Advancing stem cell research with microtechnologies: opportunities and challenges

Toh, Yi‐Chin; Blagovic, Katarina; Voldman, Joel

doi:10.1039/c0ib00004c

Cited by 38 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 160 publications

(244 reference statements)

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“…The haematopoietic lineage leads to all types of blood cells. The results therefore not only confirm the utility of DEP in the study of stem cells 53,68,69 but also indicate a possible role for DEP in the construction of EBs from ESCs for as a first step in the formation of blood-based products. 3,4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We wish to thank the BBSRC for funding and Heriot-Watt University for a James Watt Scholarship for SA.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Formation of embryoid bodies using dielectrophoresis

et al. 2012

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Embryoid body (EB) formation forms an important step in embryonic stem cell differentiation invivo. In murine embryonic stem cell (mESC) cultures EB formation is inhibited by the inclusion of leukaemic inhibitory factor (LIF) in the medium. Assembly of mESCs into aggregates by positive dielectrophoresis (DEP) in high field regions between interdigitated oppositely castellated electrodes was found to initiate EB formation. Embryoid body formation in aggregates formed with DEP occurred at a more rapid rate-in fact faster compared to conventional methods-in medium without LIF. However, EB formation also occurred in medium in which LIF was present when the cells were aggregated with DEP. The optimum characteristic size for the electrodes for EB formation with DEP was found to be 75-100 microns; aggregates smaller than this tended to merge, whilst aggregates larger than this tended to split to form multiple EBs. Experiments with ESCs in which green fluorescent protein (GFP) production was targeted to the mesodermal gene brachyury indicated that differentiation within embryoid bodies of this size may preferentially occur along the mesoderm lineage. As hematopoietic lineages during normal development derive from mesoderm, the finding points to a possible application of DEP formed EBs in the production of blood-based products from ESCs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Formation of embryoid bodies using dielectrophoresis

et al. 2012

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“…Microscale technologies for stem cell research and tissue engineering have been excellently reviewed by Khademhosseini et al [84] and Toh et al [85]. One can access the two reviews for more information.…”

Section: Microscale Technologies For Fine Tuning and Screening Niche mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomimetic three-dimensional microenvironment for controlling stem cell fate

Zhang

Dai

et al. 2011

Interface Focus.

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Stem cell therapy is an emerging technique which is being translated into treatment of degenerated tissues. However, the success of translation relies on the stem cell lineage commitment in the degenerated regions of interest. This commitment is precisely controlled by the stem cell microenvironment. Engineering a biomimetic three-dimensional microenvironment enables a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of governing stem cell fate. We review the individual microenvironment components, including soluble factors, extracellular matrix, cell -cell interaction and mechanical stimulation. The perspectives in creating the biomimetic microenvironments are discussed with emerging techniques.

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“…biochemical) factors, low experimental throughput hampers systematic mechanobiology research. To achieve HTS, emerging experimental platforms are typically miniaturized [63][64][65] and fabricated using soft lithography to handle aqueous solutions in microfluidic channels [66]. Advantages of these microfabricated 'laboratory-on-a-chip' platforms include reduced footprint and increased experimental throughput, reduced cost and increased automation.…”

Section: Emerging Experimental Platforms For Multipotent Mesenchymal mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesenchymal stem cell mechanobiology and emerging experimental platforms

MacQueen

Sun

Simmons

2013

J. R. Soc. Interface.

132

103

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Experimental control over progenitor cell lineage specification can be achieved by modulating properties of the cell's microenvironment. These include physical properties of the cell adhesion substrate, such as rigidity, topography and deformation owing to dynamic mechanical forces. Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) generate contractile forces to sense and remodel their extracellular microenvironments and thereby obtain information that directs broad aspects of MSC function, including lineage specification. Various physical factors are important regulators of MSC function, but improved understanding of MSC mechanobiology requires novel experimental platforms. Engineers are bridging this gap by developing tools to control mechanical factors with improved precision and throughput, thereby enabling biological investigation of mechanics-driven MSC function. In this review, we introduce MSC mechanobiology and review emerging cell culture platforms that enable new insights into mechanobiological control of MSCs. Our main goals are to provide engineers and microtechnology developers with an up-to-date description of MSC mechanobiology that is relevant to the design of experimental platforms and to introduce biologists to these emerging platforms.

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Advancing stem cell research with microtechnologies: opportunities and challenges

Cited by 38 publications

References 160 publications

Formation of embryoid bodies using dielectrophoresis

Formation of embryoid bodies using dielectrophoresis

Biomimetic three-dimensional microenvironment for controlling stem cell fate

Mesenchymal stem cell mechanobiology and emerging experimental platforms

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