Conductive and bioactive supramolecular scaffolds promote neuronal maturation [Stupp08_RNA-seq]

While chemically engineered scaffolds can be delivered to provide a substrate to stimulate axon regrowth, many grafts lack efficacy due to inefficient electrical coupling between the material and the conductive in vivo environment. We have incorporated a conductive component, functionalized poly[3,4-(ethelynedioxythiophene)] (PEDOT), into a supramolecular biomaterial scaffold which facilitates neuronal differentiation and maturation.

Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) can self-assemble into high-aspect ratio nanostructures that mimic native extracellular matrix and may be functionalized with bioactive epitopes such as (previously described) laminin mimetic (IKVAV). Interestingly, this synthesized PEDOT:PA enhanced neurite length and branching in murine primary cortical neurons. Furthermore, protein analysis clearly showed PEDOT:PA upregulated maturation and pre-/post-synaptic markers (Map2, PSD 95, Syn).