| Improvement of nerve repair therapeutics relies on a clear understanding of neural response, including how neurons interact with their extracellular environment. Various cell types, including neurons, are known to secrete extracellular matrix molecules. Current systems for neural stem cell (NSC) encapsulation are generally focused on directing cell differentiation, yet typically overlook cellular remodeling of their environment, which could have dramatic effects on multiple cell responses including viability, proliferation and differentiation. Preliminary studies suggested that NSCs actively sense and remodel their environment when encapsulated in a hydrogel scaffold as indicated by an increase in gel stiffness, decrease in swelling ratio and slower degradation time. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to monitor gel degradation time as well as molecule secretion by NSCs. Our work not only demonstrated that gel degradation time is slower when encapsulated with NSCs, but also that NSCs alter the sulfhydryl concentration in the cell culture medium. |
