Micro/nanoengineered technologies for human pluripotent stem cells maintenance and differentiation

• Published in: Nano today 2021-12, Vol.41, p.101310, Article 101310
• Main Authors: Esfahani, Sajedeh Nasr, Irizarry, Agnes M. Resto, Xue, Xufeng, Lee, Samuel Byung-Deuk, Shao, Yue, Fu, Jianping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemical cues; Biomechanical cues; Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs); Micro/nanoengineering technologies; Microfluidics; Scaffolds
• ISSN: 1748-0132; 1878-044X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101310

•This review summarized micro/nanoengineered technologies for controlling human Pluripotent Stem Cell (hPSC) fate and function.•The role of biochemical and biomechanical cues, 3D biodegradable scaffolds, and microfluidic systems in determining hPSC fate is discussed.•The challenges faced by hPSC biologists and bioengineers are discussed. [Display omitted] Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a promising source of cells for cell replacement-based therapies as well as modeling human development and diseases in vitro. However, achieving fate control of hPSC with a high yield and specificity remains challenging. The fate specification of hPSCs is regulated by biochemical and biomechanical cues in their environment. Driven by this knowledge, recent exciting advances in micro/nanoengineering have been leveraged to develop a broad range of tools for the generation of extracellular biomechanical and biochemical signals that determine the behavior of hPSCs. In this review, we summarize such micro/nanoengineered technologies for controlling hPSC fate and highlight the role of biochemical and biomechanical cues such as substrate rigidity, surface topography, and cellular confinement in the hPSC-based technologies that are on the horizon.