journal article·2026-04

Co‐assembled Protein Nanosheets for the Expansion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Enhanced Multipotency and Functionality on Printable Liquid Microcarriers

Haoyu Zhang, Jieman Chen, Yulan Zhu, Wenyan Lyu, Jingwen Song, Xiaofang Jia

Small· Volume 22· Issue 22
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) hold great translational potential for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, their clinical application is hindered by the rapid loss of pluripotency during large‐scale expansion on conventional substrates. Here we present co‐assembled protein nanosheets‐stabilized liquid microcarriers that enable scalable hMSC expansion while preserving pluripotency and functionality. Uniformly sized liquid microcarriers are produced using a custom dynamic droplet printing device. When aged appropriately, these liquid microcarriers support robust hMSC adhesion, rapid proliferation, and maintenance of pluripotency and therapeutic function. Enhanced multipotency retention is mediated by intermediate cytoskeletal tension and nucleus localization of Yes‐associated protein, regulated by the nanoscale mechanical properties of the protein nanosheets. Moreover, non‐enzymatic cell harvesting through gentle centrifugation preserves high cell viability and functionality. This study establishes engineered protein nanosheets‐stabilized liquid microcarriers as a promising platform for scalable, non‐disruptive stem cell expansion with significant therapeutic translation potential.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: 3D Printing in Biomedical Research · Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation · Silk-based biomaterials and applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen) Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat‐Sen University Sun Yat‐sen University Shenzhen 518107 China

Graduate School of Frontier Sciences The University of Tokyo Kashiwa Chiba Japan

Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Tsukuba Ibaraki Japan

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province · Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

References (41)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1038/s41392‐022‐01134‐410.1038/s41392‐022‐01134‐4 ↗
2. 10.1038/s41573‐020‐0064‐x10.1038/s41573‐020‐0064‐x ↗
3. 10.1038/cddis.2017.21510.1038/cddis.2017.215 ↗
4. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.12261610.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122616 ↗
5. 10.3390/bioengineering807009610.3390/bioengineering8070096 ↗
6. 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.08.00710.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.08.007 ↗
7. 10.1186/s13578‐020‐00438‐810.1186/s13578‐020‐00438‐8 ↗
8. 10.1186/1423‐0127‐17‐3610.1186/1423‐0127‐17‐36 ↗
9. 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.10.01310.1016/j.jcyt.2018.10.013 ↗
10. 10.1002/biot.20180046110.1002/biot.201800461 ↗
11. 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c0066310.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00663 ↗
12. 10.1038/s41586‐020‐2612‐210.1038/s41586‐020‐2612‐2 ↗
13. 10.1002/adma.20190594210.1002/adma.201905942 ↗
14. 10.1002/adhm.20230066610.1002/adhm.202300666 ↗
15. 10.1002/smll.20180464010.1002/smll.201804640 ↗
16. 10.1038/s41467‐022‐30622‐y10.1038/s41467‐022‐30622‐y ↗
17. 10.1002/jctb.660110.1002/jctb.6601 ↗
18. 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.10015910.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100159 ↗
19. 10.1002/adma.20240633310.1002/adma.202406333 ↗
20. 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.12149410.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121494 ↗
21. 10.1021/acsami.2c2018810.1021/acsami.2c20188 ↗
22. 10.1021/acsnano.8b0386510.1021/acsnano.8b03865 ↗
23. 10.1039/c7cs00827a10.1039/c7cs00827a ↗
24. 10.1002/admt.20160002110.1002/admt.201600021 ↗
25. 10.1107/s090744491202704710.1107/s0907444912027047 ↗
26. 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b0346210.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03462 ↗
27. 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.05510.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.055 ↗
28. 10.1021/ja056278e10.1021/ja056278e ↗
29. 10.1038/s41467‐023‐40856‐z10.1038/s41467‐023‐40856‐z ↗
30. 10.1021/jacs.3c0358110.1021/jacs.3c03581 ↗
31. 10.1080/1465324060085590510.1080/14653240600855905 ↗
32. 10.1111/jre.1211410.1111/jre.12114 ↗
33. 10.1007/s12015‐021‐10154‐610.1007/s12015‐021‐10154‐6 ↗
34. 10.1021/acsanm.0c0097310.1021/acsanm.0c00973 ↗
35. 10.1073/pnas.240421012110.1073/pnas.2404210121 ↗
36. 10.1038/nature1013710.1038/nature10137 ↗
37. 10.1126/sciadv.abm184710.1126/sciadv.abm1847 ↗
38. Verteporfin Inhibits YAP Function Through Up‐regulating 14‐3‐3σ Sequestering YAP in the Cytoplasm
39. 10.1038/s41467‐021‐26236‐510.1038/s41467‐021‐26236‐5 ↗
40. 10.1126/science.117462110.1126/science.1174621 ↗
41. 10.1038/3503605210.1038/35036052 ↗