Biophysical phenotyping of mesenchymal stem cells along the osteogenic differentiation pathway

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells represent an important resource, for bone regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications. This review focuses on new advancements and biophysical tools which exploit different physical and chemical markers of mesenchymal stem cell populations, to finely characterize phenotype changes along their osteogenic differentiation process. Special attention is paid to recently developed label-free methods, which allow monitoring cell populations with minimal invasiveness. Among them, quantitative phase imaging, suitable for single-cell morphometric analysis, and nanoindentation, functional to cellular biomechanics investigation. Moreover, the pool of ion channels expressed in cells during differentiation is discussed, with particular interest for calcium homoeostasis. Altogether, a biophysical perspective of osteogenesis is proposed, offering a valuable tool for the assessment of the cell stage, but also suggesting potential physiological links between apparently independent phenomena.

Effect of Polymeric Matrix Stiffness on Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells: Concise Review

“…The binding of integrin to ECM components triggers the intracytoplasmic assembly of focal adhesion proteins, including talin, FAK, p130Cas, and vinculin, first forming focal complexes, which then grow, giving rise to focal adhesions, linking actin fibers to ECM components [83]. Formation of focal adhesion, with the associated triggering of intracellular signaling pathways, is essential for MSCs migration, proliferation and differentiation [84][85][86].…”

“…MSCs lineage commitment and osteogenic differentiation in response to ECM mechanical cues, including matrix stiffness, involve upregulation of focal adhesion formation. Increasing matrix stiffness can promote number [84] and area of focal adhesions [87]. In turn, upregulation of focal adhesion number and size [60,88,89] has been linked to increased osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.…”

The biomimetic surface topography of Rubus fruticosus leaves stimulate the induction of osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs

“…Currently approaches in bone regenerative medicine are based combining the potential of MSCs with biomaterials. The interaction of these cells with the selected material is preponderant in the success of the strategy, where both biochemical and physical properties of the biomaterial play a key role for its success [17]. Regarding the physical properties of the biomaterials, surface topography came up as a first interaction of the interface cells-material.…”

Biophysical Modulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation in the Context of Skeletal Repair

“…MSCs adopt varying morphologies in response to microenvironments of varying mechanical properties and to external mechanical stresses. The activation of mechanosensitive membrane receptors and intracellular messengers, such as the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by mechanical environments, are important transduction pathways of mechanical signals that influence differentiation and phenotypic expression of MSCs [ 6 ]. The stiffness of tissue niches influences differentiation and lineage commitment of MSCs [ 7 ].…”