Screening of Biomaterials for Stem Cell Culture Applications

Stem cells have a considerable role to play in future biomedical breakthroughs due to their therapeutic potential. As stem cells may be studied in a variety of different applications, a "one size fits all" approach to the stem cell culture substrate is not appropriate. Different biomaterial formulations may be necessary in different contexts. Screening can help identify biomaterials for specific applications to harness stem cells' full potential. In this review, we cover experimental setups appropriate for screening applications, as well as data collection tools for both material and cell characterization. Finally, we cover high throughput data processing techniques, emphasizing the potential of introducing machine learning (ML) techniques into the analytical process. With increased use of ML-based analytical techniques, biomaterial screening has the potential to contribute to the rapid development of biomaterials for targeted stem cell applications.