Effects of scaffold material properties on stem cell differentiation in tissue engineering / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidences support that the physical properties, especially stiffness, can regulate the directional differentiation of stem cells.OBJECTIVE: To review the effects of extracellular matrix on stem cell behaviors, and the research progress concerning the influence of physical properties of biomaterials on stem cell differentiation.METHODS: The first author retrieved CNKI and Web of Science databases using the keywords of extracellular matrix, bioscaffolds materials, chemical property, physical property, substrate rigidity, stem cell differentiation in Chinese and English, respectively. Finally, a total of 31 literatures were included for analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The physicochemical properties expose effects on the cell proliferation, migration and differentiation, and especially the regulatory effect of stiffness on the cell differentiation has a revelation for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Searching for more biochemical and physical factors interacting with the stiffness of extracellular matrix will enable us to control cell behaviors accurately and to prepare an ideal scaffold closely similar to in vivo environment.