Stem cells (SC) are largely known for their potential to restore damaged tissue through various known mechanisms. Among these mechanisms is their ability to transfer healthy mitochondria to injured cells to rescue them. This mitochondrial transfer plays a critical role in the healing process. To determine the optimal parameters for inducing mitochondrial transfer between cells, we assessed mitochondrial transfer as a function of seeding density and in two-dimensional (2D) and semi three-dimensional (2.5D) culture models. Since mitochondrial transfer can occur through direct contact or secretion, the 2.5D culture model utilizes collagen to provide cells with a more physiologically relevant extracellular matrix and offers a more realistic representation of cell attachment and movement. Results demonstrate the dependence of mitochondrial transfer on cell density and the distance between donor and recipient cell. Furthermore, the differences found between the transfer of mitochondria in 2D and 2.5D microenvironments suggest an optimal mode of mitochondria transport. Using these parameters, we explored the effects on mitochondrial transfer between SCs and tumorigenic cells. HEK293 (HEK) is an immortalized cell line derived from human embryonic kidney cells which grow rapidly and form tumors in culture. Consequently, HEKs have been deemed tumorigenic and are widely used in cancer research. We observed mitochondrial transfer from SCs to HEK cells at significantly higher transfer rates when compared to a SC–SC co-culture system. Interestingly, our results also revealed an increase in the migratory ability of HEK cells when cultured with SCs. As more researchers find co-localization of stem cells and tumors in the human body, these results could be used to better understand their biological relationship and lead to enhanced therapeutic applications.

Mesenchymal stem cells hold great promise as a therapeutic cell source for a variety of diseases such as osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. Their unique homing ability and multipotentiality play key roles in their applications in medicine. Specifically, hMSCs capability to adhere and migrate to damaged tissue's extracellular matrix is essential for serving their therapeutic purpose. The roles of some cytoskeletal elements, such as actin and microtubules, in cell migration and adhesion have been well described, while that of intermediate filaments (IFs) is not well understood. There is increasing evidence that vimentin IFs also function in cell spreading and adhesion, but their relationships in MSCs have not been fully characterized. In this work, we sought to understand how vimentin IFs govern adhesion and cellular cytoplasmic projection formation in human MSCs. Using shRNA to knockdown vimentin IFs in MSCs, we found that vimentin IFs are necessary for the cellular structural integrity required for cell-substrate adhesion and for forming and maintaining cellular projections.

The development of chemotherapeutic agents that offer high efficacy and low toxicity to non-tumor tissues are one of the main goals of cancer research. This study investigated the effects of tunable ionic nanomaterials as potential chemotherapeutic agents against cancer cells. The research focused on rhodamine 6G based fluorescent nanomaterials paired with various anions. It has

The development of chemotherapeutic agents that offer high efficacy and low toxicity to non-tumor tissues are one of the main goals of cancer research. This study investigated the effects of tunable ionic nanomaterials as potential chemotherapeutic agents against cancer cells. The research focused on rhodamine 6G based fluorescent nanomaterials paired with various anions. It has