TitleMaterials as stem cell regulators.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMurphy, WL, McDevitt, TC, Engler, AJ
JournalNature Materials
Date PublishedJune 2014
ISSN1476-1122
KeywordsAnimals, Biocompatible Materials, Cell Engineering, Cellular Microenvironment, Humans, Nanostructures, Regenerative Medicine, Signal Transduction, Stem Cells
Abstract

The stem cell/material interface is a complex, dynamic microenvironment in which the cell and the material cooperatively dictate one another's fate: the cell by remodelling its surroundings, and the material through its inherent properties (such as adhesivity, stiffness, nanostructure or degradability). Stem cells in contact with materials are able to sense their properties, integrate cues via signal propagation and ultimately translate parallel signalling information into cell fate decisions. However, discovering the mechanisms by which stem cells respond to inherent material characteristics is challenging because of the highly complex, multicomponent signalling milieu present in the stem cell environment. In this Review, we discuss recent evidence that shows that inherent material properties may be engineered to dictate stem cell fate decisions, and overview a subset of the operative signal transduction mechanisms that have begun to emerge. Further developments in stem cell engineering and mechanotransduction are poised to have substantial implications for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

DOI10.1038/nmat3937
Alternate JournalNat Mater
PubMed ID24845994
PubMed Central IDPMC4163547
Grant ListR21HL106529 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01HL093282 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AR062006 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States
DP02OD006460 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
TR01AR062006 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States