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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2016 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Stem Cell Res. 2015 Feb 19;14(3):270–282. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.02.002

Table 1.

Engineering cell adhesion strategies to direct stem cell fate decision

Strategy Approach MSC Differentiation Advantages Ref.
Engineering cadherin surfaces Cadherin immobilization to surfaces CDH2-CDH2 interactions:
Increased osteo-, chondro- and myogenic differentiation
Decreased adipogenic differentiation

  1. The extent of cell-cell adhesion is independent of cell density.

  2. Enables single cell analysis.

  3. Isolate the effects of cadherins from other CAMs.

 [134–140, 151]
CDH11-CDH11 interactions:
Increased myogenic and osteogenic differentiation
Engineering surface microtopology Microfabrication/Micropatterning Large micro-island:
Upregulate chondrogenic and myogenic differentiation
Small micro-island:
Increase adipogenic fate

  1. Control cell adhesion at the micro/nanoscales.

  2. Cell-cell adhesion independent of cell spreading.

  3.  

  4. Control the extent of cell-cell adhesion through substrate geometry.

 [137–146] [12–14]