Review
Copyright ©2009 Baishideng. All rights reserved
World J Stem Cells. Dec 31, 2009; 1(1): 55-66
Published online Dec 31, 2009. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v1.i1.55
Effects of nanotopography on stem cell phenotypes
Rajeswari Ravichandran, Susan Liao, Clarisse CH Ng, Casey K Chan, Michael Raghunath, Seeram Ramakrishna
Rajeswari Ravichandran, Casey K Chan, Michael Raghunath, Division of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
Rajeswari Ravichandran, Susan Liao, Seeram Ramakrishna, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore
Clarisse CH Ng, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Casey K Chan, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Michael Raghunath, Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 8 Medical Drive, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
Seeram Ramakrishna, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore
Author contributions: All of the authors contributed equally to this review.
Supported by The National University of Singapore, Grant No. R-224-000-035-133 and NMRC/1151/2008, Singapore
Correspondence to: Seeram Ramakrishna, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576, Singapore. seeram@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: +65-65164265 Fax: +65-65165563
Received: September 7, 2009
Revised: October 30, 2009
Accepted: November 6, 2009
Published online: December 31, 2009
Abstract

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can self renew indefinitely and differentiate into several somatic cells given the correct environmental cues. In the stem cell niche, stem cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions are crucial for different cellular functions, such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Recently, in addition to chemical surface modifications, the importance of nanometric scale surface topography and roughness of biomaterials has increasingly becoming recognized as a crucial factor for cell survival and host tissue acceptance in synthetic ECMs. This review describes the influence of nanotopography on stem cell phenotypes.

Keywords: Stem cells; Nanofibers; Nanotopography; Biomaterials; Extracellular matrix; Differentiation