title: Integrating Biomaterials and Stem Cells for Neural Regeneration.
abstract: The central nervous system has a limited capacity to regenerate, and thus, traumatic injuries or diseases often have devastating consequences. Therefore, there is a distinct need to develop alternative treatments that can achieve functional recovery without side effects currently observed with some pharmacological treatments. Combining biomaterials with pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), either embryonic or induced, has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic injuries. Biomaterials can mimic the extracellular matrix and present a myriad of relevant biochemical cues through rational design or further functionalization. Biomaterials such as nanofibers and hydrogels, including self-assembling peptide (SAP) hydrogels can provide a superior cell culture environment. When these materials are then combined with PSCs, more accurate drug screening and disease modeling could be developed, and the generation of large number of cells with the appropriate phenotype can be achieved, for subsequent use in vitro. Biomaterials have also been shown to support endogenous cell growth after implantation, and, in particular, hydrogels and SAPs have effectively acted as cell delivery vehicles, increasing cell survival after transplantation. Few studies are yet to fully exploit the combination of PSCs and innovative biomaterials; however, initial studies with neural stem cells, for example, are promising, and, hence, such a combination for use in vitro and in vivo is an exciting new direction for the field of neural regeneration.
authors.affiliation: 1 Research School of Engineering, the Australian National University , Canberra, Australia .
authors.forename: Francesca L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.affiliation: 1 Research School of Engineering, the Australian National University , Canberra, Australia .
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: 2 Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the University of Melbourne , Parkville, Australia .
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Parish
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University , Melbourne, Australia .
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: 1 Research School of Engineering, the Australian National University , Canberra, Australia .
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nisbet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057139:Nanofibers; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials