Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials

Stem cell therapies hold immense promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases; however, the full therapeutic potential remains untaped. This limitation arises primarily from our incomplete understanding of the complex mechanisms of stem cell niches. A promising avenue of research lies in th...

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Main Authors: Anuska Mishra, Unnati Modi, Rahul Sharma, Dhiraj Bhatia, Raghu Solanki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Biomedical Engineering Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266709922400032X
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author Anuska Mishra
Unnati Modi
Rahul Sharma
Dhiraj Bhatia
Raghu Solanki
author_facet Anuska Mishra
Unnati Modi
Rahul Sharma
Dhiraj Bhatia
Raghu Solanki
author_sort Anuska Mishra
collection DOAJ
description Stem cell therapies hold immense promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases; however, the full therapeutic potential remains untaped. This limitation arises primarily from our incomplete understanding of the complex mechanisms of stem cell niches. A promising avenue of research lies in the development of Extracellular Matrix (ECM)-based novel biomaterials, which closely mimic the natural microenvironment of stem cells. These biomaterials provide essential biophysical and biochemical cues necessary for mechanotransduction, thereby enhancing the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapies by precisely modulating stem cell fate. In this review, we discuss the critical role of the stem cell niche and its interplay with ECM, detailing its structural composition and functional significance. We further explore how the biophysical and biochemical factors of the ECM modulate specific transmembrane receptors, triggering intracellular signaling mechanisms that regulate cell morphology, cytoskeletal dynamics, viability, migration, and differentiation. Engineered biomaterials to replicate the properties of the ECM are discussed along with the incorporation of tailored biophysical and biochemical cues into scaffolds and biomaterials to modulate stem cell fate. Overall, this review underscores the innovative applications of ECM mimicking biomaterials in biomedical engineering, emphasizing their transformative potential to modulate stem cell fate and advance regenerative medicine.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2667-0992
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Biomedical Engineering Advances
spelling doaj-art-ef94064be0d24a0884e594959e42e2242025-01-06T04:09:07ZengElsevierBiomedical Engineering Advances2667-09922025-06-019100143Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterialsAnuska Mishra0Unnati Modi1Rahul Sharma2Dhiraj Bhatia3Raghu Solanki4School of Nanoscience, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382030, IndiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, IndiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, IndiaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India; Corresponding authors.Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, Palaj, Gujarat 382355, India; Corresponding authors.Stem cell therapies hold immense promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases; however, the full therapeutic potential remains untaped. This limitation arises primarily from our incomplete understanding of the complex mechanisms of stem cell niches. A promising avenue of research lies in the development of Extracellular Matrix (ECM)-based novel biomaterials, which closely mimic the natural microenvironment of stem cells. These biomaterials provide essential biophysical and biochemical cues necessary for mechanotransduction, thereby enhancing the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapies by precisely modulating stem cell fate. In this review, we discuss the critical role of the stem cell niche and its interplay with ECM, detailing its structural composition and functional significance. We further explore how the biophysical and biochemical factors of the ECM modulate specific transmembrane receptors, triggering intracellular signaling mechanisms that regulate cell morphology, cytoskeletal dynamics, viability, migration, and differentiation. Engineered biomaterials to replicate the properties of the ECM are discussed along with the incorporation of tailored biophysical and biochemical cues into scaffolds and biomaterials to modulate stem cell fate. Overall, this review underscores the innovative applications of ECM mimicking biomaterials in biomedical engineering, emphasizing their transformative potential to modulate stem cell fate and advance regenerative medicine.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266709922400032XBiomaterialsBiomimickingExtracellular matrixStem cell therapyBiomedical applications
spellingShingle Anuska Mishra
Unnati Modi
Rahul Sharma
Dhiraj Bhatia
Raghu Solanki
Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
Biomedical Engineering Advances
Biomaterials
Biomimicking
Extracellular matrix
Stem cell therapy
Biomedical applications
title Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
title_full Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
title_fullStr Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
title_full_unstemmed Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
title_short Biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate: Progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
title_sort biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix modulates stem cell fate progress and prospect in extracellular matrix mimicking biomaterials
topic Biomaterials
Biomimicking
Extracellular matrix
Stem cell therapy
Biomedical applications
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266709922400032X
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