Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Enhanced Morphological Polarization by Contact Interaction with Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanogratings

摘要: Understanding how the substrate topography acts on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can help rational design of scaffolds for improving regeneration protocols. MSCs are highly sensitive to extracellular physical properties and be successfully manipulated by simple contact interaction with supporting substrates. To this end, some polymeric materials were introduced, but polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a thermoplastic polymer approved US Food Drug Administration clinical use very attractive in terms biocompatibil- ity mechanical properties, has not been tested yet cell mechanotransduction. Here, we propose PET nanogratings (alternating lines submicron ridges grooves) as stimulating mechanotransduction mechanisms. Low-temperature hot embossing is exploited fabrication method, standard oxygen plasma activation functionalization improve adhesion spreading. We show that directionality stimulus opti- mally delivered MSCs, which turn elongate align nanograting lines. Finally, verify polari- zation occurs also at level cytoskeleton fibers and, though lesser extent, nuclei.