Influence of Geometric Patterns on Development of Stem Cells

Use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes has great potentials and scientists all over the world are working on the identification of conditions necessary for development of specific stem cell lines and their use for therapeutic purposes. So far, the majority of scientists were focused on the role of proteins in future development and behavior of stem cells but the scientists at the University of Chicago used geometrical patterns to manipulate the stem cell development. The approach of the research group led by Milan Mrksich may seem unusual but the team has shown that the shape plays very important role in stem cell development.

Milan Mrksich and his team at the University of Chicago are renowned for their work in development of methods for control of shapes, sizes and location of cells with patterning surfaces. Their new research published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on March 1, 2010, reveals the importance of structural shape for the fate of stem cells which has been ignored by the majority of scientists. The researchers have proven that the shape alone determines whether the cells will develop into bone or fat. The star-shaped cells were shown to induce tense cytoskeleton, while loose cytoskeleton is promoted by a flower shape. Thus the star shape leads to development of stem cells into bone and flower shape into fat.

The leader of the research group Mrksich admits that their method to manipulate and control stem cell development is far from being ready for stem cell production and use in therapeutic purposes but it reveals the importance of different approaches to the study of stem cells and may have a significant influence on the future direction in the stem cell field.

The study was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Cancer Institute.