title: Polymers to direct cell fate by controlling the microenvironment.
abstract: Enhanced understanding of the signals within the microenvironment that regulate cell fate has led to the development of increasingly sophisticated polymeric biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. This advancement is exemplified by biomaterials with precisely controlled scaffold architecture that regulate the spatio-temporal release of growth factors and morphogens, and respond dynamically to microenvironmental cues. Further understanding of the biology, qualitatively and quantitatively, of cells within their microenvironments and at the tissue-material interface will expand the design space of future biomaterials.
authors.affiliation: Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: R Warren
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mooney
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers