Assessing the combined effect of surface topography and substrate rigidity in human bone marrow stem cell cultures

Abstract

The combined effect of surface topography and substrate rigidity in stem cell cultures is still under-investigated, especially when biodegradable polymers are used. Herein, we assessed human bone marrow stem cell response on aliphatic polyester substrates as a function of anisotropic grooved topography and rigidity (7 and 12 kPa). Planar tissue culture plastic (TCP, 3 GPa) and aliphatic polyester substrates were used as controls. Cell morphology analysis revealed that grooved substrates caused nuclei orientation/alignment in the direction of the grooves.After 21 days in osteogenic and chondrogenic media, the 3 GPa TCP and the grooved 12 kPa substrate induced significantly higher calcium deposition and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) deposition, respectively, than the other groups. After 14 days in tenogenic media, the 3 GPa TCP upregulated four and downregulated four genes; the planar 7 kPa substrate

It Takes Two to Tango: Controlling Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Response via Substrate Stiffness and Surface Topography

“…[190] With respect to lineage commitment in appropriate media, high substrate rigidity (12 kPa) and surface topography (bidirectional grooves of 1-2 μm dimensionality) have been shown to favor osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, while low substrate rigidity (7 kPa) alone or in combination with surface topography (bidirectional grooves of 1-2 μm dimensionality) was shown to promote tenogenic and adipogenic differentiation. [191] This is in alignment with other studies, where stiffness was also considered as a more potent than topography MSC differentiation driving factor [192] and topography was considered more potent than rigidity regulator of cell adhesion, shape, and spreading. [193] It is also Table 3.…”

The potential role of mechanotransduction in the management of pediatric calvarial bone flap repair

“…Through this mechanism, substrate stiffness influences the ultimate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, with cells tending to progress along a lineage that mirrors native tissues with similar mechanical properties (Evans et al, 2009; Guo et al, 2020; Ribeiro et al, 2022; Zigon‐Branc et al, 2019). In particular, mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate greater spreading on stiffer substrates, adopting the flattened, extended morphology of osteoblasts (Xia et al, 2022).…”

Integrating physicomechanical and biological strategies for BTE: biomaterials-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs

“…Hydrostatic pressure (HP), fluid shear stress (FSS), compression, and stretching mechanical stimulation work together with the complex structure of ECM to affect cell fate 174 . Therefore, it is believed that researches on the combined effects of multiple physical cues can better simulate the microenvironment in vivo, thus promoting the osteogenic differentiation of cells 175 . Reinwald Y et al confirmed that intermittent hydrostatic pressure (IHP) (270 kPa) in combination with topographical cues (fiber alignment) could direct the fate of MSCs, and enhanced the effect of osteogenesis 174 .…”

“…As additional insights into the interaction between cells and ECM in recent years, it was found that the combination of matrix stiffness and nano- topography significantly affected the fate of cells as well 175 . After attaching to the random nanofibers, cells presented apparent stretching morphology and transformed mechanical signals into intracellular signals through cytoskeletal rearrangement, thus promoting osteogenic differentiation 174 .…”

“…After attaching to the random nanofibers, cells presented apparent stretching morphology and transformed mechanical signals into intracellular signals through cytoskeletal rearrangement, thus promoting osteogenic differentiation 174 . And this effect could be amplified by the combination with matrix stiffness 175 . Nevertheless, it is difficult to obtain the optimal stiffness and topography for osteogenesis simultaneously.…”