title: Regulation of morphogenesis and neural differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells using carbon nanotube sheets.
abstract: In order to successfully utilize stem cells for therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine, efficient differentiation into a specific cell lineage and guidance of axons in a desired direction is crucial. Here, we used aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheets to differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into neural cells. Human MSCs present a preferential adhesion to aligned CNT sheets with longitudinal stretch parallel to the CNT orientation direction. Cell elongation was 2-fold higher than the control and most of the cells were aligned on CNT sheets within 5° from the CNT orientation direction. Furthermore, a significant, synergistic enhancement of neural differentiation was observed in hMSCs cultured on the CNT sheets. Axon outgrowth was also controlled using nanoscale patterning of CNTs. This CNT sheet provides a new cellular scaffold platform that can regulate morphogenesis and differentiation of stem cells, which could open up a new approach for tissue and stem cell regeneration.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Bio-Max Institute, Seoul National University, 599 Daehakdong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eui Yun
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Tae June
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sungjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ovalle-Robles
authors.forename: Won Jong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Taewoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ray H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Baughman
authors.forename: Yong Hyup
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tai Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D016023:Integrins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014404:Tubulin; C085284:microtubule-associated protein 1B; C044882:neurofilament protein L; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase