Enhanced biocompatibility and differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stem cells on polydimethylsiloxane by topographical patterned dopamine

Controlling the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through topographical patterns is an effective approach for stem cell study. We, herein, reported a facile method to create a dopamine (DA) pattern on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Topography of micro-patterned DA was produced on PDMS after plasma treatment. The grid-topographic pattern surface of PDMS-DA (PDMS-DA-P) was measured for adhesion force and Young's modulus by atomic force micrpscopy. The surface of PDMS-DA-P demonstrated less stiff and more elastic characteristics compared to either non-patterned PDMS-DA or PDMS. The PDMS-DA-P evidently enhanced the differentiation of MSCs into various tissue cells, including nerve, vessel, bone, and fat. We further designed comprehensive experiments to investigate adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MSCs in response to PDMS-DA-P, and showed that the DA patterned surface had good biocompatibility that did not activate macrophages or platelets in vitro and had low forigen body reaction in vivo. Besides, it protected MSCs from apoptosis as well as excessive ROS generation. Particularly, the patterned surface enhanced the differentiation capacity of MSCs toward neural and endothelial cells. The stromal derived factor-1/CXCR4 pathway may be involved in mediating the self-recruitment and promoting the differentiation of MSCs. These findings support the potential application of the PDMS-DA-P for either cell treatment or tissue repair.