Substrate topography regulates extracellular matrix component secretion by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

The extracellular matrix (ECM) has a complicated nano- and macro-architecture. We prepared poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA)-ECM substrates derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by culturing cells on PLLA electro-spun fiber membranes of three different diameters. After this, PLLA membranes made with electro-spun nano-fibers were more suitable than traditional tissue culture films for cell proliferation capacity and morphology. In addition, membranes comprising these fibers promoted the gene expression of biomolecules related to ECM composition and production when compared with gene expression using the conventional substrate culture method. MSC proliferation on nano-fibrous PLLA-ECM substrates showed excellent biocompatibility. Moreover, these MSCs also expressed higher levels of the MSC markers, CD44, CD90, and CD105, as indicated by flow cytometry. Thus, PLLA electro-spun fibers are promising substrates for MSCs and promote ECM secretion, suggesting this method may be used for large-scale stem cell expansion.