Osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells can be accelerated by controlling the frequency of continuous ultrasound

Regulation of stem cell fate using nanostructure-mediated physical signals

One of the major issues in tissue engineering is regulation of stem cell differentiation toward specific lineages. Unlike biological and chemical signals, physical signals with adjustable properties can be applied to stem cells in a timely and localized manner, thus making them a hot topic for research in the fields of biomaterials, tissue engineering, and cell biology. According to the signals sensed by cells, physical signals used for regulating stem cell fate can be classified into six categories: mechanical, light, thermal, electrical, acoustic, and magnetic. In most cases, external macroscopic physical fields cannot be used to modulate stem cell fate, as only the localized physical signals accepted by the surface receptors can regulate stem cell differentiation via nanoscale fibrin polysaccharide fibers. However, surface receptors related to certain kinds of physical signals are still unknown. Recently, significant progress has been made in the development of functional materials for energy conversion. Consequently, localized physical fields can be produced by absorbing energy from an external physical field and subsequently releasing another type of localized energy through functional nanostructures. Based on the above concepts, we propose a methodology that can be utilized for stem cell engineering and for the regulation of stem cell fate via nanostructure-mediated physical signals. In this review, the combined effect of various approaches and mechanisms of physical signals provides a perspective on stem cell fate promotion by nanostructure-mediated physical signals. We expect that this review will aid the development of remote-controlled and wireless platforms to physically guide stem cell differentiation both in vitro and in vivo, using optimized stimulation parameters and mechanistic investigations while driving the progress of research in the fields of materials science, cell biology, and clinical research.

Effect of Acoustic Cavitation on Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells: Colonization and Viability

OBJECTIVES

The mechanical index has long been one of the main criteria used to assess the safety limits for therapeutic medical applications. However, the safety of the mechanical index parameter is considered to be unknown in male fertility, which has a very significant role in vitro conditions. In this study, the effect of cavitation interactions due to mechanical index regions was evaluated on spermatogonial stem cells.

METHODS

The acoustic pressure and mechanical index equations at the low intensities and the intended frequency were modeled and solved. The mechanical index average of 40 kHz frequency was selected as subthreshold, 0.70, and above the cavitation threshold. Neonatal spermatogonial stem cells were cultured. Spermatogonial stem cells are stimulated by low-level ultrasound for 5 days and colonization and viability evaluated on the seventh day.

RESULTS

Based on modeling, the mechanical index average was chosen as 0.40, 0.51, 0.75, and 0.89. The mechanical index of 0.40 and 0.89 resulted in a number of colonies of 93 ± 4 and 32 ± 4, respectively. An increase in colony diameter could be observed for a 0.40 mechanical index during all days of the culture that in the culture on the seventh day had the largest average colony diameter of 174.05 ± 1.22 μm in comparison with other groups (p < 0.05). The cell viability was not significantly different among the groups.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that a low-intensity ultrasound of 40 kHz with a 0.40 mechanical index can be effective in increasing the proliferation and colonization of spermatogonia in stem cells during culture.

Microenvironmental Regulation of Stem Cell Behavior Through Biochemical and Biophysical Stimulation

Stem cells proliferate by undergoing self-renewal and differentiate into multiple cell lineages in response to biochemical and biophysical stimuli. Various biochemical cues such as growth factors, nucleic acids, chemical reagents, and small molecules have been used to induce stem cell differentiation or reprogramming or to maintain their pluripotency. Moreover, biophysical cues such as matrix stiffness, substrate topography, and external stress and strain play a major role in modulating stem cell behavior. In this chapter, we have summarized microenvironmental regulation of stem cell behavior through biochemical and biophysical stimulation.

Low-Intensity Ultrasound Modulates Ca2+ Dynamics in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Connexin 43 Hemichannel

In recent years, ultrasound has gained attention in new biological applications due to its ability to induce specific biological responses at the cellular level. Although the biophysical mechanisms underlying the interaction between ultrasound and cells are not fully understood, many agree on a pivotal role of Ca²⁺ signaling through mechanotransduction pathways. Because Ca²⁺ regulates a vast range of downstream cellular processes, a better understanding of how ultrasound influences Ca²⁺ signaling could lead to new applications for ultrasound. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of ultrasound-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization in human mesenchymal stem cells using 47 MHz focused ultrasound to stimulate single cells at low intensities (~ 110 mW/cm²). We found that ultrasound exposure triggers opening of connexin 43 hemichannels on the plasma membrane, causing release of ATP into the extracellular space. That ATP then binds to G-protein-coupled P₂Y₁ purinergic receptors on the membrane, in turn activating phospholipase C, which evokes production of inositol trisphosphate and release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores.

[Very high frequency ultrasound: New therapeutic method in aesthetic medicine and dermatology]

Very high frequency ultrasound (VHF-US) is new therapy method with a broad application spectrum in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. In this method, ultrasound waves with frequencies over 10 MHz, which were for a long time only used in ultrasound diagnostics, are applied for therapeutic purposes. Such US waves demonstrate specific biophysical efficiencies which warrant their application for the treatment of the skin efflorescences, chronic wounds and hypertrophic scars as well as in anti-aging and skin improvement procedures in aesthetic medicine. VHF-US can be applied not only for stand-alone treatments, but also as a supportive pre- and posttreatment method in combination with laser, radiofrequency currents, injection lipolysis, etc. as well as in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Influence of the Dermis Thickness on the Results of the Skin Treatment with Monopolar and Bipolar Radiofrequency Currents

Electrically layered tissue structure significantly modifies distribution of radiofrequency (RF) current in the dermis and in the subcutaneous adipose tissue comparing to that in a homogeneous medium. On the basis of the simple model of RF current distribution in a two-layer skin containing dermis and subcutis, we assess the influence of the dermal thickness on the current density in different skin layers. Under other equal conditions, current density in the dermis is higher for the skin having thinner dermis. This contradicts the main paradigm of the RF theory stating that treatment results are mainly dependent on the maximal temperature reached in a target tissue, since the best short- and long-term clinical results of RF application to the skin were reported in the areas having thicker dermis. To resolve this contradiction, it is proposed that the long-term effect of RF can be realized through a structural modification of the subcutaneous fat depot adjacent to the treated skin area. Stimulation of these cells located near the interface dermis/subcutis will demand the concentration of applied RF energy in this area and will require the optimal arrangement of RF electrodes on the skin surface.

Soft tissue fillers as non-specific modulators of adipogenesis: change of the paradigm?

Dermal filler injection is a cornerstone of facial rejuvenation procedures. Based on available data in animal and human studies, we suppose that the activation and proliferation of adipose-derived stem cells and expansion of mature adipocytes play a crucial role in long-term effects of volumizing, tissue tightening and beautification.

Growth factor and ultrasound-assisted bioreactor synergism for human mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis

Ultrasound at 5.0 MHz was noted to be chondro-inductive, with improved SOX-9 gene and COL2A1 protein expression in constructs that allowed for cell-to-cell contact. To achieve tissue-engineered cartilage using macroporous scaffolds, it is hypothesized that a combination of ultrasound at 5.0 MHz and transforming growth factor-β3 induces human mesenchymal stem cell differentiation to chondrocytes. Expression of miR-145 was used as a metric to qualitatively assess the efficacy of human mesenchymal stem cell conversion. Our results suggest that in group 1 (no transforming growth factor-β3, no ultrasound), as anticipated, human mesenchymal stem cells were not efficiently differentiated into chondrocytes, judging by the lack of decrease in the level of miR-145 expression. Human mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into chondrocytes in group 2 (transforming growth factor-β3, no ultrasound) and group 3 (transforming growth factor-β3, ultrasound) with group 3 having a 2-fold lower miR-145 when compared to group 2 at day 7, indicating a higher conversion to chondrocytes. Transforming growth factor-β3-induced chondrogenesis with and without ultrasound stimulation for 14 days in the ultrasound-assisted bioreactor was compared and followed by additional culture in the absence of growth factors. The combination of growth factor and ultrasound stimulation (group 3) resulted in enhanced COL2A1, SOX-9, and ACAN protein expression when compared to growth factor alone (group 2). No COL10A1 protein expression was noted. Enhanced cell proliferation and glycosaminoglycan deposition was noted with the combination of growth factor and ultrasound stimulation. These results suggest that ultrasound at 5.0 MHz could be used to induce chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering.

Combined effect of three types of biophysical stimuli for bone regeneration

Pretreatment using various types of biophysical stimuli could provide appropriate potential to cells during construction of the engineered tissue in vitro. We hypothesized that multiple combinations of these biophysical stimuli could enhance osteogenic differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo. Cyclic strain, an electromagnetic field, and ultrasound were selected and combined as effective stimuli for osteogenic differentiation using a developed bioreactor. Here we report the experimental evaluation of the osteogenic effects of various combinations of three different biophysical stimuli in vitro and in vivo using human adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Osteogenic differentiation of ASCs was accelerated by multiple-combination biophysical stimulation in vitro. However, both single stimulation and double-combination stimulation were sufficient to accelerate bone regeneration in vivo, while the osteogenic marker expression of those groups was not as high as that of triple-combination stimulation in vitro. We inferred from these data that ASCs appropriately differentiated into the osteogenic lineage by biophysical stimulation could be a better option for accelerating bone formation in vivo than relatively undifferentiated or completely differentiated ASCs. Although many questions remain about the mechanisms of combined effects of various biophysical stimuli, this approach could be a more powerful tool for bone tissue regeneration.