Application of biomaterials to advance induced pluripotent stem cell research and therapy

Zhixiang Tong; Aniruddh Solanki; Allison Hamilos; Oren Levy; Kendall Wen; Xiaolei Yin; Jeffrey M Karp

doi:10.15252/embj.201490756

Application of biomaterials to advance induced pluripotent stem cell research and therapy

EMBO J. 2015 Apr 15;34(8):987-1008. doi: 10.15252/embj.201490756. Epub 2015 Mar 12.

Authors

Zhixiang Tong¹, Aniruddh Solanki¹, Allison Hamilos¹, Oren Levy¹, Kendall Wen¹, Xiaolei Yin², Jeffrey M Karp³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Center for Regenerative Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
² Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Center for Regenerative Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA.
³ Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Center for Regenerative Therapeutics, Brigham and Women's Hospital Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA jeffkarp.bwh@gmail.com.

Abstract

Derived from any somatic cell type and possessing unlimited self-renewal and differentiation potential, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are poised to revolutionize stem cell biology and regenerative medicine research, bringing unprecedented opportunities for treating debilitating human diseases. To overcome the limitations associated with safety, efficiency, and scalability of traditional iPSC derivation, expansion, and differentiation protocols, biomaterials have recently been considered. Beyond addressing these limitations, the integration of biomaterials with existing iPSC culture platforms could offer additional opportunities to better probe the biology and control the behavior of iPSCs or their progeny in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we discuss the impact of biomaterials on the iPSC field, from derivation to tissue regeneration and modeling. Although still exploratory, we envision the emerging combination of biomaterials and iPSCs will be critical in the successful application of iPSCs and their progeny for research and clinical translation.

Keywords: biomaterials; disease modeling; expansion; induced pluripotent stem cells; reprogramming.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biocompatible Materials / therapeutic use*
Cellular Reprogramming
Gene Expression Regulation
Genetic Therapy / methods
Humans
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / transplantation
Regeneration*
Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
Tissue Engineering / methods

Substances

Biocompatible Materials