The rapid progress of embryonic stem cell (ESCs) research offers great promise for drug discovery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. However, a major limitation in translation of ESCs technology to pharmaceutical and clinical applications is how to induce their differentiation into tailored lineage commitment with satisfactory efficiency. Many studies indicate that this lineage commitment is precisely controlled by the ESC microenvironment in vivo. Engineering and biomaterial-based approaches to recreate a biomimetic cellular microenvironment provide valuable strategies for directing ESCs differentiation to specific lineages in vitro. In this review, we summarize and examine the recent advances in application of engineering and biomaterial-based approaches to control ESC differentiation. We focus on physical strategies (e.g., geometrical constraint, mechanical stimulation, extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness, and topography) and biochemical approaches (e.g., genetic engineering, soluble bioactive factors, coculture, and synthetic small molecules), and highlight the three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel-based microenvironment for directed ESC differentiation. Finally, future perspectives in ESCs engineering are provided for the subsequent advancement of this promising research direction.
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November 2015
Research-Article
Engineering Embryonic Stem Cell Microenvironments for Tailored Cellular Differentiation
Chenyu Huang,
Chenyu Huang
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and
Aesthetic Surgery,
Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital,
Medical Center,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China;
Aesthetic Surgery,
Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital,
Medical Center,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China;
Department of Plastic Surgery,
Meitan General Hospital,
Beijing 100028, China
e-mail: huangchenyu2014@126.com
Meitan General Hospital,
Beijing 100028, China
e-mail: huangchenyu2014@126.com
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Alexander Melerzanov,
Alexander Melerzanov
Cellular and Molecular Technologies Laboratory,
MIPT,
Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
MIPT,
Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
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Yanan Du
Yanan Du
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
School of Medicine,
Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis
and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: duyanan@tsinghua.edu.cn
School of Medicine,
Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis
and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: duyanan@tsinghua.edu.cn
Search for other works by this author on:
Chenyu Huang
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and
Aesthetic Surgery,
Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital,
Medical Center,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China;
Aesthetic Surgery,
Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital,
Medical Center,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China;
Department of Plastic Surgery,
Meitan General Hospital,
Beijing 100028, China
e-mail: huangchenyu2014@126.com
Meitan General Hospital,
Beijing 100028, China
e-mail: huangchenyu2014@126.com
Alexander Melerzanov
Cellular and Molecular Technologies Laboratory,
MIPT,
Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
MIPT,
Dolgoprudny 141701, Russia
Yanan Du
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
School of Medicine,
Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis
and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: duyanan@tsinghua.edu.cn
School of Medicine,
Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis
and Treatment of Infectious Diseases,
Tsinghua University,
Beijing 100084, China
e-mail: duyanan@tsinghua.edu.cn
1Corresponding authors.
Manuscript received October 8, 2015; final manuscript received March 9, 2016; published online May 6, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Feng Xu.
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. Nov 2015, 6(4): 040801 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 6, 2016
Article history
Received:
October 8, 2015
Revised:
March 9, 2016
Citation
Huang, C., Melerzanov, A., and Du, Y. (May 6, 2016). "Engineering Embryonic Stem Cell Microenvironments for Tailored Cellular Differentiation." ASME. J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. November 2015; 6(4): 040801. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4033193
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