Novel use of sound to induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
Researchers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT; Australia) have discovered that high frequency nanomechanostimulation induces osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
The regeneration and replacement of bone is a protracted and painful process, leading to long recovery times for bone injuries or disorders. MSCs, which are mostly found within bone marrow, have shown regenerative and anti-inflammatory potential. However, collecting MSCs and converting them into osteogenic cells is challenging, and to scale the level of differentiated cells to a clinically useful level is even more so.
To tackle these issues, researchers from RMIT developed a simple, efficient way to induce the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. The study was conducted by directing a microchip that produced sound waves in the megahertz frequency range at MSCs suspended in silicon oil.
The team found that merely ten minutes of high frequency – around 10MHz – mechanostimulation over five consecutive days upregulated the early osteogenic markers RUNX2 and COL1A1, as well as increasing the late osteogenic markers: osteocalcin and osteopontin.
Leslie Yeo, co-lead researcher of the study stated: “We can use the sound waves to apply just the right amount of pressure in the right places to the stem cells, to trigger the change process. Our device is cheap and simple to use, so could easily be upscaled for treating large numbers of cells simultaneously – vital for effective tissue engineering”.
This novel technique has the potential to address the need for more cost-efficient, scalable and rapid stem cell differentiation technologies. The researchers are continuing the study in order to scale up this platform for practical use.
Source : Ambattu LA, Gelmi A, Yeo LY. Short-Duration High Frequency MegaHertz-Order Nanomechanostimulation Drives Early and Persistent Osteogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Small. 8 (18) (2022).