstem nucleus to receive sensory input from the cochlea. Depriving this nucleus of auditory input leads to cellular and molecular disorganization which may potentially be counteracted by the activation or application of stem cells. Neuronal stem cells (NSCs) have recently been identified in the neonatal cochlear nucleus and a persistent neurogenic niche was demonstrated in this brainstem nucleus until adulthood. The present work investigates whether the neurogenic environment of the cochlear nucleus can promote the survival of engrafted NSCs and whether cochlear nucleus-derived NSCs can differentiate into neurons and glia in brain tissue. Therefore, cochlear nucleus whole-mount explants were co-cultured with NSCs extracted from either the cochlear nucleus or the hippocampus and compared to a second environment using whole-mount explants from the hippocampus. Factors that are known to induce neuronal differentiation were also investigated in these NSC-explant experiments. NSCs derived from the cochlear nucleus engrafted in the brain tissue and differentiated into all cells of the neuronal lineage. Hippocampal NSCs also immigrated in cochlear nucleus explants and differentiated into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Laminin expression was up-regulated in the cochlear nucleus whole-mounts and regulated the in vitro differentiation of NSCs from the cochlear nucleus. These experiments confirm a neurogenic environment in the cochlear nucleus and the capacity of cochlear nucleus-derived NSCs to differentiate into neurons and glia. Consequently, the presented results provide a first step for the possible application of stem cells to repair the disorganization of the cochlear nucleus, which occurs after hearing loss.

Mass transfer analysis of growth and substance metabolism of NSCs cultured in collagen-based scaffold in vitro

The aim of this study is to analyze the growth and substance metabolism of neural stem cells (NSCs) cultured in biological collagen-based scaffolds. Mass transfer and metabolism model of glucose, lactic acid, and dissolved oxygen (DO) were established and solved on MATLAB platform to obtain the concentration distributions of DO, glucose, and lactic acid in culture system, respectively. Calculation results showed that the DO influenced their normal growth and metabolism of NSCs mostly in the in vitro culture within collagen-based scaffolds. This study also confirmed that 2-mm thickness of collagen scaffold was capable of in vitro cultivation and growth of NSCs with an inoculating density of 1 × 10(6) cells/mL.

Engineering biomolecular microenvironments for cell instructive biomaterials

Engineered cell instructive microenvironments with the ability to stimulate specific cellular responses are a topic of high interest in the fabrication and development of biomaterials for application in tissue engineering. Cells are inherently sensitive to the in vivo microenvironment that is often designed as the cell "niche." The cell "niche" comprising the extracellular matrix and adjacent cells, influences not only cell architecture and mechanics, but also cell polarity and function. Extensive research has been performed to establish new tools to fabricate biomimetic advanced materials for tissue engineering that incorporate structural, mechanical, and biochemical signals that interact with cells in a controlled manner and to recapitulate the in vivo dynamic microenvironment. Bioactive tunable microenvironments using micro and nanofabrication have been successfully developed and proven to be extremely powerful to control intracellular signaling and cell function. This Review is focused in the assortment of biochemical signals that have been explored to fabricate bioactive cell microenvironments and the main technologies and chemical strategies to encode them in engineered biomaterials with biological information.

PEG-maleimide hydrogels for protein and cell delivery in regenerative medicine

Protein- and cell-based therapies represent highly promising strategies for regenerative medicine, immunotherapy, and oncology. However, these therapies are significantly limited by delivery considerations, particularly in terms of protein stability and dosing kinetics as well as cell survival, engraftment, and function. Hydrogels represent versatile and robust delivery vehicles for proteins and cells due to their high water content that retains protein biological activity, high cytocompatibility and minimal adverse host reactions, flexibility and tunability in terms of chemistry, structure, and polymerization format, ability to incorporate various biomolecules to convey biofunctionality, and opportunity for minimally invasive delivery as injectable carriers. This review highlights recent progress in the engineering of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels cross-linked using maleimide reactive groups for protein and cell delivery.

The role of SDF-1α-ECM crosstalk in determining neural stem cell fate

The consequences of central nervous system injury are far-reaching and debilitating and, while an endogenous repair response to neural injury has been observed in recent years, the mechanisms behind this response remain unclear. Neural progenitor/stem cell (NPSC) migration to the site of injury from the neural stem cell niches (e.g. subventricular zone and hippocampus) has been observed to be vasophilic in nature. While the chemotactic stimuli directing NPSC homing to injury is not well established, it is thought to be due in part to an increasing gradient of chemotactic cytokines, such as stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α). Based on these recent findings, we hypothesize that critical crosstalk between SDF-1α and the extracellular matrix (ECM) drives injury-induced NPSC behavior. In this study, we investigated the effect of SDF-1α and ECM substrates (Matrigel, laminin, and vitronectin) on the migration, differentiation, and proliferation of NPSCs in vitro using standard assays. The results demonstrated that SDF-1α and laminin-based ECM (Matrigel and laminin) significantly and synergistically enhanced NPSC migration and acute neuronal differentiation. These effects were significantly attenuated with the addition of AMD3100 (an antagonist against the SDF-1α receptor, CXCR4). SDF-1α alone significantly increased NPSC proliferation regardless of ECM substrate, however no synergy was observed between SDF-1α and the ECM. These results serve to elucidate the relationship between adhesive and soluble signaling factors of interest and their effect on NPSC behavior following neural injury. Furthermore, these results better inform the next generation of biomaterials aimed at stimulating endogenous neural regeneration for neural injury and neurodegenerative diseases.

Hydrogel formulation determines cell fate of fetal and adult neural progenitor cells

Hydrogels provide a unique tool for neural tissue engineering. These materials can be customized for certain functions, i.e. to provide cell/drug delivery or act as a physical scaffold. Unfortunately, hydrogel complexities can negatively impact their biocompatibility, resulting in unintended consequences. These adverse effects may be combated with a better understanding of hydrogel chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, and how these properties affect encapsulated neural cells. We defined the polymerization and degradation rates and compressive moduli of 25 hydrogels formulated from different concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Changes in compressive modulus were driven primarily by the HA concentration. The in vitro biocompatibility of fetal-derived (fNPC) and adult-derived (aNPC) neural progenitor cells was dependent on hydrogel formulation. Acute survival of fNPC benefited from hydrogel encapsulation. NPC differentiation was divergent: fNPC differentiated into mostly glial cells, compared with neuronal differentiation of aNPC. Differentiation was influenced in part by the hydrogel mechanical properties. This study indicates that there can be a wide range of HA and PEG hydrogels compatible with NPC. Additionally, this is the first study comparing hydrogel encapsulation of NPC derived from different aged sources, with data suggesting that fNPC and aNPC respond dissimilarly within the same hydrogel formulation.

Neural differentiation on synthetic scaffold materials

The potential of stem cells to differentiate into a variety of subgroups of neural cells makes stem cell differentiation and transplantation a promising candidate for neurodegenerative disorder therapies. However, selective differentiation of stem cells to neurons while preventing glial scar formation is a complex process. Mimicking the natural environment of neural tissue is pivotal, thus various synthetic materials have been developed for this purpose. The synthetic scaffolds can direct stem cells into a neural lineage by including extracellular factors that act on cell fate, which are mainly soluble signals, extracellular matrix proteins and physical factors (e.g. elasticity and topography). This article reviews synthetic materials developed for neural regeneration in terms of their extracellular matrix mimicking properties. Functionalization of synthetic materials by addition of bioactive chemical groups and adjustment of physical properties such as topography, electroactivity and elasticity are discussed.

Engineering the matrix microenvironment for cell delivery and engraftment for tissue repair

Cell-based therapies represent promising strategies for tissue repair, particularly in cases in which host cells, due to disease, age, or excessive trauma, are unable to repair the defect or deficiency alone, even with additional delivered therapeutics. Current cell therapies fail to address long-term engraftment or delivery timing and location and result in modest improvements with long term engraftment rates of less than 1%. In many cell therapy applications, an appropriate carrier must be used to deliver transplanted cells and promote cell engraftment and function for a successful outcome by providing the appropriate microenvironment for the interactions between transplanted and host cells. This review highlights important considerations for engineering the microenvironment for cell delivery and engraftment in tissue repair.

Promotion of neuronal differentiation of neural progenitor cells by using EGFR antibody functionalized collagen scaffolds for spinal cord injury repair

The main challenge for neural progenitor cell (NPC)-mediated repair of spinal cord injury (SCI) is lack of favorable environment to direct its differentiation towards neurons rather than glial cells. The myelin associated inhibitors have been demonstrated to promote NPC differentiation into glial lineage. Herein, to inhibit the downstream signaling activated by myelin associated inhibitors, cetuximab, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) neutralizing antibody, functionalized collagen scaffold has been developed as a vehicle for NPC implantation. It was found that collagen-cetuximab 1 μg scaffolds enhanced neuronal differentiation and inhibited astrocytic differentiation of NPCs exposed to myelin proteins significantly in vitro. To test the therapeutic effect in vivo, NPCs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-embedded scaffolds have been implanted into the 4 mm-long hemisection lesion of rats. We found that the collagen-cetuximab 5 μg scaffolds induced neuronal differentiation and decreased astrocytic differentiation of NPCs, enhanced axon regeneration, and promoted functional recovery markedly. A well-functionalized scaffold was constructed to improve the recovery of SCI, which could promote the neuronal differentiation of neural progenitor cells in vivo.

3D pancreatic carcinoma spheroids induce a matrix-rich, chemoresistant phenotype offering a better model for drug testing

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer related death. It is lethal in nearly all patients, due to an almost complete chemoresistance. Most if not all drugs that pass preclinical tests successfully, fail miserably in the patient. This raises the question whether traditional 2D cell culture is the correct tool for drug screening. The objective of this study is to develop a simple, high-throughput 3D model of human PDAC cell lines, and to explore mechanisms underlying the transition from 2D to 3D that might be responsible for chemoresistance.

Methods

Several established human PDAC and a KPC mouse cell lines were tested, whereby Panc-1 was studied in more detail. 3D spheroid formation was facilitated with methylcellulose. Spheroids were studied morphologically, electron microscopically and by qRT-PCR for selected matrix genes, related factors and miRNA. Metabolic studies were performed, and a panel of novel drugs was tested against gemcitabine.

Results

Comparing 3D to 2D cell culture, matrix proteins were significantly increased as were lumican, SNED1, DARP32, and miR-146a. Cell metabolism in 3D was shifted towards glycolysis. All drugs tested were less effective in 3D, except for allicin, MT100 and AX, which demonstrated effect.

Conclusions

We developed a high-throughput 3D cell culture drug screening system for pancreatic cancer, which displays a strongly increased chemoresistance. Features associated to the 3D cell model are increased expression of matrix proteins and miRNA as well as stromal markers such as PPP1R1B and SNED1. This is supporting the concept of cell adhesion mediated drug resistance.

PPARγ agonists promote oligodendrocyte differentiation of neural stem cells by modulating stemness and differentiation genes

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a small population of resident cells that can grow, migrate and differentiate into neuro-glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor transcription factor that regulates cell growth and differentiation. In this study we analyzed the influence of PPARγ agonists on neural stem cell growth and differentiation in culture. We found that in vitro culture of mouse NSCs in neurobasal medium with B27 in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced their growth and expansion as neurospheres. Addition of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and PPARγ agonist ciglitazone or 15-Deoxy-Δ^12,14-Prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ2) resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability and proliferation of NSCs in culture. Interestingly, NSCs cultured with PPARγ agonists, but not ATRA, showed significant increase in oligodendrocyte precursor-specific O4 and NG2 reactivity with a reduction in NSC marker nestin, in 3–7 days. In vitro treatment with PPARγ agonists and ATRA also induced modest increase in the expression of neuronal β-III tubulin and astrocyte-specific GFAP in NSCs in 3–7 days. Further analyses showed that PPARγ agonists and ATRA induced significant alterations in the expression of many stemness and differentiation genes associated with neuro-glial differentiation in NSCs. These findings highlight the influence of PPARγ agonists in promoting neuro-glial differentiation of NSCs and its significance in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Covalent bonding of GYIGSR to EVAL membrane surface to improve migration and adhesion of cultured neural stem/precursor cells

In the present study, we modified poly (ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVAL) membranes with the covalent bonding of the laminin-derived peptides, GYIGSR by using carbodiimidazole (CDI) to activate the hydroxyl groups on the membrane surface. The resulting GYIGSR-immobilized EVAL (EVAL-GYIGSR) membrane was analyzed in terms of the effect of immobilized peptide sequence on the behaviors of neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs), isolated from embryonic rat cerebral cortex, in the serum-free medium. Compared to the unmodified EVAL, GYIGSR immobilized on the EVAL membrane was shown to significantly increase NSPCs migrating out of neurospheres (p<0.05). In addition, NSPCs on the EVAL-GYIGSR membrane were able to differentiate into neural lineage cells and differentiated neurons expressed functional synaptic activity. Basically, there was no significant difference between GYIGSR-immobilized and laminin-coated substrates for their ability to enhance migration and differentiation of NSPCs, suggesting that the immobilization of GYIGSR on the EVAL membrane was successful and the laminin-derived peptide YIGSR and laminin had similar effect on NSPC behaviors. However, it is non-permanent modification for coating laminin on the substrates to support cell survival after a long-term culture. In this study, differentiated neurons could still adhere to the EVAL-GYIGSR surface with functional synaptic activity after incubation for 20 days. Therefore, the bioactive EVAL-GYIGSR provided an alternative approach to improve migration and survival of NSPCs for neural tissue engineering applications.

Polydopamine-mediated surface modification of scaffold materials for human neural stem cell engineering

Surface modification of tissue engineering scaffolds and substrates is required for improving the efficacy of stem cell therapy by generating physicochemical stimulation promoting proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. However, typical surface modification methods including chemical conjugation or physical absorption have several limitations such as multistep, complicated procedures, surface denaturation, batch-to-batch inconsistencies, and low surface conjugation efficiency. In this study, we report a mussel-inspired, biomimetic approach to surface modification for efficient and reliable manipulation of human neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation and proliferation. Our study demonstrates that polydopamine coating facilitates highly efficient, simple immobilization of neurotrophic growth factors and adhesion peptides onto polymer substrates. The growth factor or peptide-immobilized substrates greatly enhance differentiation and proliferation of human NSCs (human fetal brain-derived NSCs and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs) at a level comparable or greater than currently available animal-derived coating materials (Matrigel) with safety issues. Therefore, polydopamine-mediated surface modification can provide a versatile platform technology for developing chemically defined, safe, functional substrates and scaffolds for therapeutic applications of human NSCs.

Coseeded Schwann cells myelinate neurites from differentiated neural stem cells in neurotrophin-3-loaded PLGA carriers

Biomaterials and neurotrophic factors represent promising guidance for neural repair. In this study, we combined poly-(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conduits and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) to generate NT-3-loaded PLGA carriers in vitro. Bioactive NT-3 was released stably and constantly from PLGA conduits for up to 4 weeks. Neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs) were coseeded into an NT-releasing scaffold system and cultured for 14 days. Immunoreactivity against Map2 showed that most of the grafted cells (>80%) were differentiated toward neurons. Double-immunostaining for synaptogenesis and myelination revealed the formation of synaptic structures and myelin sheaths in the coculture, which was also observed under electron microscope. Furthermore, under depolarizing conditions, these synapses were excitable and capable of releasing synaptic vesicles labeled with FM1-43 or FM4-64. Taken together, coseeding NSCs and SCs into NT-3-loaded PLGA carriers increased the differentiation of NSCs into neurons, developed synaptic connections, exhibited synaptic activities, and myelination of neurites by the accompanying SCs. These results provide an experimental basis that supports transplantation of functional neural construction in spinal cord injury.

Oriented, multimeric biointerfaces of the L1 cell adhesion molecule: an approach to enhance neuronal and neural stem cell functions on 2-D and 3-D polymer substrates

This article focuses on elucidating the key presentation features of neurotrophic ligands at polymer interfaces. Different biointerfacial configurations of the human neural cell adhesion molecule L1 were established on two-dimensional films and three-dimensional fibrous scaffolds of synthetic tyrosine-derived polycarbonate polymers and probed for surface concentrations, microscale organization, and effects on cultured primary neurons and neural stem cells. Underlying polymer substrates were modified with varying combinations of protein A and poly-D-lysine to modulate the immobilization and presentation of the Fc fusion fragment of the extracellular domain of L1 (L1-Fc). When presented as an oriented and multimeric configuration from protein A-pretreated polymers, L1-Fc significantly increased neurite outgrowth of rodent spinal cord neurons and cerebellar neurons as early as 24 h compared to the traditional presentation via adsorption onto surfaces treated with poly-D-lysine. Cultures of human neural progenitor cells screened on the L1-Fc/polymer biointerfaces showed significantly enhanced neuronal differentiation and neuritogenesis on all protein A oriented substrates. Notably, the highest degree of βIII-tubulin expression for cells in 3-D fibrous scaffolds were observed in protein A oriented substrates with PDL pretreatment, suggesting combined effects of cell attachment to polycationic charged substrates with subcellular topography along with L1-mediated adhesion mediating neuronal differentiation. Together, these findings highlight the promise of displays of multimeric neural adhesion ligands via biointerfacially engineered substrates to "cooperatively" enhance neuronal phenotypes on polymers of relevance to tissue engineering.