"Use of nanomaterials as scaffolds for the targeted differentiation of pluripotent cells"

Abstract

The discovery of stem cells and their occupancy for research and therapeutic aim constituted a milestone in Science. A brief reference to the progress and the leading facts of the discovery could facilitate the understanding of the basic principles of stem cells. Though, there is an indispensable need of discrimination and classification of stem cells; one of the categories consists the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs).

Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (ESCs, iPSCs) constitute the pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), allocated due to common properties. The latter, are considered to be a valuable tool of science, combining adequate potency, variability in used techniques, successful differentiation, while not subjected in strict bioethical restrictions. Exploitation of them could provide benefit in the fields of embryology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug development, disease modeling and personalized medicine.

The variety culture and differentiation methods that can be used according to the needs, along with the ease of handling those cells, are providing a great benefit for ESCs. Nevertheless, Stem Cell field is still premature, demanding the optimization of methods, and especially in differentiation, in order to provide mature in vivo like cell types. Nanotechnology, implicated in the construction of adjustable and biocompatible materials in the nanometer scale, comprises a promising tool.

Due to lack of understanding of the implicated mechanisms and relevance in regenerative capacity, complexity and cellular microenvironment, to other well studied tissues, cardiac tissue differentiation is considered to be a challenge. Graphene is a nanomaterial consisted of carbon which can be produced simply and economically.It appears to be a strong candidate to facilitate the mature cardiac cells’ production. Further research and methodology optimization could elucidate grapheme-cells interactions, revealing cardiac cells’ develop and function key mechanisms.

MPESLIKA Evangelia