Enhancement of chondrogenic differentiation in ATDC5 cells using GFOGER-modified peptide nanofiber scaffold

Abstract Objectives Owing to its avascular nature, cartilage tissue has a restricted capacity for regeneration. These structural features make it difficult for a fully functional tissue to regenerate after damage. Therefore, studies aiming at cartilage tissue regeneration are getting quite interesting. In this study, we employed a novel approach to induce chondrogenic differentiation using a collagen mimetic peptide amphihile (PA) nanofiber. The nanofiber comprised a specific peptide sequence – glycine-phenylalanine-hydroxyproline-glycine-glutamate-arginine (GFOGER), corresponding to the α1 (I) collagen chain. This sequence was selected for its ability to mimic the structure and function of natural collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM). This specific peptide sequence is expected to enhance the chondrogenic differentiation process by providing a more efficient and effective method for tissue engineering applications. Methods ATDC5 cells were cultured on the synthetic scaffold of collagen-mimicking PA nanofibers, facilitating adhesion, division, and chondrogenic cell differentiation. Results In our study, ATDC5 cells cultured on collagen mimetic peptide nanofiber expressed chondrogenic marker proteins, namely Collagen II and Sox9, significantly high at the 5th and 10th days compared to cells cultured on TCP in the absence of insulin as inducer. Conclusions According to our results, the collagen mimetic peptide-based scaffold supports cell growth and differentiation by mimicking the natural cell matrix.