Fig. 9: Time-resolved tuning of # ligand inter-cluster edges regulates stem cell behaviors in vivo.

a Schematic illustration of the time-resolved elevation (“E.”) and non-elevation (“NE.”) control of high-anisotropy nano-blockers to tune # ligand inter-cluster edges in vivo for the regulation of injected stem cells on the implanted materials. b Immunostained fluorescent images of paxillin or YAP co-stained with F-actin and nuclei (DAPI), and HuNu co-stained with RUNX2 and nuclei (DAPI) of adherent stem cells after 6 h of injection onto the subcutaneously implanted material displaying a reversibly tunable # ligand inter-cluster edges. c Computation of the HuNu-positive cell density (n = 6 biological replicates; *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001), the focal adhesion number (n = 6 cells; *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001), and the nuclear/cytoplasmic intensity ratios of YAP and RUNX2 expression (n = 6 cells; *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001) in adherent stem cells after 6 h of injection. d Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images of subcutaneous tissue near the implanted site and major organs (liver, heart, spleen, and kidney) of mice before and 7 d after material implantation to assess the toxicity of implanted materials locally and systemically, respectively. A piece of permanent magnet was carefully coupled to the backs of the mice to direct the elevation of high-anisotropy nano-blockers in vivo. The coupling and uncoupling of the magnet were either switched or maintained after 3 h for 6 h (“NE.-NE.”, “NE.-E.”, “E.-NE.”, and “E.-E.”). Scale bars: 50 µm (confocal microscopy) and 200 μm (optical microscopy). Data are shown as the means ± standard errors. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA along with the Tukey–Kramer post hoc test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.