Biphasic Electrical Currents Stimulation Promotes both Proliferation and Differentiation of Fetal Neural Stem Cells

Abstract

The use of non-chemical methods to differentiate stem cells has attracted researchers from multiple disciplines, including the engineering and the biomedical fields. No doubt, growth factor based methods are still the most dominant of achieving some level of proliferation and differentiation control - however, chemical based methods are still limited by the quality, source, and amount of the utilized reagents. Well-defined non-chemical methods to differentiate stem cells allow stem cell scientists to control stem cell biology by precisely administering the pre-defined parameters, whether they are structural cues, substrate stiffness, or in the form of current flow. We have developed a culture system that allows normal stem cell growth and the option of applying continuous and defined levels of electric current to alter the cell biology of growing cells. This biphasic current stimulator chip employing ITO electrodes generates both positive and negative currents in the same culture chamber without affecting surface chemistry. We found that biphasic electrical currents (BECs) significantly increased the proliferation of fetal neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, BECs also promoted the differentiation of fetal NSCs into neuronal cells, as assessed using immunocytochemistry. Our results clearly show that BECs promote both the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of fetal NSCs. It may apply to the development of strategies that employ NSCs in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Alternating Current Electric Fields of Varying Frequencies: Effects on Proliferation and Differentiation of Porcine Neural Progenitor Cells

“…The effects of EFs on differentiation are diverse, depending on the target cell and exposure conditions, and it is difficult to directly compare studies that use experimental parameters that differ in many aspects. In a study conducted by Chang et al, biphasic electric currents were found to promote both proliferation and neuronal differentiation of fetal mouse NPCs (Chang et al, 2011). Under control conditions, there was 6.7 times more glial than neuronal differentiation, but this ratio reduced to 3.6-4 in electric stimulation groups after 7 DIV.…”

Optimal electrical stimulation boosts stem cell therapy in nerve regeneration

“…ES significantly increases the proliferation and differentiation of fetal neural stem cells into neuronal cells [12], and strongly promotes cell differentiation of human neural stem cells [13] and embryonic stem cells [14]. Furthermore, in vivo studies also revealed that ES promotes the release of neurotrophic factors [15], which maintain survival and proliferation of stem cells after nerve injury and facilitate stem cell differentiation into Schwann Cell-like cells [10,16].…”

The effect of functional ions (Y3+, F−, Ti4+) on the structure, sintering and crystallization of diopside-calcium pyrophosphate bioglasses

“…9) and FTIR (Figs. [11][12], and NaCl was detected in the first three hours of immersion in SBF for all samples apart from F-1, as shown in Table 3. The precipitation of halite could be attributed to the high concentration of Na + and Cl − ions in the SBF [61] and/or to the bioactive behaviour of the produced glasses [62].…”

“…Also, it has been demonstrated that the presence of yttrium in biomaterials increases their electrical conductivity [10], which could be beneficial for bone regeneration, as cell proliferation has been shown to be sensitive to electrical currents [11]. Although the optimum concentration level of yttrium for promoting osteoblast differentiation and proliferation is still ambiguous, the beneficial aspects of this element have been reported to be dosedependent [12].…”