Mesenchymal stem cells, the secretome and biomaterials: Regenerative medicine application

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells usually isolated from bone marrow, endometrium, adipose tissues, skin, and dental pulp. MSCs played a crucial role in regenerative therapy and have been introduced as an interdisciplinary field between cell biology and material science. Recently, MSCs have been widely explored for their application in regenerative medicine and COVID-19 treatment. Different approaches to evaluate the future of biomaterials and stem cell properties have been developed. However, misconceptions and ethical issues still exist, such as MSCs being non-angiogenic, anti-apoptotic, and immunoregulatory competencies. Embryonic stem cells isolation primarily requires the consent of donors and can include the killing of fertilized eggs. These issues generate questions related to ethical and moral issues. However, MSCs have gained considerable attention for tissue regeneration owing to their differentiation ability with immunomodulatory effects. They are capable of secreting a broad range of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, exosomes, microRNAs, and membrane vesicles, collectively known as secretomes. Secretomes are released in response to the surrounding microenvironment. In this article, we briefly address topics related to the therapeutic potential of MSCs as an advanced approach in the field of regenerative medicine and various perspectives.