Neural priming of adipose-derived stem cells by cell-imprinted substrates*

Cell-imprinting technology is a novel method for directing stem cell fate using substrates molded from target cells. Here, we fabricated and studied cell-imprinted substrates for neural priming in human adipose-derived stem cells in the absence of chemical cues. We molded polydimethylsiloxane silicone substrates on fixed differentiated neural progenitor cells (ReNcell(TM) VM). The ReNcell(TM) cell line consists of immortalized human neural progenitor cells that are capable to differentiate into neural cells. The fabricated cell-imprinted silicone substrates represent the geometrical micro- and nanotopology of the target cell morphology. During the molding procedure, no transfer of cellular proteins was detectable. In the first test with undifferentiated ReNcell(TM) VM cells, the cell-imprinted substrates could accelerate neural differentiation. With adipose-derived stem cells cultivated on the imprinted substrates, we observed modifications of cell morphology, shifting from spread to elongated shape. Both immunofluorescence and quantitative gene expression analysis showed upregulation of neural stem cell and early neuronal markers. Our study, for the first time, demonstrated the effectiveness of cell-imprinted substrates for neural priming of adipose-derived stem cells for regenerative medicine applications.