Control of Adult Stem Cell Behavior with Biomaterials

Abstract

Interactions of stem cells with biophysics of extracellular matrix (ECM) have shown a significant influence in control of the stem cell behavior. To mimic nanometer and micrometer scale of ECM structures, biomaterials such as nanotopographical substrates, nanofibers, conductive gold nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, hydrogels, and micropatterned surface are used to culture stem cells. In this review, we focused on easily attainable and clinically applied adult stem cells rather than embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells that are still in infantile stage of research. We present the effects of the biomaterials on adult stem cell behavior, especially on stem cell differentiation.