Cultivating stem cells in star-shaped and flower-shaped molds? This sounds a bit incredible. But even more incredible is yet to come: the difference between these two shapes can even determine the growth of human stem cells into fat or bone. For the first time in history, biologists use geometry to determine the fate of cells. This achievement will pave the way for stem cells to become a variety of organs and tissues that can be transplanted by patients.
Compared with previous scientists that usually induced stem cells to cultivate various tissues, this achievement by Professor Milan Mrksich and his team at the University of Chicago, Illinois, USA can be called "physical change" of the cell rather than "chemical change".
Professor Milan Mrksich of the University of Chicago, Illinois, USA, and his research team have made molds about 50 microns wide. These molds are similar to molds for baking cookies, including stars, flowers, squares, pentagons, and circles. In each mold, scientists placed a human bone marrow stem cell. As a type of stem cell, these immature cells will grow into blood, bone, and fat tissue. These molds are immersed in the chemical culture medium so that they can grow as quickly as possible.
Despite receiving the same chemical culture medium, 70% of the stem cells placed in angular molds (such as stars and rectangles) eventually became bone tissue. Correspondingly, most of the stem cells placed in curved molds (such as round and flower-shaped) become adipose tissue.
Professor Mrksich's team believes that in the above process, the angle of the mold edge plays a decisive role. These angles allow stem cells to push against each other and promote "stress filaments" inside the cells. In the end, these elastic miniature "pressure wires" prop up the entire cell and form their own special internal structures.
"In the star-shaped mold, the sharp angle activates the growth of a long and strong 'pressure wire', which causes the stem cells to grow more 'hard' and become bone tissue," Professor Mrksich said. "At the same time, the arc of the flower-shaped mold The edges stimulate the cells to grow short and soft 'pressure wires', which make the stem cells grow into adipose tissue. "
In the view of other scholars, geometry can indeed affect the growth and destiny of cells in the body to some extent.
"Cells change their geometry and mechanism during growth and swimming in the body," said Christopher Chen, a bioengineer at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA. "The cells are likely to induce some genetic mutations through these changes so that they can better themselves development of."
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