title: In vitro generation of motor neuron precursors from mouse embryonic stem cells using mesoporous nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stem cell-derived motor neurons (MNs) are utilized to develop replacement strategies for spinal cord disorders. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into MN precursors involves factors and their repeated administration. We investigated if delivery of factors loaded into mesoporous nanoparticles could be effective for stem cell differentiation in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a mouse embryonic stem cell line expressing green fluorescent protein under the promoter for the MN-specific gene Hb9 to visualize the level of MN differentiation. The differentiation of stem cells was evaluated by expression of MN-specific transcription factors monitored by quantitative real-time PCR reactions and immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mesoporous nanoparticles have strong affiliation to the embryoid bodies, penetrate inside the embryoid bodies and come in contact with differentiating cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated administration of soluble factors into a culture medium can be avoided due to a sustained release effect using mesoporous silica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials & Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden. alfonso@mmk.su.se.
authors.forename: Alfonso E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Garcia-Bennett
authors.forename: Niclas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Ninnie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: Mariya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozhevnikova
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trolle
authors.forename: Stanislava
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pankratova
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berezin
authors.forename: Elena N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Kozlova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity
keywords: cell transplant; differentiation; mesoporous material; nanomedicine; stem cell