Abstract/Summary

The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are in focus within regenerative medicine. However, 2D cultivation of MSCs for extended periods results in abnormal cell polarity, chromosomal changes, reduction in viability and altered differentiation potential. As an alternative, various 3D hydrogels have been developed which mimic the endogenous niche of MSCs. However, imaging cells embedded within 3D hydrogels often suffers from low signal to noise ratios which can be at least partly attributed to high light absorbance and light scattering of the hydrogels in the visible light spectrum. In this study, human adipose tissue-derived MSCs (ADSCs) are cultivated within an anionic nanofibrillar cellulose (aNFC) hydrogel. It is demonstrated that aNFC forms nanofibers arranged as a porous network with low light absorbance in the visible spectrum. Moreover, it is shown that aNFC is cytocompatible allowing for MSC proliferation, maintaining cell viability and multi-lineage differentiation potential. Finally, aNFC is compatible with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy including application of conventional dyes, fluorescent probes, indirect immunocytochemistry, and calcium imaging. Overall, the results indicate that aNFC represents a promising 3D material for expansion of MSCs whilst allowing detailed examination of cell morphology and cellular behaviour.