Magnetically stimulated cryogels to enhance osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells

Abstract

Cells can respond to the physical stimulus that comes from their micro-environments. There are several strategies to alter cell behavior. Several tissues like bone and cartilage, which are the point of interest of regenerative medicine, are under significant degrees of mechanical stress in real life. Within this stress, the arising mechanotransduction effect may trigger several behavioral responses on cells. As a novel and efficient way, magnetic nanoparticles can be used to make such a mechanotransductive effect on cells. In this study, pre-functionalized Fe3O4 superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized and used to fabricate gelatin-based magnetic cryogels. Cell growth, tissue-specific metabolic activities, differentiation potential to the bone, and cartilage under static magnetic field at different magnetic field strength (1000-4000G) were investigated. Results indicated that there was a better induction in considerable higher magnetic field among all others and magnetic cryogels helps to mediate mesenchymal stem cell behaviour, promote their growth and induce osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation.