HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Coral Calcium and hydrogels as microenvironment for stem cells.

Study Abstract

Stem cell development and fate decisions are dictated by the microenvironment in which the stem cell is embedded. Among the advanced goals of tissue engineering is the creation of a microenvironment that will support the maintenance and differentiation of the stem cell--based on embryonic and adult stem cells as potent, cellular sources--for a variety of clinical applications. This review discusses some of the approaches used to create regulatory and instructive microenvironments for the directed differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using three-dimensional crystalline calcium carbonate biomaterials of marine origin combined with a hydrated gel based on hyaluronan.

Study Information

Astachov L, Nevo Z, Aviv M, Vago R.
Crystalline calcium carbonate and hydrogels as microenvironment for stem cells.
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed).
2011 January
Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.