Buzańska Leonora, Zychowicz Marzena, Sarnowska Anna, Domańska-Janik Krystyna
Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, 5 Pawińskiego St., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
Postepy Biochem. 2013;59(2):175-86.
Maintenance of developmental and regenerative capability of the tissue highly depends upon mutual interaction of the stem cells with the components of their microenvironment (niche). The nature of this interaction is determined by the biochemical and biophysical properties of the niche constituencies. Although knowledge about the components of the stem cell microenvironment and their architecture is growing quickly, we still need to unravel the mechanisms underlying the control of the niche functioning, enabling stem cells differentiation and homeostasis of the tissue. Advancement in biotechnology provides tools to build up in vitro "biomimetic" microenvironments resembling a natural stem cell niche, where the cell is provided with diverse extracellular signals exerted by soluble and structural cues, mimicking those found in vivo. To obtain such microenvironment in vitro emerging nano/biotechnology methods were applied, using biomaterials of new generation, which enable controlling of the stem cell differentiation by time and special related release of the active factors. This article is providing an overview of the new research strategies for the bioengineering of the stem cell niche and gives the examples of the cell/biomaterial 2D and 3D complex systems used for basic and preclinical research as well as entering clinical applications for the therapy of the nervous system.
组织发育和再生能力的维持高度依赖于干细胞与其微环境（生态位）成分之间的相互作用。这种相互作用的性质由生态位组成部分的生化和生物物理特性决定。尽管关于干细胞微环境的成分及其结构的知识正在迅速增长，但我们仍需阐明控制生态位功能、使干细胞分化和组织稳态的潜在机制。生物技术的进步提供了构建类似于天然干细胞生态位的体外“仿生”微环境的工具，在这种微环境中，细胞会接收到由可溶性和结构性线索施加的各种细胞外信号，这些信号模仿了体内发现的信号。为了在体外获得这样的微环境，人们应用了新兴的纳米/生物技术方法，使用新一代生物材料，通过活性因子的定时和特定相关释放来控制干细胞分化。本文概述了干细胞生态位生物工程的新研究策略，并给出了用于基础和临床前研究以及进入神经系统治疗临床应用的细胞/生物材料二维和三维复杂系统的实例。
