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Review
. 2017 Oct 25;15(1):75.
doi: 10.1186/s12951-017-0310-5.

Nanomaterials modulate stem cell differentiation: biological interaction and underlying mechanisms

Min Wei  1   2 , Song Li  1   2 , Weidong Le  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Nanomaterials modulate stem cell differentiation: biological interaction and underlying mechanisms

Min Wei et al. J Nanobiotechnology. .

Abstract

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the potential for self-renewal and differentiation into more specialized cell types. The chemical and physical properties of surrounding microenvironment contribute to the growth and differentiation of stem cells and consequently play crucial roles in the regulation of stem cells' fate. Nanomaterials hold great promise in biological and biomedical fields owing to their unique properties, such as controllable particle size, facile synthesis, large surface-to-volume ratio, tunable surface chemistry, and biocompatibility. Over the recent years, accumulating evidence has shown that nanomaterials can facilitate stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and great effort is undertaken to explore their possible modulating manners and mechanisms on stem cell differentiation. In present review, we summarize recent progress in the regulating potential of various nanomaterials on stem cell differentiation and discuss the possible cell uptake, biological interaction and underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Differentiation; Nanomaterials; Stem cells.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sketch map of nanomaterials modulate the differentiation of stem cells in three ways. Nanomaterials could be used as supplements (a), 2D matrix (b) or 3D nano-scaffolds (c) that induce differentiation of stem cells
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The physicochemical features of nanomaterials influence cellular uptake and consequently impact their modulating potential on stem cells differentiation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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