Stem cell fate dictated solely by altered nanotube dimension.
Two important goals in stem cell research are to control the cell proliferation without differentiation and to direct the differentiation into a specific cell lineage when desired. Here, we demonstrate such paths by controlling only the nanotopography of culture substrates. Altering the dimensions of nanotubular-shaped titanium oxide surface structures independently allowed either augmented human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) adhesion or a specific differentiation of hMSCs into osteoblasts by using only the geometric cues, absent of osteogenic inducing media. hMSC behavior in response to defined nanotube sizes revealed a very dramatic change in hMSC behavior in a relatively narrow range of nanotube dimensions. Small (approximately 30-nm diameter) nanotubes promoted adhesion without noticeable differentiation, whereas larger (approximately 70- to 100-nm diameter) nanotubes elicited a dramatic stem cell elongation (approximately 10-fold increased), which induced cytoskeletal stress and selective differentiation into osteoblast-like cells, offering a promising nanotechnology-based route for unique orthopedics-related hMSC treatments.
Oh
Seunghan
S
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Brammer
Karla S
KS
Li
Y S Julie
YS
Teng
Dayu
D
Engler
Adam J
AJ
Chien
Shu
S
Jin
Sungho
S
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium