A lithium-containing biomaterial promotes chondrogenic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells with reducing hypertrophy

Background Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) exhibit limitless pluripotent plasticity and proliferation capability to provide an abundant cell source for tissue regenerative medicine. Thus, inducing iPSCs toward a specific differentiation direction is an important scientific question. Traditionally, iPSCs have been induced to chondrocytes with the help of some small molecules within 21–36 days. To speed up the differentiation of iPSCs, we supposed to utilize bioactive ceramics to assist chondrogenic-induction process. Methods In this study, we applied ionic products (3.125~12.5 mg/mL) of the lithium-containing bioceramic (Li 2 Ca 4 Si 4 O 13 , L2C4S4) and individual Li + (5.78~23.73 mg/L) in the direct chondrogenic differentiation of human iPSCs. Results Compared to pure chondrogenic medium and extracts of tricalcium phosphate (TCP), the extracts of L2C4S4 at a certain concentration range (3.125~12.5 mg/mL) significantly enhanced chondrogenic proteins Type II Collagen (COL II)/Aggrecan/ SRY-Box 9 (SOX9) synthesis and reduced hypertrophic protein type X collagen (COL X)/matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP13) production in iPSCs-derived chondrocytes within 14 days, suggesting that these newly generated chondrocytes exhibited favorable chondrocytes characteristics and maintained a low-hypertrophy state. Further studies demonstrated that the individual Li + ions at the concentration range of 5.78~23.73 mg/L also accelerated the chondrogenic differentiation of iPSCs, indicating that Li + ions played a pivotal role in chondrogenic differentiation process. Conclusions These findings indicated that lithium-containing bioceramic with bioactive specific ionic components may be used for a promising platform for inducing iPSCs toward chondrogenic differentiation and cartilage regeneration.