Adult Stem Cell Culture on Extracellular Matrices and Natural Biopolymers

Abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins can determine and ascertain whether stem cells are going to multiply or undergo growth retardation, move or remain static, and thrive or undergo apoptotic death. As a result, ECM proteins are a key point in reproducing the biological roles of stem cells in vitro, which assist stem cells to cause induction into different lineages of the cells (e.g., β-cells, hepatocytes, neural cells, cardiomyocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts). The induction of stem cells in cultivation system borders on the origin, structure (morphology), components, and amount of ECM proteins that were used. ECM proteins are used as hydrogels or matrices for the arrangement of cells in tissues. ECM proteins are the major cell development ingredients used to regulate the expansion and differentiation of stem cells in developing medicine and tissue design both in vivo and in vitro. This chapter explains in detail the differentiation of stem cells developed on biomaterials prepared with some ECM proteins and on the chemical and biological contact between ECM and stem cells.