Double Linear Gradient Biointerfaces for Determining Two‐Parameter Dependent Stem Cell Behavior

Abstract

Two-parameter contributionso fs tiffness and wettability display alteredb ehavior of hBM-MSCs as compared to solely investigating the wettability of the biointerface with ah omogenous stiffness. The importance of double parameter influence is identified by using newly developed double linear wettability-stiffness gradients. The interfaces show that substrate stiffness can influence cell adhesion and spreading both positivelya nd negatively in combination with wettability.T his effect is validated by decoupling the stiffness gradientu sing aw ettability gradient composed of amonolayer on glass ensuring ahomogenous stiffness.

Topography induced stiffness alteration of stem cells influences osteogenic differentiation

“…39 Wave-like topographies were produced as a result of varying the elastomer base/cross-linker ratio, stretching deformation, plasma pressure, and oxidation time. Plasma oxidation alters both chemical composition and the stiffness 41,42 and therefore an altered preparation approach was needed to exclude all effects other than topography. To exclude variations in chemical composition and mechanical properties that might arise due to the different preparation procedures, PDMS with different topographies were applied as molds on which we applied a fresh mixture of elastomer base/ cross-linker.…”

Screening Platform for Cell Contact Guidance Based on Inorganic Biomaterial Micro/nanotopographical Gradients

“… 46 − 48 Importantly, hBM-MSCs have previously been shown to be sensitive to surface properties 49 such as topography, 50 stiffness, 7 , 51 chemistry, 52 and wettability. 53 …”

Gradient Material Strategies for Hydrogel Optimization in Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Changes in polymer mass fraction [ 10 , 12 , 36 , 37 ], crosslinking agent [ 44 , 45 ], blending [ 34 ], hydrogel thickness [ 46 ], photomask [ 47 ], and lithography pattern [ 15 ] have all been employed to fabricate stiffness gradients. Overlapping gradients looking at the interplay of wettability and fibronectin concentration with changes stiffness have also been generated [ 14 , 48 ].…”

“…Most cell types require anchorage for survival, which means that changes in cellular attachment to a material is a first step toward influencing later cellular behavior (migration, proliferation, and differentiation) [ 76 ]. A number of material properties have been shown to affect cellular adhesion including composition [ 29 , 77 ], topography [ 41 ], wettability [ 48 ], stiffness [ 33 , 37 , 47 , 48 , 74 ], and bioactive signaling concentration [ 14 , 22 , 32 , 53 , 77 ]. The power of a gradient approach to refine material conditions to promote adhesion was demonstrated in a study that resolved a composition of at least 54.3% gelatin in a gelatin–chitosan composition gradient as necessary for elongation of smooth muscle cells, and that a composition of less than 10% gelatin resulted in cellular aggregate formation due to a failure of cells to spread [ 29 ].…”

“…Furthermore, a topographical study was able to identify an optimal feature size range of 0.4–2.6 μm amplitude and 4.0–7.1 μm wavelength to induce human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) alignment, due to alteration in focal adhesion number [ 41 ]. More advanced studies have examined the interplay between matrix stiffness and wettability or fibronectin concentration [ 48 , 74 ]. Both studies found an interplay between the second gradient condition and matrix stiffness that affected cellular spreading on the matrix, but changes in matrix wettability were found to significantly alter the matrix stiffness where maximal hMSC adhesion and spreading occurred [ 48 ].…”