©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Jan 26, 2015; 7(1): 37-50
Published online Jan 26, 2015. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i1.37
Published online Jan 26, 2015. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v7.i1.37
Control of stem cell fate by engineering their micro and nanoenvironment
Michelle F Griffin, Peter E Butler, Alexander M Seifalian, Deepak M Kalaskar, UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
Peter E Butler, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Hospital, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the manuscript in terms of writing the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Deepak M Kalaskar, UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, University College London, 9th Floor, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom. d.kalaskar@ucl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-20-77940500 Fax: +44-20-74726444
Received: July 25, 2014
Peer-review started: July 26, 2014
First decision: August 14, 2014
Revised: September 13, 2014
Accepted: September 18, 2014
Article in press: December 16, 2014
Published online: January 26, 2015
Processing time: 172 Days and 14.2 Hours
Peer-review started: July 26, 2014
First decision: August 14, 2014
Revised: September 13, 2014
Accepted: September 18, 2014
Article in press: December 16, 2014
Published online: January 26, 2015
Processing time: 172 Days and 14.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Stem cells receive instructions from their niche environment, which guide their survival and phenotype. Stem cells receive physical and biochemical clues from their extracellular matrix where they reside in vivo. This paper will discuss the utilization of biomaterial surface topography and elasticity and delivery of chemical and genetic clues via scaffold materials to mimic the extracellular matrix to guide stem cell fate. The understanding of the parameters that guide stem cell differentiation is of great interest for the tissue-engineering field.