Spontaneous and specific myogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on polyethylene glycol-linked multi-walled carbon nanotube films for skeletal muscle engineering.
This study explored the influence of polyethylene glycol-linked multi-walled carbon nanotube (PEG-CNT) films on skeletal myogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). PEG-CNT films were prepared with nanoscale surface roughness, orderly arrangement of PEG-CNTs, high hydrophilicity and high mechanical strength. Notably, PEG-CNT films alone could direct the skeletal myogenic differentiation of hMSCs in the absence of myogenic induction factors. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that the non-induced hMSCs plated on the PEG-CNT films, compared to the negative control, presented significant up-regulation of general myogenic markers including early commitment markers of myoblast differentiation protein-1 (MyoD) and desmin, as well as a late phase marker of myosin heavy chain-2 (MHC). Corresponding protein analysis by immunoblot assays corroborated these results. Skeletal muscle-specific markers, fast skeletal troponin-C (TnC) and ryanodine receptor-1 (Ryr) were also significantly increased in the non-induced hMSCs on PEG-CNT films by RT-PCR. For these cells, the commitment to specific skeletal myoblasts was further proved by the absence of enhanced adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic markers. This study elucidated that PEG-CNT films supported a dedicated differentiation of hMSCs into a skeletal myogenic lineage and can work as a promising material towards skeletal muscle injury repair.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543. phahohk@nus.edu.sg phapg@nus.edu.sg and NanoCore, Engineering Block A, EA, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576.
Chunyan
C
Zhao
Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542 and Graphene Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546.
Henrik
H
Andersen
Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117542 and Graphene Research Center, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117546.
Barbaros
B
Ozyilmaz
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
Sundara
S
Ramaprabhu
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543. phahohk@nus.edu.sg phapg@nus.edu.sg and NanoCore, Engineering Block A, EA, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576.
Giorgia
G
Pastorin
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543. phahohk@nus.edu.sg phapg@nus.edu.sg.
Han Kiat
HK
Ho
D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C000595209:polyethylene glycol 1000