Stem Cell Self-Triggered Regulation and Differentiation on Polyvinylidene Fluoride Electrospun Nanofibers

Smart electroactive materials that can dynamically regulate stem cell fate without external stimuli have fascinated increasing attention. Meanwhile, noninvasive electrical stimulation has emerged as a less restrictive approach, generating considerable interest in its potential biomedical applications. The intricate interplay between cells and materials within complex microenvironments includes encompassing substrate response, ion exchange, and membrane potential alterations. However, the mechanisms by which smart materials influence stem cells have yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, electrospinning technology is utilized to fabricate bone-mimicking microenvironments comprising disordered and highly oriented polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers. The aligned annealed PVDF (AA) and random annealed PVDF (RA) membranes present high fractions of β-phase. By comparing the osteogenic ability, calcium activity, and F-actin distribution of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cultured with these PVDF nanofibers, it is proposed that the stem cells autonomously regulate their differentiation by remodeling the cytoskeleton on the electrospun membranes. Electrical stimulation, more adhesion area, and active calcium influx support the greater osteogenesis of BMSCs on RA than AA. This mechanism can provide a basic theory for the design and preparation of bone tissue engineering scaffolds and contribute to the further study of cells and microenvironments. © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.