The research team, led by Natasha Falcone and co-authors Tess Grett Mats and Mahsa Monirizad, explored the world of peptide-based, self-assembling hydrogels, known for their versatility in mimicking the extracellular matrices of various microenvironments.
Alzheimer’s disease poses a challenge for neurodegeneration research. Traditional 2D models have limitations in recreating disease complexity. Through their innovative approach, the team developed a multifunctional hydrogel scaffold called Col-HAMA-FF, specifically designed to mimic the microenvironment containing amyloid-β associated with AD.
The study, published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia, highlights the formation of β-sheet structures in a hydrogel matrix that mimics the nanostructures of amyloid-β proteins.
After culturing healthy neuronal progenitor cells in this amyloid-like medium and comparing the results with those obtained in natural medium, the researchers found increased levels of markers of neuroinflammation and apoptosis, indicating that amyloid-like structures have a significant impact on the phenotype and behavior of neuronal progenitor cells.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
