Enabling stem cell therapies through synthetic stem cell–niche engineering
Raheem Peerani, Peter W. Zandstra
Raheem Peerani, Peter W. Zandstra
Published January 4, 2010
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2010;120(1):60-70. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI41158.
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Enabling stem cell therapies through synthetic stem cell–niche engineering

Abstract

Enabling stem cell–targeted therapies requires an understanding of how to create local microenvironments (niches) that stimulate endogenous stem cells or serve as a platform to receive and guide the integration of transplanted stem cells and their derivatives. In vivo, the stem cell niche is a complex and dynamic unit. Although components of the in vivo niche continue to be described for many stem cell systems, how these components interact to modulate stem cell fate is only beginning to be understood. Using the HSC niche as a model, we discuss here microscale engineering strategies capable of systematically examining and reconstructing individual niche components. Synthetic stem cell–niche engineering may form a new foundation for regenerative therapies.

Authors

Raheem Peerani, Peter W. Zandstra

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Figure 3

Strategies to engineer a stem cell niche.

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Strategies to engineer a stem cell niche. There are a variety of approac...
There are a variety of approaches to engineer and control individual niche components. These strategies can be multiplexed to produce hybrid devices that simultaneously provide macroscopic (e.g., O2-controlled bioreactors) and microscopic (e.g., micropatterned cocultures) control over the niche and stem cell fate. A poly(dimethyl siloxane) microfluidic device is shown (top right). hES cells were formed into 2,000-cell aggregates in 400-μm microwells (bottom right; scale bar: 100 μm). hES cells were immunostained with Hoechst 33342 (blue) and Oct-4 (green) on 400-μm Matrigel spots (bottom left; scale bar: 200 μm).