title: Direct laser machining-induced topographic pattern promotes up-regulation of myogenic markers in human mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: The engineering of tissue is preferably done with stem cells, which can be differentiated into the tissue of interest using biochemical or physical cues. While much effort has been focused on using biological factors to regulate stem cell differentiation, recently interest in the contribution of physical factors has increased. In this work, three-dimensional (3-D) microchannels with topographic micropatterns were fabricated by femtosecond laser machining on a biodegradable polymer (poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)) substrate. Two substrates with narrow and wide channels respectively were created. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were cultured on the scaffolds for cell proliferation and cellular organization. Gene expression and the immunostaining of myogenic and neurogenic markers were studied. Both scaffolds improved the cell alignment along the channels as compared to the control group. Microfilaments within hMSCs were more significantly aligned and elongated on the narrower microchannels. The gene expression study revealed significant up-regulation of several hallmark markers associated with myogenesis for hMSCs cultured on the scaffold with narrow microchannels, while osteogenic and neurogenic markers were down-regulated or remained similar to the control at day 14. Immunostaining of myogen- and neurogen-specific differentiation markers were used to further confirm the specific differentiation towards a myogenic lineage. This study demonstrates that femtosecond laser machining is a versatile tool for generating controllable 3-D microchannels with topographic features that can be used to induce specific myogenic differentiation of hMSCs in vitro, even in the absence of biological factors.
authors: Division of Materials Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Huaqiong
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Wen
authors: Yee Shan
authors: YS
authors: Wong
authors: Freddy Yin Chiang
authors: FY
authors: Boey
authors: Venkatraman S
authors: VS
authors: Subbu
authors: David Tai
authors: DT
authors: Leong
authors: Kee Woei
authors: KW
authors: Ng
authors: Gary Ka Lai
authors: GK
authors: Ng
authors: Lay Poh
authors: LP
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D044085:Microfluidics; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011108:Polymers; D010590:Phalloidine