Enhanced angiogenic effects of RGD, GHK peptides and copper (II) compositions in synthetic cryogel ECM model

Zoughaib M, Luong D, Garifullin R, Gatina DZ, Fedosimova SV, Abdullin TI · Materials Science and Engineering C

The RGD plus GHK plus Cu(II) combination raised endothelial proliferation, differentiation and angiogenic cytokine and growth-factor output well beyond either peptide alone, with a matching shift in intracellular glutathione.

Population

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells grown in macroporous pHEMA cryogel scaffolds

Intervention

Immobilised RGD and GHK peptides, alone and combined, with and without Cu(II) forming GHK-Cu in situ

Comparator

Bioinert cryogel without peptides

Limitations

Synthetic scaffold model with immobilised rather than soluble peptide; no tissue or animal endpoint.