Analysis of Chirality Effects on Stem Cell Fate Using Three-dimensional Fibrous Peptide Hydrogels

Chirality effects on stem cell fate were investigated in three-dimensional culture using soft fibrous hydrogels consisting of self-assembled l- and d-form Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Cys networks photo-cross-linked by poly(ethylene glycol) (l- and d-gel, respectively). Encapsulated human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were all alive, spread, and grown in both hydrogels. Interestingly, the cells preferably spread and grew in l-gel compared to in d-gel under mixed induction, and cell osteogenesis and adipogenesis differentiation in d-gel were suppressed compared to in l-gel. These results revealed that stem cell function and fate can be regulated in three-dimensional hydrogel culture systems with chiral motifs.