| Biocompatible Materials » Project survey » Exploratory projects » Neural stem cell culture model | ||
| Background and description Scientific results 
Work to date has focussed on the biochemical modification of surfaces and
their influence on neural stem cell (i.e. AHP - adult hippocampal progenitor)
attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Laminin adsorbed on a layer
of polyornithine is the standard culture surface for AHP cells (control).
CNTF is a strong inducer of glial cell fate in AHP cells. Fibroblast growth
factor, when present in the culture media, will prevent differentiation of
AHP cells. All of these proteins, when adsorbed to glass, promote cell
attachment, spreading and cell body extensions. Image analysis derived
parameters for cell area and shape elucidated differences in cell morphology
on different proteins. We are evaluating if cell shape at 24 hrs can be
used as an early marker of differentiation. We have obtained 3 surfaces
which induce glia, neuron and no differentiation, respectively.
Work in progress include studying neural stem cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation on nanostructured biopolymer surfaces (produced in collaboration with the 5th framework EU programme "Nanomed") as well as microstructured pyramid surfaces in PDMS (silicone), which were developed by the TFPS project and used by the STIM project in other cell models. |
