Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are a therapeutically important cell type due to their broad differentiation potential, and favorable immunoregulatory properties. While ex vivoculture has become widespread practice, hMSCs have been shown to spontaneously differentiate when cultured on hard substrates as well as lose multipotency after prolonged passaging. Cell shape and integrin mediated adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules have been shown to be key in regulating these processes.Microcontact printing of alkanethiolates on gold provides a model platform for confining cells to various geometries (Figure 1). Background ethylene glycol chains resist non-specific protein adsorption, while various proteins can be adsorbed to patterned alkane regions. Here we demonstrate that by confining MSCs to small circular islands, we promote quiescence and enhance the expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers. Furthermore, we can examine specific ECM-integrin interactions by patterning surfaces to present bioactive peptides. By doing so, we can study the combinatorial effects of cell shape, and ligand composition and presentation during stem cell culture. These tools enable a systematic study of how cell shape and ligand presentation influence fate decisions.

Micropatterned proteins and peptides to study stem cell fate decisions

246th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.