title: Controlled differentiation of stem cells.
abstract: The extracellular microenvironment plays a significant role in controlling cellular behavior. Identification of appropriate biomaterials that support cellular attachment, proliferation and, most importantly in the case of human embryonic stem cells, lineage-specific differentiation is critical for tissue engineering and cellular therapy. In addition to growth factors and morphogenetic factors known to induce lineage commitment of stem cells, a number of scaffolding materials, including synthetic and naturally-derived biomaterials, have been utilized in tissue engineering approaches to direct differentiation. This review focuses on recent emerging findings and well-characterized differentiation models of human embryonic stem cells. Additionally, we also discuss about various strategies that have been used in stem cell expansion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Shyni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elisseeff
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins