CLC number:
On-line Access: 2023-06-16
Received: 2023-02-05
Revision Accepted: 2023-04-22
Crosschecked: 0000-00-00
Cited: 0
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Ho-Yin Yuen, Wai-Sze Yip, Suet To & Xin Zhao. Microcurvature landscapes induce neural stem cell polarity and enhance neural differentiation[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science D, 2023, 6(5): 522–535.
@article{title="Microcurvature landscapes induce neural stem cell polarity and enhance neural differentiation",
author="Ho-Yin Yuen, Wai-Sze Yip, Suet To & Xin Zhao",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science D",
volume="6",
number="5",
pages="522–535",
year="2023",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1007/s42242-023-00243-5"
}
%0 Journal Article
%T Microcurvature landscapes induce neural stem cell polarity and enhance neural differentiation
%A Ho-Yin Yuen
%A Wai-Sze Yip
%A Suet To & Xin Zhao
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE D
%V 6
%N 5
%P 522–535
%@ 1869-1951
%D 2023
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1007/s42242-023-00243-5
TY - JOUR
T1 - Microcurvature landscapes induce neural stem cell polarity and enhance neural differentiation
A1 - Ho-Yin Yuen
A1 - Wai-Sze Yip
A1 - Suet To & Xin Zhao
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science D
VL - 6
IS - 5
SP - 522–535
EP -
%@ 1869-1951
Y1 - 2023
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1007/s42242-023-00243-5
Abstract: Tissue curvature has long been recognized as an important anatomical parameter that affects intracellular behaviors, and there is emerging interest in applying cell-scale curvature as a designer property to drive cell fates for tissue engineering purposes. Although neural cells are known to undergo dramatic and terminal morphological changes during development and curvature-limiting behaviors have been demonstrated in neurite outgrowth studies, there are still crucial gaps in understanding neural cell behaviors, particularly in the context of a three-dimensional (3D) curvature landscape similar to an actual tissue engineering scaffold. In this study, we fabricated two substrates of microcurvature (curvature-substrates) that present a smooth and repeating landscape with focuses of either a concave or a convex pattern. Using these curvature-substrates, we studied the properties of morphological differentiation in N2a neuroblastoma cells. In contrast to other studies where two-dimensional (2D) curvature was demonstrated to limit neurite outgrowth, we found that both the concave and convex substrates acted as continuous and uniform mechanical protrusions that significantly enhanced neural polarity and differentiation with few morphological changes in the main cell body. This enhanced differentiation was manifested in various properties, including increased neurite length, increased nuclear displacement, and upregulation of various neural markers. By demonstrating how the micron-scale curvature landscape induces neuronal polarity, we provide further insights into the design of biomaterials utilizing the influence of surface curvature in neural tissue engineering.
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