Researchers at Hiroshima University have developed a groundbreaking technique to grow mesenchymal stem cells in aligned sheets, significantly enhancing their production of healing proteins essential for tissue repair.

This innovative method employs specially designed temperature-responsive culture surfaces with microscopic stripes that guide stem cells to grow in parallel, mimicking the natural arrangement of cells found in muscle and skin tissues.

By preserving natural cell-to-cell contact and the extracellular matrix, the aligned sheets enhance the durability and functionality of stem cells compared to individual cells in suspension.

The alignment of stem cells not only improves their cooperative functions and communication but also maintains their ability to differentiate into other cell types.

This advancement holds promise for enhancing targeted regenerative therapies for conditions such as heart disease, liver damage, and autoimmune disorders.

Aligned stem cell sheets were found to secrete greater amounts of key healing factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, which are crucial for blood vessel formation and liver repair.

The technique also addresses the challenge of individual stem cells dispersing after injection, improving retention at treatment sites through the use of sheet-based delivery.

Notably, the method is cost-effective, utilizing simple modifications of existing culture materials, which makes it scalable for clinical applications in regenerative medicine.

The temperature-responsive culture surfaces allow for the gentle harvesting of cell sheets, preserving crucial cell-to-cell connections and the protein matrix.

Professor Kenichi Nagase, the study's corresponding author, emphasizes that enhancing the function of mesenchymal stem cell sheets can significantly improve their therapeutic effects in regenerative medicine.

The research, conducted by teams from Hiroshima University, Keio University, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, and the University of Utah, suggests that these aligned stem cell sheets could lead to more effective and accessible cell-based therapies.

The findings of this research are published in the journal Materials Today Bio, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple prestigious institutions.