title: Microwell chips for selection of bio-macromolecules that increase the differentiation capacities of mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Microwell chips (25 mm × 25 mm) are fabricated to select proper substrates for growing three-dimensional (3D) spheroids from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Different bio-macromolecules and their combinations are immobilized on the chip by air plasma treatment and by polyelectrolyte interaction. Only a small number of MSCs (≈10(5) ) are needed for each chip. The expression level of N-cadherin, a cell-adhesion molecule, is used as an indicator for cell-cell interactions. MSC spheroids expressing the highest N-cadherin level also show the greatest osteogenic potential. The microwell chip may be used as an efficient platform to screen bio-macromolecules that enhance the differentiation potential of MSCs.
authors.affiliation: No. 1, Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road, Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan. shhsu@ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shan-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yu-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Yung-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002450:Cell Communication; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D011108:Polymers
keywords: biopolymers; chitosan; mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); microwell chips; spheroids