Effect of Sulfur on Nitrogen-Containing Plasma Polymers in Promoting Osteogenic Differentiation of Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The role of sulfur and its synergistic effects with nitrogen moieties in mediating stem cell proliferation differentiation has become interest to the tissue engineering community due chemical similarities glycosaminoglycans found human tissues cells. Glycosaminoglycans are biomolecules known influence differentiation, but roles different oxidation states on nitrogen-containing polymers have not been fully understood nor investigated. In this study, we used plasma polymerization 1,7-octadiene (ppOD), n-heptylamine (ppHA), ppHA grafted vinyl-sulfonate via Michael-type addition (ppHA-SO3), thiophene (ppT), ppT air treatment (ppT-air) produce controlled amounts having states, as confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Assays osteogenic activities Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal cells (WJ-MSCs) showed highest for ppHA, followed ppHA-SO3, high percentages amines/amides absence SO3 ppHA. Other less than positive control (glass substrate); however, WJ-MSCs grown ppT-air SO4 displayed cytoskeletons intensified actin stress fiber, unlike thiol-dominated ppT. Finally, presence methyl groups ppOD severely limited differentiation. Overall, these results confirm beneficial amine/amide combination various failed further enhance such cellular activities.