High throughput approaches for controlled stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Stem cells have unique ability to undergo self-renewal indefinitely in culture and potential to differentiate into almost all cell types in the human body. However, the developing a method for efficiently differentiating or manipulating these stem cells for therapeutic purposes remains a challenging problem. Pluripotent stem cells, as well as adult stem cells, require biological cues for their proliferation and differentiation. These cues are largely controlled by cell-cell, cell-insoluble factors (such as extracellular matrix), and cell-soluble factors (such as cytokine or growth factors) interactions. In this review, we describe a state of research on various stem cell-based tissue engineering applications and high throughput strategies for developing synthetic or biosynthetic microenvironments to allow efficient commitments in stem cells.

Statement of significance: Nowadays, pluripotency of stem cells have received much attention to use therapeutic purpose. However, a major difficulty with stem cell therapy is to control its differentiation through desired cells or tissues. In other words, various microenvironment factors are involved during stem cell differentiation, including dimensionality, growth factors, cell junctions, nutritional status, matrix stiffness, matrix composition, mechanical stress, and cell-matrix adhesion. Therefore, researchers have engineered a variety of platforms to enable controlling and monitoring bioactive factors to induce stem cell commitment. In this review, we report on recent advancements in a novel technology based on high-throughput strategies for stem cell-based tissue engineering applications.

Keywords: Cell–cell interactions; Extracellular matrix; High throughput platform; Stem cell differentiation.