Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells to Cardiomyocytes on Cellulose Nanofibril substrate

In vitro differentiation of cardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) holds great potential in regenerative medicine. Currently the differentiation of iPSCs to cardiomyocytes is mostly done on vitronectin substrate, which is very expensive and difficult to produce on a large scale. For potential future clinical application, an appropriate natural and non-xenogenic substrate for the differentiation of iPS cells is very important. In this study a natural, innocuous, tissue compatible and biodegradable polymer Cellulose Nanofibril (CNF) was used as a fine coat substrate for differentiating iPSCs to cardiomyocytes. We checked the expression of NKX2–5, an early cardiac mesoderm marker and TNNT2, a mature cardiomyocyte marker to confirm the process of becoming iPSCs to cardiomyocytes on both vitronectin and CNF substrates. Our preliminary results suggest that the stage specific markers were expressed on the differentiated cardiomyocytes from both the substrates and were analogous. Thus, we established a natural biomaterial, CNF, that may be used as a potential substrate in tissue engineering applications for the process by which iPSCs become cardiomyocytes. •CNF is a natural and xeno-free substrate for iPSC proliferation.•CNF thin film substrate supports iPSC adhesion and growth.•CNF thin film act as a substrate for the differentiation of iPSCs to cardiomyocytes.•CNF and vitronectin are comparable substrates for differentiation of cardiomyocytes.