Surface Curvature Differentially Regulates Stem Cell Migration and Differentiation via Altered Attachment Morphology and Nuclear Deformation.

Signals from the microenvironment around a cell are known to influence cell behavior. Material properties, such as biochemical composition and substrate stiffness, are today accepted as significant regulators of stem cell fate. The knowledge of how cell behavior is influenced by 3D geometric cues is, however, strongly limited despite its potential relevance for the understanding of tissue regenerative processes and the design of biomaterials.

Differentiation of adipose stem cells seeded towards annulus fibrosus cells on a designed poly(trimethylene carbonate) scaffold prepared by stereolithography.

Cell-based therapies could potentially restore the biomechanical function and enhance the self-repair capacity of annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue. However, choosing a suitable cell source and scaffold design are still key challenges. In this study, we assessed the in vitro ability of human adipose stem cells (hASCs), an easily available cell source to produce AF-like matrix in novel AF-mimetic designed scaffolds based on poly(trimethylene carbonate) and built by stereolithography.

μCT based assessment of mechanical deformation of designed PTMC scaffolds.

Background: Advances in rapid-prototyping and 3D printing technologies have enhanced the possibilities in preparing designed architectures for tissue engineering applications. A major advantage in custom designing is the ability to create structures with desired mechanical properties. While the behaviour of a designed scaffold can be simulated using bulk material properties, it is important to verify the behaviour of a printed scaffold at the microstructure level.

Surface properties and interaction forces of biopolymer-doped conductive polypyrrole surfaces by atomic force microscopy.

Surface properties and electrical charges are critical factors elucidating cell interactions on biomaterial surfaces. The surface potential distribution and the nanoscopic and microscopic surface elasticity of organic polypyrrole-hyaluronic acid (PPy-HA) were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in a fluid environment in order to explain the observed enhancement in the attachment of human adipose stem cells on positively charged PPy-HA films. The electrostatic force between the AFM tip and a charged PPy-HA surface, the tip-sample adhesion force, and elastic moduli were estimated from the AFM force curves, and the data were fitted to electrostatic double-layer and elastic contact models.