An integrated experimental-computational study of mesenchymal stem cell dynamics in confined microfluidic systems

XJ Qi and XC Jiang and JJ Zheng and RX Wang and YK Sun and JQ Gao and XJ Li, BIOMICROFLUIDICS, 19, 044102 (2025).

DOI: 10.1063/5.0276147

Regenerative medicine and stem cell-based therapies are recognized as pivotal in advancing biomedical technology, with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) identified as key candidates for clinical interventions. An in- depth understanding of the behavior of the MSC homing within physiologically relevant microenvironments is essential to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-based treatments. In this study, a relatively high-throughput, label-free microfluidic technology was developed to investigate the traversal dynamics of individual MSCs within confined microchannels. Detailed computational simulations, informed by companion microfluidic experiments, were performed to examine the influence of the cell nucleus on MSC dynamics, highlighting its critical role in facilitating dynamic behavior within constrained microflows and demonstrating the enhanced deformability of enucleated MSCs (eMSCs). Furthermore, shape deformations of both MSCs and eMSCs were analyzed in conjunction with surrounding flow streamlines, and variations in mechanical properties, such as shear modulus, were explored in relation to traversal dynamics. Collectively, the findings underscore the advantages of integrating microfluidic experiments with computational simulations to characterize intricate shape deformations and traversal behaviors of MSCs in confined microflows. This methodological framework establishes a robust platform for real-time monitoring of MSC behavior and for evaluating their homing capabilities within confined microenvironments.

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