Establishment of a novel method for differentiating into dopaminergic neurons using charged hydrogels

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting the central nervous system and impacting both the motor system and non-motor systems. Although administration of L-DOPA is effective, it is not a fundamental treatment and has side effects such as diurnal fluctuation and dyskinesia, highlighting the need for new treatment methods. There is a growing interest in dopaminergic neuron transplantation as a potential treatment. Dopaminergic neurons derived from pluripotent stem (iPS) cells provide a valuable source for transplantation therapies. Developing an efficient method to differentiate iPS cells into dopaminergic cells is essential for cell transplantation therapy. While Cell differentiation is typically controlled by the addition of specific reagents, the physical characteristics of culture substrate, especially in the charge and stiffness, are also crucial factors in regulating differentiation. In this research, we show that two newly developed electrically charged polymeric hydrogels composed of cationic (C) and anionic (A) monomers inratio of 1-9 and 2 to 8 can significantly promote Dopaminergic neuron differentiation. Our findings emphasize the importance of culture substrates in effective dopaminergic cell differentiation.