Strategies based on stem cells for tissue engineering

Abstract

Cell-therapy is a new approach in medical research field. The increased number of patients, which is reported all over the world, has led to the development of innovative solutions capable of improving wound healing. Stem cells, due to their self-renewal and differentiation capacities, gradually replace the traditional medicine used in the past. Even if the risks of using stem cells exists, the promising results they can offer have led to the design of intelligent materials that can make life easier for patients. Stem cells can be classified by many criteria, but the most important are embryonic and adult stem cells. The ability of embryonic stem cells of differentiate into any type of tissue by various strategies makes them an ideal candidate in tissue engineering applications. Ethical problems must be taken into consideration, so the most used in different therapies are adult stem cells. Nowadays, the applications of stem cells are various. They can be used in order to restore the function of soft and hard tissue and to improve the healing time of a wound. Skin problems, osteogenesis, angiogenesis or fracture healing are some examples of tissue disorders that can be restored by using stem cells therapy and nanotechnology.