Journal
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
Volume 38, Issue -, Pages 209-218Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.01.009
Keywords
Substrate stiffness; Microcontact printing; Microenvironment; Polyacrylamide hydrogels; Stem cell differentiation
Funding
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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The physical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play an important role in regulating tissue-specific human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. Protein-coated hydrogels with tunable stiffness have been shown to influence lineage specific gene expression in MSCs. In addition, the control of cell shape - either through changing substrate stiffness or restricting spreading with micropatterning - has proved to be important in guiding the differentiation of MSCs. However, few studies have explored the interplay between these physical cues during MSC lineage specification. Here, we demonstrate geometric control of osteogenesis in MSCs cultured on micropatterned polyacrylamide gels. Cells cultured on fibronectin-coated gels express markers associated with osteogenesis in a stiffness dependent fashion with a maximum at similar to 30 kPa. Controlling the geometry of single cells across the substrate demonstrates elevated osteogenesis when cells are confined to shapes that promote increased cytoskeletal tension. Patterning MSCs across hydrogels of variable stiffness will enable the exploration of the interplay between these physical cues and their relationship with the mechanochemical signals that guide stem cell fate decisions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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