Biomaterials-based approaches to model embryogenesis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biomaterials-based approaches to model embryogenesis

AU - Spiteri, Chantelle

AU - Caprettini, Valeria

AU - Chiappini, Ciro

PY - 2020/12/21

Y1 - 2020/12/21

N2 - Understanding, reproducing, and regulating the cellular and molecular processes underlying human embryogenesis is critical to improve our ability to recapitulate tissues with proper architecture and function, and to address the dysregulation of embryonic programs that underlies birth defects and cancer. The rapid emergence of stem cell technologies is enabling enormous progress in understanding embryogenesis using simple, powerful, and accessible in vitro models. Biomaterials are playing a central role in providing the spatiotemporal organisation of biophysical and biochemical signalling necessary to mimic, regulate and dissect the evolving embryonic niche in vitro. This contribution is rapidly improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying embryonic patterning, in turn enabling the development of more effective clinical interventions for regenerative medicine and oncology. Here we highlight how key biomaterial approaches contribute to organise signalling in human embryogenesis models, and we summarise the biological insights gained from these contributions. Importantly, we highlight how nanotechnology approaches have remained largely untapped in this space, and we identify their key potential contributions.

AB - Understanding, reproducing, and regulating the cellular and molecular processes underlying human embryogenesis is critical to improve our ability to recapitulate tissues with proper architecture and function, and to address the dysregulation of embryonic programs that underlies birth defects and cancer. The rapid emergence of stem cell technologies is enabling enormous progress in understanding embryogenesis using simple, powerful, and accessible in vitro models. Biomaterials are playing a central role in providing the spatiotemporal organisation of biophysical and biochemical signalling necessary to mimic, regulate and dissect the evolving embryonic niche in vitro. This contribution is rapidly improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying embryonic patterning, in turn enabling the development of more effective clinical interventions for regenerative medicine and oncology. Here we highlight how key biomaterial approaches contribute to organise signalling in human embryogenesis models, and we summarise the biological insights gained from these contributions. Importantly, we highlight how nanotechnology approaches have remained largely untapped in this space, and we identify their key potential contributions.

KW - Biocompatible Materials

KW - Embryonic Development

KW - Humans

KW - Nanotechnology

KW - Regenerative Medicine

KW - Stem Cells

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85098462649

U2 - 10.1039/d0bm01485k

DO - 10.1039/d0bm01485k

M3 - Review article

C2 - 33136109

AN - SCOPUS:85098462649

SN - 2047-4830

VL - 8

SP - 6992

EP - 7013

JO - Biomaterials Science

JF - Biomaterials Science

IS - 24

ER -