Harnessing 3D Collagen Hydrogel-Directed Conversion of Human GMSCs into SCP-Like Cells to Generate Functionalized Nerve Conduits

Gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) under 3D-culture in soft collagen hydrogel showed significantly increased expression of a panel of genes related to development/differentiation of neural crest stem-like cells and/or Schwann cell precursor-like cells and associated with NOTCH3 signaling pathway activation as compared to their 2D-cultured counterparts.