Hydrogel-Based Strategies for Stem Cell Therapy

Abstract

Stem cells from different sources provide considerable expectation for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine because of their ability to proliferate and differentiate into functional cells. However, poor cell engraftment and survival after transplantation are key factors limiting the current stem cell-based therapy. The utilization of engineered microenvironments with synthetic biomaterials has been progressively successful in controlling the transplanted cells fate by imitating the native stem cell niche. Recently, synthetic 3D extracellular matrices (ECMs) have been extensively explored as scaffolds for tissue regeneration by emulating the components of natural stem cell niche to minimize implanted cell death. For their tunable tissue-like properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility in all different forms of biomaterials, hydrogels are most normally used as substrates and scaffolds, which serve as a promising cell delivery vehicle to illustrate stem cell biology. Here, we will focus on recent advances in generating hydrogel, as well as the application of hydrogel for stem cell-based therapy. Finally, hydrogel-based controlled-release strategies for improving therapeutic efficiency of stem cells will be discussed.