Looking into the Future: Toward Advanced 3D Biomaterials for Stem-Cell-Based Regenerative Medicine

Zhongmin Liu, Mingliang Tang, Jinping Zhao, Renjie Chai*, Jiuhong Kang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

149 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Stem-cell-based therapies have the potential to provide novel solutions for the treatment of a variety of diseases, but the main obstacles to such therapies lie in the uncontrolled differentiation and functional engraftment of implanted tissues. The physicochemical microenvironment controls the self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells, and the key step in mimicking the stem cell microenvironment is to construct a more physiologically relevant 3D culture system. Material-based 3D assemblies of stem cells facilitate the cellular interactions that promote morphogenesis and tissue organization in a similar manner to that which occurs during embryogenesis. Both natural and artificial materials can be used to create 3D scaffolds, and synthetic organic and inorganic porous materials are the two main kinds of artificial materials. Nanotechnology provides new opportunities to design novel advanced materials with special physicochemical properties for 3D stem cell culture and transplantation. Herein, the advances and advantages of 3D scaffold materials, especially with respect to stem-cell-based therapies, are first outlined. Second, the stem cell biology in 3D scaffold materials is reviewed. Third, the progress and basic principles of developing 3D scaffold materials for clinical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are reviewed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1705388
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume30
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 3D biomaterials
  • artificial organs
  • regenerative medicine
  • stem cells
  • tissue engineering

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Liu, Z., Tang, M., Zhao, J., Chai, R., & Kang, J. (2018). Looking into the Future: Toward Advanced 3D Biomaterials for Stem-Cell-Based Regenerative Medicine. Advanced Materials, 30(17), Article 1705388. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201705388