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Biophysical Characteristics Reveal Neural Stem Cell Differentiation Potential

Stem cells have potential to treat brain disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s diseases and spinal cord injury. This paper was the first to demonstrate that electrical property differences of human and mouse stem cells – specifically membrane capacitance – could be used to detect the ultimate differentiation fate of neural stem cells. Cells fated to become neurons have a lower capacitance. This paper resulted in the industrially-funded (DEPtech) prototypes for separating cells, on a scale required for successful therapy, currently being tested at Surrey. Subsequently, Axol Bioscience (S.Yusaf@axolbio.com) contacted us to investigate human Alzheimer’s neurons, neural progenitor and cardiomyocyte stem cells.