Abstract: BD™ PuraMatrix™ Peptide Hydrogel is a synthetic matrix that is used to create defined three-dimensional (3D) microenvironments for a variety of cell culture experiments. To achieve optimal cell growth and differentiation, it is necessary to determine the appropriate mixture of the hydrogel and bioactive molecules (e.g., growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and/or other molecules). This material consists of standard amino acids (1% w/v) and 99% water. Under physiological conditions, the peptide component self-assembles into a 3D hydrogel that exhibits a nanometer scale fibrous structure. The resulting hydrogel has been shown to promote the differentiation of cell types such as hepatocyte progenitor cells, neural stem cells, hippocampal neurons, and endothelial cells. Studies have also demonstrated that BD PuraMatrix Peptide Hydrogel supports the attachment of a variety of primary (e.g., neuronal, fibroblast, keratinocyte) and transformed (e.g., MG-63, SH-SY5Y, HEK293, NIH3T3, PC12) cell types. Other potential applications include stem cell proliferation and differentiation, tumor cell migration and invasion, angiogenesis assays, and in vivo analyses of tissue regeneration. This presentation will highlight the properties of this material and a number of key applications.

Driving Cellular Communication with the Extracellular Matrix: Optimization of Cell Growth and Differentiation