Degradation rate affords a dynamic cue to regulate stem cells beyond varied matrix stiffness.

While various static cues such as matrix stiffness have been known to regulate stem cell differentiation, it is unclear whether or not dynamic cues such as degradation rate along with the change of material chemistry can influence cell behaviors beyond simple integration of static cues such as decreased matrix stiffness. The present research is aimed at examining effects of degradation rates on adhesion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro on well-defined synthetic hydrogel surfaces. Therefore, we synthesized macromers by extending both ends of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with oligo(lactic acid) and then acryloyl, and the corresponding hydrogels that were obtained after photopolymerization of the macromers were biodegradable.

Effects of Functional Groups of Materials on Nonspecific Adhesion and Chondrogenic Induction of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Free and Micropatterned Surfaces.

Functional groups of materials are known to affect cell behaviors, yet the corresponding effect on stem cell differentiation is always coupled with that of cell spreading; it is thus unclear whether the chemical groups influence cell differentiation directly or via cell spreading indirectly. Herein we used a unique surface patterning technique to decouple the corresponding effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow were seeded on surfaces coated with alkanethiols with one of four functional end groups (-CH, -OH, -COOH, and -NH) and underwent 9 days of chondrogenic induction.