k-Casein upregulates osteogenic differentiation on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured on agarose microcarriers

Fabrication of polymeric microspheres for biomedical applications

Polymeric microspheres (PMs) have attracted great attention in the field of biomedicine in the last several decades due to their small particle size, special functionalities shown on the surface and high surface-to-volume ratio. However, how to fabricate PMs which can meet the clinical needs and transform laboratory achievements to industrial scale-up still remains a challenge. Therefore, advanced fabrication technologies are pursued. In this review, we summarize the technologies used to fabricate PMs, including emulsion-based methods, microfluidics, spray drying, coacervation, supercritical fluid and superhydrophobic surface-mediated method and their advantages and disadvantages. We also review the different structures, properties and functions of the PMs and their applications in the fields of drug delivery, cell encapsulation and expansion, scaffolds in tissue engineering, transcatheter arterial embolization and artificial cells. Moreover, we discuss existing challenges and future perspectives for advancing fabrication technologies and biomedical applications of PMs.

Engineering Polysaccharides for Tissue Repair and Regeneration

The success of repair or regeneration depends greatly on the architecture of 3D scaffolds that finely mimic natural extracellular matrix to support cell growth and assembly. Polysaccharides have excellent biocompatibility with intrinsic biological cues and they have been extensively investigated as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). The physical and biochemical structures of natural polysaccharides, however, can barely meet all the requirements of tissue-engineered scaffolds. To take advantage of their inherent properties, many innovative approaches including chemical, physical, or joint modifications have been employed to improve their properties. Recent advancement in molecular and material building technology facilitates the fabrication of advanced 3D structures with desirable properties. This review focuses on the latest progress of polysaccharide-based scaffolds for TERM, especially those that construct advanced architectures for tissue regeneration.

Three dimensional microcarrier system in mesenchymal stem cell culture: a systematic review

Stem cell-based regenerative medicine is a promising approach for tissue reconstruction. However, a large number of cells are needed in a typical clinical study, where conventional monolayer cultures might pose a limitation for scale-up. The purpose of this review was to systematically assess the application of microcarriers in Mesenchymal Stem Cell cultures. A comprehensive search was conducted in Medline via Ebscohost, Pubmed, and Scopus, and relevant studies published between 2015 and 2019 were selected. The literature search identified 53 related studies, but only 14 articles met the inclusion criteria. These include 7 utilised commercially available microcarriers, while the rest were formulated based on different surface characteristics, all of which are discussed in this review. Current applications of microcarriers were focused on MSC expansion and induction of MSCs into different lineages. These studies demonstrated that MSCs could proliferate in a microcarrier culture system in-fold compared to monolayer cultures, and the culture system could simulate a three-dimensional environment which induces cell differentiation. However, detailed studies are still required before this system were to be adapted into the scale of GMP manufacturing.