title: Nanotechnology to drive stem cell commitment.
abstract: Stem cells (SCs) are undifferentiated cells responsible for the growth, homeostasis and repair of many tissues. The maintenance and survival of SCs is strongly influenced by several stimuli from the local microenvironment. The majority of signaling molecules interact with SCs at the nanoscale level. Therefore, scaffolds with surface nanostructures have potential applications for SCs and in the field of regenerative medicine. Although some strategies have already reached the field of cell biology, strategies based on modification at nanoscale level are new players in the fields of SCs and tissue regeneration. The introduction of the possibility to perform such modifications to these fields is probably due to increasing improvements in nanomaterials for biomedical applications, as well as new insights into SC biology. The aim of the present review is to exhibit the most recent applications of nanostructured materials that drive the commitment of adult SCs for potential clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Venezia 90, 35100 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Eriberto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferroni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gardin
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sbricoli
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guazzo
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stellini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinton
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivolella
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zavan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D015398:Signal Transduction; D057905:Stem Cell Research; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins