title: Adult Stem Cell Responses to Nanostimuli.
abstract: Adult or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been found in different tissues in the body, residing in stem cell microenvironments called "stem cell niches". They play different roles but their main activity is to maintain tissue homeostasis and repair throughout the lifetime of an organism. Their ability to differentiate into different cell types makes them an ideal tool to study tissue development and to use them in cell-based therapies. This differentiation process is subject to both internal and external forces at the nanoscale level and this response of stem cells to nanostimuli is the focus of this review.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cell Engineering, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. penelope.tsimbouri@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Penelope M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tsimbouri
keywords: ECM; MSC; cell adhesion; mechanotransduction; nanoforces; nanotopography; nanovibration; stem cell niche; stem cells