Direct-current electric field stimulation promotes proliferation and maintains stemness of mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells are frequently utilized in the study of regenerative medicine. Electric fields (EFs) influence many biological processes, such as cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. In the present study, a novel device capable of delivering a direct current of EF stimulation to cells cultured in vitro is described. This bioreactor was customized to simultaneously apply a direct-current EF to six individual cell culture wells, which reduces the amount of experimental time and minimizes cost. In testing the device, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells stimulated with an EF in the bioreactor exhibited a greater cell proliferation rate while retaining stemness. The results provide a unique perspective on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation, which is needed for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. METHOD SUMMARY A customized bioreactor was built to deliver electric field (EF) stimulation. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were exposed to a direct-current EF at 0 or 200 mV/mm for 1 h/d over the course of 3 days. A previously described in vitro electrical stimulation method was enhanced and optimized by exposing adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to EF signals to induce cell proliferation.