Bioreactor engineering of stem cell environments

Abstract

Stem cells hold promise to revolutionize modern medicine by the development of new therapies, disease models and drug screening systems. Standard cell culture systems have limited biological relevance because they do not recapitulate the complex 3-dimensional interactions and biophysical cues that characterize the in vivo environment. In this review, we discuss the current advances in engineering stem cell environments using novel biomaterials and bioreactor technologies. We also reflect on the challenges the field is currently facing with regard to the translation of stem cell based therapies into the clinic.

Keywords: Bioengineering; Biomaterials; Bioreactors; High-throughput screening; In vitro models; Models of disease; Personalized medicine; Regenerative medicine; Stem cells; Translation.