title: Stem cell plasticity, osteogenic differentiation and the third dimension.
abstract: Different cues present in the cellular environment control basic biological processes. A previously established 3D microwell array was used to study dimensionality-related effects on osteogenic differentiation and plasticity of marrow stromal cells. To enable long-term culture of single cells in the array a novel surface functionalization technique was developed, using the principle of subtractive micro contact printing of fibronectin and surface passivation with a triblock-copolymer. Immunohistochemical stainings showed that when cultivated in 3D microenvironments, marrow stromal cells can be maintained in the wells for up to 7 days and be induced to commit to the osteogenic lineage. In conclusion, this work shows the modification of a 3D microwell array allowing the long term study of single stem cell plasticity and fate in controlled microenvironments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Materials-Biology Interactions, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rottmar
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Håkanson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maniura-Weber
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins