Biophysical phenotyping of mesenchymal stem cells along the osteogenic differentiation pathway

Gavazzo, P., Viti, F., Donnelly, H., Oliva, M. A. G., Salmeron-Sanchez, M. , Dalby, M. J. and Vassalli, M. (2021) Biophysical phenotyping of mesenchymal stem cells along the osteogenic differentiation pathway. Cell Biology and Toxicology, 37(6), pp. 915-933. (doi: 10.1007/s10565-020-09569-7) (PMID:33420657)

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells represent an important resource, for bone regenerative medicine and therapeutic applications. This review focuses on new advancements and biophysical tools which exploit different physical and chemical markers of mesenchymal stem cell populations, to finely characterize phenotype changes along their osteogenic differentiation process. Special attention is paid to recently developed label-free methods, which allow monitoring cell populations with minimal invasiveness. Among them, quantitative phase imaging, suitable for single-cell morphometric analysis, and nanoindentation, functional to cellular biomechanics investigation. Moreover, the pool of ion channels expressed in cells during differentiation is discussed, with particular interest for calcium homoeostasis.Altogether, a biophysical perspective of osteogenesis is proposed, offering a valuable tool for the assessment of the cell stage, but also suggesting potential physiological links between apparently independent phenomena.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vassalli, Professor Massimo and Salmeron-Sanchez, Professor Manuel and Dalby, Professor Matthew and Donnelly, Dr Hannah
• Authors: Gavazzo, P., Viti, F., Donnelly, H., Oliva, M. A. G., Salmeron-Sanchez, M., Dalby, M. J., and Vassalli, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Cell Biology and Toxicology
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0742-2091
• ISSN (Online): 1573-6822
• Published Online: 09 January 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Springer Nature B.V.
• First Published: First published in Cell Biology and Toxicology 37(6): 915-933
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy