Dynamic piezoelectric stimulation enhances osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells

This work reports on the influence of the substrate polarization of electroactive β-PVDF on human adipose stem cells (hASCs) differentiation under static and dynamic conditions. hASCs were cultured on different β-PVDF surfaces (non-poled and “poled -”) adsorbed with fibronectin and osteogenic differentiation was determined using a quantitative alkaline phosphatase assay. “Poled -” β-PVDF samples promote higher osteogenic differentiation, which is even higher under dynamic conditions. It is thus demonstrated that electroactive membranes can provide the necessary electromechanical stimuli for the differentiation of specific cells and therefore will support the design of suitable tissue engineering strategies, such as bone tissue engineering.

This work is funded by FEDER funds through the "Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade – COMPETE" and by national funds arranged by FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, project references PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009 and PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2014. The authors also thank funding from Matepro –Optimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). CR, VS and VC thank the FCT for the SFRH/BPD/90870/2012, SFRH/BPD/64958/2009 and SFRH/BPD/97739/2013 grants, respectively. Academy of Finland is acknowledged for research funding (projects 136288 (VH) and 256931 (JP)).