Functional aligned mesenchymal stem cell sheets fabricated using micropatterned thermo-responsive cell culture surfaces

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are frequently applied for cell transplantation and regenerative therapy because they secrete diverse therapeutic cytokines that prompt immuno-stimulatory and tissue repair processes. Furthermore, cultured MSC sheets exhibit enhanced cytokine secretion compared to their MSC suspensions, and represent a durable, versatile format for tissue engineering as singular, multi-layered, or multi-cell type sandwiched, transplantable constructs. Tissue engineered implants with various cellular orientations have been reported. In this study, patterned, temperature-responsive culture surfaces were used to prepare oriented MSC sheets. Patterned culture surfaces were fabricated by grafting polyacrylamide (PAAm) onto commercial poly(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm)-modified plastic via photopolymerization using a stripe-patterned photomask. Patterned surfaces were characterized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fluorescently labelled fibronectin and albumin adsorption assays, wetting (contact angle) measurements, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Striped grafted patterns of PAAm were fabricated on the PNIPAAm-coated culture substrates, and PAAm polymerized within the PNIPAAm overlayer. Cell-aligned MSC sheets were then produced from MSC culture on this patterned surface, secreting higher amounts of therapeutic cytokines (vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β) than non-aligned MSC control sheets. In addition, aligned MSC sheets maintained enhanced cell multi-potent differentiation capabilities. New, aligned MSC sheets might exhibit improved functional properties for cell sheet transplant therapies.