Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
11:00
Isolation and Enrichment of Human Adipose-derived Stromal Cells for Enhanced Osteogenesis
Published on: January 12, 2015
12.2K
Silica nanoparticles increase human adipose tissue-derived stem cell proliferation through ERK1/2 activation
Ki Joo Kim1, Young Ae Joe2, Min Kyoung Kim1
1Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Department of Molecular Biomedicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Nanomedicine
|April 8, 2015
Summary
Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (NPs) enhance human adipose-derived stem cell (hADSC) proliferation by activating ERK1/2 signaling. Microparticles (MPs) did not promote growth and induced apoptosis, highlighting the importance of NP size in tissue engineering scaffolds.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Stem Cell Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Silicon dioxide composites improve scaffold mechanical properties and support human adipose-derived stem cell (hADSC) growth.
- The influence of silicon dioxide particle size on hADSC behavior remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different sized silica particles on hADSC proliferation, apoptosis, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling.
- To determine if silica nanoparticle (NP) size influences their beneficial effects on hADSCs.
Main Methods:
- Prepared silica NPs (<220 nm) and silica microparticles (MPs; 3 μm).
- Incubated hADSCs with NPs or MPs and analyzed cell entry, proliferation, apoptosis, and MAPK signaling (ERK1/2, p38, JAK).
- Utilized transmission electron microscopy and specific kinase inhibitors (PD98059).
Main Results:
- Silica NPs (50-120 nm) were endocytosed by hADSCs, increasing proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation.
- Silica MPs did not enter cells, showed no significant effect on proliferation, and induced slight apoptosis.
- Silica MPs increased p38 phosphorylation, while NPs did not affect JAK or p38 phosphorylation.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle size is critical for silicon dioxide's beneficial effects on hADSCs.
- Scaffolds incorporating 50-120 nm silica NPs may enhance cell growth via ERK1/2 activation for tissue engineering.
- Silica-derived NPs show potential for use in stem cell therapy bioscaffolds.
