Controllable ligand spacing stimulates cellular mechanotransduction and promotes stem cell osteogenic differentiation on soft hydrogels

Man Zhang, Qian Sun, Yiling Liu, Zhiqin Chu, Leixiao Yu, Yong Hou, Heemin Kang, Qiang Wei, Weifeng Zhao, Joachim P. Spatz, Changsheng Zhao, Elisabetta A. Cavalcanti-Adam

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    64 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties have provided a tremendous opportunity to regulate stem cell differentiation. Hydrogels with osteoid (about 30–40 kPa) or higher stiffness are usually required to induce the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). It is yet difficult to achieve the same differentiation on very soft hydrogels, because of low environmental mechanical stimuli and restricted cellular mechanotransduction. Here, we modulate cellular spatial sensing of integrin-adhesive ligands via quasi-hexagonally arranged nanopatterns to promote cell mechanosensing on hydrogels having low stiffness (about 3 kPa). The increased interligand spacing has been shown to regulate actomyosin force loading to recruit extra integrins on soft hydrogels. It therefore activates mechanotransduction and promotes the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs on soft hydrogels to the level comparable with the one observed on osteoid stiffness. Our work opens up new possibilities for the design of biomaterials and tissue scaffolds for regenerative therapeutics.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number120543
    JournalBiomaterials
    Volume268
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jan

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

    Keywords

    • Differentiation
    • Hydrogel
    • Ligand spacing
    • Mechanotransduction
    • Mesenchymal stem cell

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Biophysics
    • Bioengineering
    • Ceramics and Composites
    • Biomaterials
    • Mechanics of Materials

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