Optimization of Femtosecond Laser Polymerized Structural Niches to Control Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Fate in Culture

Micromachines

Manuela T. Raimondi¹  Michele M. Nava¹  Shane M. Eaton²  Arianna Bernasconi²  Krishna C. Vishnubhatla³  Giulio Cerullo² 

[1] LaBS, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy; E-Mails:;Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy; E-Mails:;Center for Nano Science and Technology of IIT@POLIMI, Via Pascoli 70/3, Milano 20133, Italy, Milano 20133, Italy; E-Mail:

关键词: mesenchymal stem cell;    niche;    scaffold;    proliferation;    two photon polymerization;    photoresist;    femtosecond laser;   

DOI  :  10.3390/mi5020341

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We applied two-photon polymerization to fabricate 3D synthetic niches arranged in complex patterns to study the effect of mechano-topological parameters on morphology, renewal and differentiation of rat mesenchymal stromal cells. Niches were formed in a photoresist with low auto-fluorescence, which enabled the clear visualization of the fluorescence emission of the markers used for biological diagnostics within the internal niche structure. The niches were structurally stable in culture up to three weeks. At three weeks of expansion in the niches, cell density increased by almost 10-fold and was 67% greater than in monolayer culture. Evidence of lineage commitment was observed in monolayer culture surrounding the structural niches, and within cell aggregates, but not inside the niches. Thus, structural niches were able not only to direct stem cell homing and colony formation, but also to guide aggregate formation, providing increased surface-to-volume ratios and space for stem cells to adhere and renew, respectively.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.