Directional Osteo-Differentiation Effect of hADSCs on Nanotopographical Self-Assembled Polystyrene Nanopit Surfaces

INTRODUCTION: Cells exhibit high sensitivity and a diverse response to the nanotopography of the extracellular matrix, thereby endowing materials with instructive performances formerly reserved for growth factors. This finding leads to opportunities for improvement. However, the interplay between the topographical surface and cell behaviors remains incompletely understood. METHODS: In the present study, we showed nanosurfaces with various dimensions of nanopits (200–750 nm) fabricated by self-assembling polystyrene (PS) nanospheres. Human adipose-derived stem cell behaviors, such as cell morphology, adhesion, cytoskeleton contractility, proliferation, and differentiation, were investigated on the prepared PS nanopit surface. RESULTS: The osteogenic differentiation can be enhanced by nanopits with a diameter of 300–400 nm. DISCUSSION: The present study provided exciting new avenues to investigate cellular responses to well-defined nanoscale topographic features, which could further guide bone tissue engineering and stem cell clinical research. The capability to control developing biomaterials mimicking nanotopographic surfaces promoted functional tissue engineering, such as artificial joint replacement, bone repair, and dental applications.