Differentiation of stem cells: strategies for modifying surface biomaterials.
Stem cells are a natural choice for cellular therapy because of their potential to differentiate into a variety of lineages, their capacity for self-renewal in the repair of damaged organs and tissues in vivo, and their ability to generate tissue constructs in vitro. Determining how to efficiently drive stem cell differentiation to a lineage of choice is critical for the success of cellular therapeutics. Many factors are involved in this process, the extracellular microenvironment playing a significant role in controlling cellular behavior. In recent years, researchers have focused on identifying a variety of biomaterials to provide a microenvironment that is conducive to stem cell growth and differentiation and that ultimately mimics the in vivo situation. Appropriate biomaterials support the cellular attachment, proliferation, and lineage-specific differentiation of stem cells. Tissue engineering approaches have been used to incorporate growth factors and morphogenetic factors-factors known to induce lineage commitment of stem cells-into cultures with scaffolding materials, including synthetic and naturally derived biomaterials. This review focuses on various strategies that have been used in stem cell expansion and examines modifications of natural and synthetic materials, as well as various culture conditions, for the maintenance and lineage-specific differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells.
Center for Neuropsychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Ru-Huei
RH
Fu
Yu-Chi
YC
Wang
Shih-Ping
SP
Liu
Chin-Mao
CM
Huang
Yun-Han
YH
Kang
Chang-Hai
CH
Tsai
Woei-Cherng
WC
Shyu
Shinn-Zong
SZ
Lin
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D001672:Biocompatible Materials