We investigated if poly-lactic acid (PLA) nanopillar array can trigger the differentiation of human epicardial (ADSCs) (heADSCs) into cardiomyocyte-like cells and explored the effects of these cardiomyocyte-like cells on myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo. PLA nanopillar array (200 nm diameter) and plain PLA film (PLA planar) induced heADSCs were marked with carboxyfluorescein. After 7 days, the expressions of myocardiocyte-specific genes were significantly enhanced in cells seeded on PLA nanopillar array compared with that on PLA planar, especially CACNA1C, KCNH2, and MYL2 genes (p < 0.05). However, the expressions of cardiac troponin T (cTNT), KCNQ1, and KCNA5 were lower than those in PLA planar-induced heADSCs (p < 0.05), whereas GATA4 tended to increase with time. The cells with positively stained α-actinin and cTNT were elevated in heADSCs induced by PLA nanopillar array compared with those induced by PLA planar only (p < 0.05). In vivo experiments showed that cardiac function was improved after injecting PLA-nanopillar array-induced heADSCs into the ischemic heart (p < 0.05, compared with PLA planar + MI group). Furthermore, tyrosine hydroxylase density was significantly lower (p < 0.05). PLA nanopillar array directly drives the differentiation of heADSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells, and the induced heADSCs exhibit a protective effect on ischemic myocardium by improving cardiac function in MI rats.
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