Abstract
Autologous human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential for clinical translation through their induction into osteoblasts for regeneration. Bone healing can be driven by biophysical stimulation using electricity for activating quiescent adult stem cells. It is hypothesized that application of electric current will enhance their osteogenic differentiation, and addition of conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the cell substrate will provide increased efficiency in current transmission. Cultured MSCs were seeded and grown onto fabricated silicone-based composites containing collagen and CNT fibers. Chemical inducers, namely, glycerol phosphate, dexamethasone, and vitamin C, were then added to the medium, and pulsatile submilliampere electrical currents (about half mA for 5 cycles at 4 mHz, twice a week) were applied for two weeks. Calcium deposition indicative of MSC differentiation and osteoblastic activity was quantified through Alizarin Red S and spectroscopy. It was found that pulsed current significantly increased osteodifferentiation on silicone-collagen films without CNTs. Under no external current, the presence of 10% (m/m) CNTs led to a significant and almost triple upregulation of calcium deposition. Both CNTs and current parameters did not appear to be synergistic. These conditions of enhanced osteoblastic activities may further be explored ultimately towards future therapeutic use of MSCs.
Highlights
Stem cells have the potential to revolutionize contemporary medicine and therapy methods
Multiple washes of PBS demonstrated stability of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) within the films since no loose particles were detected from the waste solution
Elemental analysis of film surfaces demonstrated significantly elevated (p = 0.0044), 6-fold calcium relative to carbon level increase (Figure 8). These results indicated that carbon nanotubes induced more osteoblast differentiation, which may primarily be due to more cells adhering onto the high CNTs composites (Figure 6), leading to high survival of cells and increased osteogenic response
Summary
Stem cells have the potential to revolutionize contemporary medicine and therapy methods They enable us to screen new drugs, investigate the causes of birth defects, and understand the development of complex organisms from a single cell [1, 2]. Their greatest potential lies in cell-based and tissue engineering therapies to combat a range of diseases [3]. The development of new technologies such as this tissue engineering approach is very important since millions of people [9] suffer from bone injuries on a yearly
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