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Liquid Crystalline Networks toward Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair
Author(s) -
Martella Daniele,
Paoli Paolo,
Pioner Josè M.,
Sacconi Leonardo,
Coppini Raffaele,
Santini Lorenzo,
Lulli Matteo,
Cerbai Elisabetta,
Wiersma Diederik S.,
Poggesi Corrado,
Ferrantini Cecilia,
Parmeggiani Camilla
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201702677
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , c2c12 , regenerative medicine , tissue engineering , myogenesis , materials science , induced pluripotent stem cell , biomedical engineering , cell culture , cell , cellular differentiation , stem cell , myocyte , nanotechnology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , embryonic stem cell , biology , medicine , biochemistry , genetics , gene , metallurgy
Abstract The communication reports the use of liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) for engineering tissue cultures with human cells. Their ability as cell scaffolds for different cell lines is demonstrated. Preliminary assessments of the material biocompatibility are performed on human dermal fibroblasts and murine muscle cells (C2C12), demonstrating that coatings or other treatments are not needed to use the acrylate‐based materials as support. Moreover, it is found that adherent C2C12 cells undergo differentiation, forming multinucleated myotubes, which show the typical elongated shape, and contain bundles of stress fibers. Once biocompatibility is demonstrated, the same LCN films are used as a substrate for culturing human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocites (hiPSC‐CMs) proving that LCNs are capable to develop adult‐like dimensions and a more mature cell function in a short period of culture in respect to standard supports. The demonstrated biocompatibility together with the extraordinary features of LCNs opens to preparation of complex cell scaffolds, both patterned and stimulated, for dynamic cell culturing. The ability of these materials to improve cell maturation and differentiation will be developed toward engineered heart and skeletal muscular tissues exploring regenerative medicine toward bioartificial muscles for injured sites replacement.