Electrical stimulation of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells co‐cultured in a conductive scaffold for potential orthopaedic applications

Abstract

Electrical stimulation (ES) has emerged as a useful tool to regulate cell behaviour, but the effect of ES on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)/vasculogenic cell co-culture has not been investigated. Herein, human adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were co-cultured in an electrically conductive polypyrrole/chitosan scaffold. Compared with AD-MSC monoculture, calcium deposition in the co-culture without and with ES (200 μA for 4 h/day) was 139% and 346% higher, respectively, after 7 days. As the application of ES to AD-MSC monoculture only increased calcium deposition by 56% compared with that without ES after 7 days, these results indicate that ES and co-culture with HUVECs have synergistic effects on AD-MSCs' osteogenic differentiation. ES application also significantly enhanced CD31 expression of HUVECs. In HUVEC monoculture, application of ES increased CD31 expression by 224%, whereas the corresponding increase in AD-MSC/HUVEC co-culture with ES application was 62%. The gene expression results indicate that ES enhanced the cellular functions in AD-MSC and HUVEC monoculture via autocrine bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively. In co-culture, crosstalk between AD-MSCs and HUVECs due to paracrine BMP-2 and VEGF enhanced the cellular functions compared with the respective monoculture. With application of ES to the AD-MSC/HUVEC co-culture, autocrine signalling was enhanced, resulting in further promotion of cellular functions. These findings illustrate that co-culturing AD-MSC/HUVEC in a conductive scaffold with ES offers potential benefits for bone defect therapy.

Donor Site Location Is Critical for Proliferation, Stem Cell Capacity, and Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells: Implications for Bone Tissue Engineering

“…Also, the cultivation on three-dimensional scaffolds further improved the osteogenic properties of Ad-MSCs [ 24 , 25 ], amongst others, through the control of cell agglomeration [ 26 ]. Furthermore, co-cultivation with endothelial cells, vascular cells, or osteoblastic cells improved the osteogenic differentiation of Ad-MSCs [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Furthermore, the osteogenic differentiation of Ad-MSCs is regulated by oxygen saturation in the medium [ 30 ].…”

Electroactive 3D Printed Scaffolds Based on Percolated Composites of Polycaprolactone with Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide for Antibacterial and Tissue Engineering Applications

“…DC experiments were performed to demonstrate the antibacterial effect and biocompatibility with human cells of electroactive scaffolds under electrical stimulation. The experimental setup was based on the electrical stimulation systems protocol tested previously [50]. The device was built as displayed in Figure 1 using carbon rod electrodes, placing on the cover of the culture plates six-well plates (Thermo Scientific, Non-Treated, Paisley, UK) [51].…”

Electrically Conductive Polydopamine–Polypyrrole as High Performance Biomaterials for Cell Stimulation in Vitro and Electrical Signal Recording in Vivo

“…proliferation and differentiation of various cells). [16][17][18][19] For example, several reports successfully demonstrate promotion of neurite outgrowth of neuronal cells by electrical stimulation through conductive polymer scaffolds. In addition, CPmodified electrodes can efficiently record electrophysiological signals in electrically excitable tissues (e.g., nerves and muscles), which benefit the diagnosis of pathological and physiological conditions.…”