4191853 - Synthesizing RGD-alginate hydrogel to support stem cell differentiation into adipocyte | Poster Board #471

Stem cells possess the remarkable ability to differentiate into various specialized cell types, each serving distinct functions in biological systems. Among these, stem cells can differentiate into adipocytes, also known as fat cells, which play essential roles in energy storage and metabolic regulation. However, fat cells are also implicated in pathological processes, including cancer progression, where they can contribute to tumor growth and proliferation. To explore these interactions, this study focused on generating adipocytes by differentiating stem cells into fat cells. However, for the stem cells to grow and differentiate properly, they need an adequate environment that promotes both growth and attachment to the material. For this reason, in this study, alginate hydrogel was employed as a synthetic extracellular matrix. Alginate is a naturally derived polysaccharides that can meet many requirements for an ideal matrix material, due to its ability to mimic the native extracellular matrices, which is vital for application in cell transplantation, tissue engineering and cell encapsulation. However, one drawback of alginate is its limited ability to bond to mammalian cells, due to its minimal protein adsorption. To address this issue, we are exploring the use of Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid(RGD)-alginate hydrogel. The RGD peptide was used as a cell adhesion molecule to promote cell anchorage. Carbodiimide Chemistry was used to couple the RGD peptide to the alginate. The molecular weight, concentration, and pH were adjusted to optimize cell attachment for the stem cells. We hypothesized that the synthesis of an RGD-alginate hydrogel will provide an effective platform for stem cell anchorage, supporting their growth and differentiation into adipocytes for future studies.