1st of April 2015, Chichley Hall
Evelyn Yim's talk started off explaining the usefulness of surface topographies to influence cells, and especially stem cells. The multi-architecture arrays (MARCs) with a variety of different nano-topographies developed in her lab allow to to determine cell type specific responses. This has resulted in establishing effective topographies that for example support stem cell differentiation or form the optimal substrate for corneal endothelium.
Embryonic and neural stem cells were supported in differentiating towards a neuronal phenotype using anisotropic patterns, isotropic patterns led to a glial phenotype. The active extension of the cells along the topographies leads to intracellular tension that in turn helps support the differentiation state. These topographies imprinted embryoid bodies to drive the embryonic stem cells towards a neuronal phenotype.
Other applications of the topographic arrays were targeted at tissue engineering of the cornea and small diameter vasculature.
The layered structure of the cornea with cells on the out- and the inside is essential for its function. Failure of corneal grafts is reported to be mainly due to failure of the corneal endothelium. By improving the growth of corneal endothelial cells - which line the inner part of the cornea the state of such transplants might be improved. These cells help by differential ion transport and cytokine release the cornea to remain clear and functional. Here nanopillars were the optimal substrate to support the growth and retention of the differentiation state of corneal epithelial cells.
More about Evelyn's work can be found at: http://www.bioeng.nus.edu.sg/people/PI/Evelyn/default.html
Papers the presentation was based on:
MARC chip and neural
differentiation
- Moe
AAK et al. Small. 8(19):3050. 2012
- Ankam
S et al. Acta Biomaterialia. 9: 4535. 2013
Temporal analysis of neural differentiation
- Chan LY et al. Biomaterials. 34: 382. 2013
Involvement of FAK and cytoskeletal contractility
- Teo BKK et al. ACS Nano. 7: 4785. 2013.
Corneal endothelial cells
- Teo BKK et al. Acta Biomaterialia. 8:2941. 2012
- Muhammad R et al. “Micro- and nano-topography to enhance proliferation and sustain functional markers of donor-derived primary human corneal endothelial cells”. Acta Biomaterialia. Accepted (2015).
This talk was part of a workshop on "Cell Mechanobiology" organised by Rene de Borst, which took place April 1st and 2nd 2015, with support by the Royal Society at Chicheley Hall. for the programme details see: http://bio-mat-sketches-mor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/cell-mechanobiology-workshop-1st-2nd.html