Stem cell culture

June’s issue of Nature Materials has a focus on stem cell culture.  The first of three reviews discusses how various inherent properties of materials may be engineered to regulate stem cell decisions, while a second focuses on the influence of the nano scale extracellular environment on stem cell fate via integrin-matrix interactions.  The third review outlines progress in high-throughput materials discovery of growth substrates for large-scale human pluripotent stem cell culture.  A Perspective article discusses the interplay between soluble factors and physical microenvironment in the control of stem cell fate.  A variety of primary research articles and supporting “News and Views” pieces are also contained in the focus.  Worth a look.

http://www.nature.com/nmat/focus/cell-culture/index.html

Mechanics of stem cell nuclei

The cross-section of most materials contracts when stretched and expands when compressed. Auxetic materials do the opposite. Researchers now show that embryonic stem cell nuclei become auxetic when they enter a metastable state prior to differentiation. Data suggest that this is driven at least in part by global chromatin decondensation.

http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nmat3943.html

Auxetic nuclei in embryonic stem cells exiting pluripotency; S. Pagliara et al; Nature Materials (AOP); doi:10.1038/nmat3943