Cell-Imprinted Substrates Direct the Fate of Stem Cells

Abstract

Smart nanoenvironments were obtained by cell-imprinted substrates based on mature and dedifferentiated chondrocytes as templates. Rabbit adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) seeded on these cell-imprinted substrates were driven to adopt the specific shape (as determined in terms of cell morphology) and molecular characteristics (as determined in terms of gene expression) of the cell types which had been used as template for the cell-imprinting. This method might pave the way for a reliable, efficient, and cheap way of controlling stem cell differentiation. Data also suggest that besides residual cellular fragments, which are presented on the template surface, the imprinted topography of the templates plays a role in the differentiation of the stem cells.

Efficient myogenic commitment of human mesenchymal stem cells on biomimetic materials replicating myoblast topography

“…However, this simple geometrical line pattern was not sufficient to provide contact guidance to mimic the native myogenic cell morphology. Recently, the Hoffman-Kim and Parak groups have demonstrated the fabrication of biomimetic replicas of cell templates utilizing a soft lithography technique with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) [18,19]. In both studies, PDMS was able to capture the characteristics of the cell template, but was limited in the submicron scale patterning due to the condition of the material [20].…”

A Substrate for Stem Cell Culture and Differentiation

“…When culturing stem cells in vitro, it is important to provide normal conditions for cells, which is essential for their optimum propagation and differentiation. One of the essential conditions is the need for a well-developed environment, which resembles their natural ECM (2,8,11). For this purpose, researchers used different topography shapes, which can affect the stem cell differentiation.…”

“…Previous researches showed that different topographies with various shapes (i e, triangle, round, multigonal, etc.) or sizes (from micro to nano) can affect and lead stem cells differentiate into the desired specialized cells (8,11,(20)(21)(22). Based on this idea, the current study developed a substrate J Skin Stem Cell.…”

“…Moreover, stem cells can be stimulated by chemical or topographical cues (10). At the moment, it is believed that stem cells can sense and initiate an appropriate response to the physicochemical properties of their extracellular matrix (ECM) or any substrate that they are cultured on, by regulating their complex signaling pathways (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Cells are naturally located in a chemically and topographically complicated environment in vivo, which is different from what is used commonly for in vitro culture conditions (17)(18)(19).…”

“…In response to topographical cues tested by nano scale patterns such as dots, columns, pores, pits, meshwork, gratings, and random surface roughness, cells undergo different reactions in terms of morphology, adhesion, proliferation, cytoskeletal formation, migration, gene expression, and surface antigen display. The previously mentioned patterns are created by a variety of techniques such as nanolithography and nanofabrication or molding (8,10,11,(20)(21)(22)). …”