Nanofibrous bionic scaffolds promote cardiomyocyte differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells

AIM To explore the viability and the potential role of bionic scaffolds on cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). METHODS Oct4-GFP+mouse iPSCs (iPSCs) were cultured on poly-(ε-caprolactone)/Gelatin (PCL/Gelatin) composite nanofibrous bionic scaffolds, which were fabricated by an electrospinning technique and were differentiated spontaneously for 15 days. Oct4-GFP+ mouse iPSCs (iPSCs) cultured on tissue culture plates (TCPs) were used as control. The development of CMs was verified by immunofluorescence staining of cardiac specific markers, such as cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) and myosin light chain 2a (MLC2a). The efficiency of iPSC-derived-CMs was calculated by flowcytometric analysis. RESULTS The results demonstrated that Oct4-GFP+iPSCs proliferated on the PCL/Gelatin composite nanofibrous scaffold and grew in colonies during the spontaneous differentiation period. Immunofluorescence staining after differentiation for 15 days revealed that some of the iPSCs-derived cells were co-labeled with cTnT and MLC2a. Moreover, flowcytometric analysis demonstrated that the ratio of cTnT+-cells derived from iPSCs was significantly higher in PCL/Gelatin scaffolds than in controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that the PCL/Gelatin composite nanofibrous bionic scaffold could support the proliferation and cardiomyocyte differentiation of Oct4-GFP+ iPSC and could be potentially used as a platform for myocardium tissue engineering.