Nanotopography Directs Fate of Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have remarkable potentials for breakthroughs in future cell-based therapeutics owing to their self-renewal capability and pluripotency [1–2]. However, their intrinsic mechanosensitivity to biophysical signals from the local cellular microenvironment is not well characterized [3–4]. In this work, we introduced a simple, yet precise, microfabrication strategy for accurate control and patterning of local nanoroughness on glass surfaces using photolithography and reactive ion etching (RIE). Our results demonstrated that nanoscale topological features could provide a potent regulatory signal over a diverse array of hESC behaviors, including their morphology, adhesion, proliferation and clonal expansion, and differentiation.