nl503737k_si_007.avi (2.84 MB)
Nanoengineered Surfaces for Focal Adhesion Guidance Trigger Mesenchymal Stem Cell Self-Organization and Tenogenesis
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posted on 2015-03-11, 00:00 authored by Maria Iannone, Maurizio Ventre, Lucia Formisano, Laura Casalino, Eduardo J. Patriarca, Paolo A. NettiThe initial conditions for morphogenesis
trigger a cascade of events that ultimately dictate structure and
functions of tissues and organs. Here we report that surface nanopatterning
can control the initial assembly of focal adhesions, hence guiding
human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) through the process of self-organization
and differentiation. This process self-sustains, leading to the development
of macroscopic tissues with molecular profiles and microarchitecture
reminiscent of embryonic tendons. Therefore, material surfaces can
be in principle engineered to set off the hMSC program toward tissuegenesis
in a deterministic manner by providing adequate sets of initial environmental
conditions.