Regulation and Directing Stem Cell Fate by Tissue Engineering Functional Microenvironments: Scaffold Physical and Chemical Cues

Abstract

It is well known that stem cells reside within tissue engineering functional microenvironments that physically localize them and direct their stem cell fate. Recent efforts in the development of more complex and engineered scaffold technologies, together with new understanding of stem cell behavior in vitro, have provided a new impetus to study regulation and directing stem cell fate. A variety of tissue engineering technologies have been developed to regulate the fate of stem cells. Traditional methods to change the fate of stem cells are adding growth factors or some signaling pathways. In recent years, many studies have revealed that the geometrical microenvironment played an essential role in regulating the fate of stem cells, and the physical factors of scaffolds including mechanical properties, pore sizes, porosity, surface stiffness, three-dimensional structures, and mechanical stimulation may affect the fate of stem cells. Chemical factors such as cell-adhesive ligands and exogenous growth factors would also regulate the fate of stem cells. Understanding how these physical and chemical cues affect the fate of stem cells is essential for building more complex and controlled scaffolds for directing stem cell fate.

Advances in biomaterials for adipose tissue reconstruction in plastic surgery

“…Compared with injectable materials, the placement of 3D biological scaffolds requires surgical incision, which is more complicated, and clinical verification is also required for the location and fixation of implants. The study of scaffold's microenvironments on regulation of cell fate is still a difficult issue [65]. Another difficulty that can be predicted is the fabrication of a tri-microbial scaffold, which uses materials that are same as injectable biomaterials.…”

The Research Advance of Cell Bridges in vitro

“…The adhesion sites, mediating the attachment of cells to ECM, are not continuous in the microenvironment of cells, and its spatial distribution is predominantly dependent on the biochemical composition pattern of the microenvironment (chemical microenvironment), which is dictated by the location and orientation of ECM fibers and the positions of adjacent cells (Thery, 2010). Consistent with the topographic microenvironment, chemical cues also play a crucial role in the regulation of cellular differentiation, gene expression, and functions (Xing et al, 2019). Chemical micro-patterns are prepared to mimic the chemical microenvironment in vivo to accurately investigate the cell behavior and mechanism based on cell adhesions (Tu et al, 2017).…”

International regulatory considerations pertaining to the development of stem cell-based veterinary medicinal products

“…Stem cells have the ability of self-renewal and differentiation. It can be widely used in regenerative medicine to repair the bone, cartilage, and skin [ 1 2 ]. Stem cell-based products (SCPs) are rapidly developing challenges for the assurance of consistent and safe approaches to making such it available to treat of a disease or physical injury.…”