Engineering the human pluripotent stem cell microenvironment to direct cell fate

Area of Science:

• Stem cell biology
• Biotechnology
• Developmental biology

Background:

• Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) possess self-renewal and differentiation potential crucial for research and regenerative medicine.
• Robust protocols are needed to direct hPSC fate, as cell decisions depend on microenvironmental cues.
• Engineering approaches leverage developmental biology insights to create in vitro niches for controlling hPSC behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review engineered culture systems that promote hPSC self-renewal or differentiation.
• To highlight studies elucidating microenvironmental cue contributions to hPSC fate.
• To propose microsystem technologies for efficient screening of spatial-temporal cues.

Main Methods:

• Review of engineered culture systems for hPSC fate control.
• Analysis of studies on microenvironmental factors influencing hPSC differentiation and self-renewal.
• Proposal of microsystem technologies for high-throughput screening.

Main Results:

• Engineered in vitro niches can reproducibly direct hPSC fate.
• Specific microenvironmental cues (soluble factors, matrix, cell interactions, mechanical forces, architecture) significantly impact hPSC decisions.
• Microsystem technologies enable high-throughput screening of spatial-temporal cue presentation.

Conclusions:

• Engineered microenvironments are key to controlling hPSC self-renewal and differentiation.
• Understanding microenvironmental influences is critical for advancing regenerative medicine applications.
• Microsystem technologies provide a powerful platform for optimizing hPSC differentiation protocols.