Nanotopography – potential relevance in the stem cell niche

Abstract

Nanotopographical cues observed in vivo (such as in the sinusoid and bone) closely resemble nanotopographies that in vitro have been shown to promote niche relevant stem cells behaviours; specifically, retention of multipotency and osteogenic differentiation on ordered and disordered nano-pits respectively. These and other observations highlight a potential role for nano topography in the stem cell niche.

“Cleaning” the surface of hydroxyapatite nanorods by a reaction-dissolution approach

“…It is reported that ordered structures favor the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs than their random counterparts. 48, 49 …”

Controlling the Outgrowth and Functions of Neural Stem Cells: The Effect of Surface Topography

“…Using comparatively micro‐scale grating (of 1 and 10 μm width) and unpatterned PDMS, they showed that nanopattern had a more significant effect in stem cell behavior compared to the micropattern and the flat, in terms of differentiation and proliferation . However, it has to be stressed that, although neuronal marker expression indicates differentiation of MSCs into a neuronal lineage, their functional role must be confirmed as well, since this behavior represents a transdifferentiation, as Turner and Dalby in their remarkable review emphasize …”

“…Stem cells (SCs) reside in a complex niche where they are exposed to a plethora of signals, including physical signals such as tensile, compressive and shear stresses, discontinuities, and differences in roughness, in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, etc . The exposure of the SCs on these signals during development and through life seems to impact the outgrowth and their differentiation fate, suggesting that stemness is not solely an intrinsic property of the SCs but also an emergent property arising from their interaction with their environment . Physical stimuli, including topography and mechanical properties, are known to significantly influence stem cell response.…”

“…Apart from the above NSC sources, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been reported to trans ‐differentiate into neuronal‐like cells upon culture in neuronal induction media, although the mechanism is not well understood …”

“…[1] The exposure of the SCs on these signals during development and through life seems to impact the outgrowth and their differentiation fate, suggesting that stemness is not solely an intrinsic propertyo ft he SCs but also an emergent property arising from their interaction with their environment. [2] Physicals timuli,i ncluding topography and mechanical properties, are known to significantly influence stem cell response. Being translated through adhesions, intracellular tension and mechanotransduction, they can alter cell shape or gene expression and thus cell fate.…”