Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Smart Substrates
Overall control of stem-cell activity, such as proliferation and differentiation, are affected by
a varied array of environmental factors (e.g., nanofeatures on the substrates). Specifically,
numerous investigations in this field have demonstrated the impact of the ECM on stem-cell
fate by physical interactions, ECM geometry or topography, ECM mechanical properties,
and cell geometry at the nanoscale [100, 101]. Very recently, Mahmoudi
et al.
[100] produced
smart nanoenvironments using cell-imprinted substrates based on various matured cell
types as templates. Stem cells seeded on these cell-imprinted substrates were driven to adopt
the specific shape and molecular characteristics of the cell types that had been used as the
template for imprinting the cell substrate. These results suggest that the dynamic plasma
membrane of stem cells is capable of adopting the imprinted shape of the matured cells in
artificial substrates. The specifically induced plasma membrane shapes, which are finger-
printed according to the respective mature cell types used as the template, can control the
selective activation of genes of the printed matured cells, followed by autoactivation of
specific complex cell signaling and metabolomic pathways. This new strategy could pave the
way for a reliable, efficient, and cheap way of controlling stem-cell differentiation and,
consequently, change the future of commercial substrates.
Conclusions
Employment of rapid advances in the nanoengineering field of regenerative medicine has
resulted in the evolution of a new multidisciplinary research interest dealing with the control
of stem-cell fate by nanostructures and controlled macromolecular delivery by nanoplatforms.
Although products based on regenerative medicine, and specially those including stem-cell
therapies, show excellent promise for many types of treatments, there still exist safety, scientific,
manufacturing and ethical challenges. Many countries began establishing regulatory and
guidance documentation for tissue engineering research and products, as well as for stem-cell-
based therapies. This review examined the different regulatory processes involved in stem-cell
nanoengineered research and products for clinical applications, and highlighted the guidelines
that must be followed to obtain certification from regulatory agencies such as the FDA.
Control of stem-cell fate using nanostructures as well as nanoparticulate biomolecule delivery
will likely be necessary for most advanced cell and tissue therapies. Nevertheless, combinations
of nanotechnology and stem-cell research for development of new regenerative medicine
products will most likely increase the risk associated with the therapy, rendering the product
to be regulated under a higher risk category, resulting in delayed commercialization.
References
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Lee EJ, FK Kasper and AG Mikos (2014). Biomaterials for tissue engineering. Annals of
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Langer R (2007). Editorial: tissue engineering: perspectives, challenges, and future directions.
Tissue Engineering 13: 1-2.
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Lanza R, R Langer and JP Vacanti (2011)
Principles of Tissue Engineering
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Hellman KB (2008). Tissue engineering: translating science to product. In
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