Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
09:31
Evaluation of Stem Cell Therapies in a Bilateral Patellar Tendon Injury Model in Rats
Published on: March 30, 2018
Stem Cell Therapy: Past, Present, and Future Aspects
Ece Alim1, Angelia Greenwell1, Ryan Hess2
1Department of Biological Science, College of Arts & Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA.
Biomedicines
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Stem cell therapy (SCT) is a recognized clinical treatment for tissue repair and organ regeneration. This review covers SCT advancements, applications, and challenges in regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Stem cells possess self-renewal and differentiation capabilities, crucial for tissue repair and organ regeneration.
- Stem cell therapy (SCT) has transitioned from experimental to clinical application for various diseases.
- SCT and regenerative medicine are vital for treating chronic/acute diseases and organ failures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the history and need for SCT.
- To present delivery techniques, biomaterials, and nanotechnological methods in SCT.
- To focus on SCT and tissue engineering progress in neurological, ophthalmological, cardiovascular, orthopedic, and oncology applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current advancements in stem cell therapy and tissue engineering.
- Analysis of delivery techniques, biomaterials, and nanotechnology in SCT.
- Examination of SCT applications across multiple medical fields.
Main Results:
- Identified challenges including safety concerns, uncontrolled differentiation, genetic instability, and limited cell survival.
- Reviewed issues with immunological rejection, manufacturing scalability, and unpredictable clinical outcomes.
- Highlighted the need for further research into SCT applications and limitations.
Conclusions:
- Future directions include gene editing, personalized therapies, and immunomodulation for regenerative medicine.
- Neuroregeneration and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders are key areas for future SCT research.
- Advancements in tissue engineering and SCT hold promise for enhanced human health and longevity.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Stem Cell Culture
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
01:21Stem Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Stem cell therapy is a method used in regenerative medicine to repair and restore function to damaged tissues and organs. Stem cells have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into various tissue types, making them ideal candidates for tissue regeneration. For example, hematopoietic stem cell transplants are commonly used in blood cancer treatment to replenish damaged bone marrow and restore healthy blood cells.
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
Types of Stem Cells used in Stem Cell Therapy
The two main cell types that...
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
01:22iPS Cell Differentiation
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic cells are...
Somatic cells are...