Semi-quantitative studies of cell shape as a cue to tune differentiation of stem cells under induction media

The effect of cell shape on cell differentiation was carefully investigated by controlling single cells on well-designed micropatterns.

l        Effect of cell anisotropy on differentiation of stem cells on micropatterned surfaces through the controlled single cell adhesion

 Rong Peng, Xiang Yao, and Jiandong Ding*, Biomaterials, 32, 8048-8057 (2011)

Three issues are novel:

(1)     Control the cell localization persistently via our unique surface patterning technique, and suggest the two criteria of an adhesive microisland appropriate to study the effect of cell shape on differentiation and other lone procedure.

(2)     Find an almost linear relation between differentiation extents of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the perimeter of cell contour in the case of global isotropic shapes with aspect ratio = 1 (circle, square etc).

(3)     Find non-monotonic change of osteogenic differentiation with the increase of aspect ratio of rectangular microislands with the optimal ratio around 2:1.

The work was selected by Graduate Association into Academic Corridor. The poster is as follows: