'Silly Putty' scaffold sizes up stem cells
Within 24 hours of culturing adult human stem cells on a new type of matrix, researchers were able to make predictions about how the cells would differentiate, or what type of tissue they would become.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan built a novel type of stem cell matrix, or scaffold, which resembles an ultrafine carpet of “microposts" that have the consistency of Silly Putty. The scaffold's stiffness can be adjusted without altering its chemical composition, allowing researchers to examine the slight forces the cells exert—and early indication of cell type.
Full story at Futurity.
Photo credits: Michael Yang/Jianping Fu
