Maria H. Santana, Eliana B. Souto, Ranjita Shegokar
English | 2023 | Original PDF | 597 Pages
ISBNs: 0323904718, 0323904327, 978-0-323-90471-1, 978-0323904711, 9780323904711, 978-0323904322, 9780323904322, B0BNDMBTQF
"Cell niches” are present in several human body tissues as a dynamic
microenvironment essential to modulate stem cells’ behavior in health,
under injury, and in regenerative processes. The interplay between stem
cells and their niche is necessary for sustaining tissues. The
extracellular matrix (ECM) is the crucial component of the stem cell. It
defines the architectural space, physical binding to the cell membrane,
and interactions with the neighborhood cells and supports physical
stress. Domains with nano or micrometric sizes define the surface and
topology of the ECM, mediating cell interactions and macrophage
recruitment to injured sites.
Over the last two decades, the
integration of biomedicine with other engineering and biomaterial
sciences promoted the development of nanotechnology and regenerative
medicine toward mimicking the specialized stem cell niches to treat
diseases with less invasive and efficient therapies. Innovative
approaches in nanotechnology, such as targeting the immunological
system, transporting drugs across blood–brain/BBB and blood–retinal
barriers/BRB, directing active moiety to specific disease
location/organs, encapsulation of multiple components, and promoting
signalization and pathway-specific surfaces for cell interactions and
growth, are indeed promising. On the other side, developments of
biomaterial scaffolds to mimic the cell niches for interactions with
stem cells in vitro or in vivo have tremendous potential.
The
three-dimensional printing technology offers a base for a wide array of
applications, for example, developing tissue constructs, mimetic organs,
organoids, and organ-on-a-chip, thus avoiding the differences between
animal model species and humans. Aiming closer to the natural
environments, fresh autologous products from the blood, such as
platelet-rich plasma (PRP), contain platelets and leukocytes, providing
growth factors, cytokines, and proteins for the resident stem cells in
the stages of regeneration. PRP also provides pain relief, reducing
disabilities in elderly or diseased people. This book brings
thought-provoking multidisciplinary topics on the diverse aspects of
basic and applied sciences. The prime focus of the compilation is to
understand the challenges researchers encounter in combining
nanotechnology and regenerative medicine, ultimately integrating both
disciplines for the benefit of the patient and offering them a ray of
hope to be cured.