Recent Biomedical Applications on Stem Cell Therapy: A Brief Overview

Stem Cell Therapy and Its Significance in HIV Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global public health issue. Despite this, the only treatment available in mainstay is antiretroviral therapy. This treatment is not curative, it needs to be used lifelong, and there are many issues with compliance and side effects. In recent years, stem cell therapy has shown promising results in HIV management, and it can have a major impact on the future of HIV treatment and prevention. The idea behind anti-HIV hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC)-directed gene therapy is to genetically engineer patient-derived (autologous) HSPC to acquire an inherent resistance to HIV infection. Multiple stem-cell-based gene therapy strategies have been suggested that may infer HIV resistance including anti-HIV gene reagents and gene combinatorial strategies giving rise to anti-HIV gene-modified HSPCs. Such stem cells can hamper HIV progression in the body by interrupting key stages of HIV proliferation: viral entry, viral integration, HIV gene expression, etc.Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) may also protect leukocytes from being infected. Additionally, genetically engineered HSCs have the ability to continuously produce protected immune cells by prolonged self-renewal that can attack the HIV virus. Therefore, a successful treatment strategy has the potential to control the infection at a steady state and eradicate HIV from patients. This will allow for a potential future benefit with stem cell therapy in HIV treatment.

Uncovering the Diversification of Tissue Engineering on the Emergent Areas of Stem Cells, Nanotechnology and Biomaterials

Damaged or disabled tissue is life-threatening due to the lack of proper treatment. Many conventional transplantation methods like autograft, iso-graft and allograft are in existence for ages, but they are not sufficient to treat all types of tissue or organ damages. Stem cells, with their unique capabilities like self-renewal and differentiate into various cell types, can be a potential strategy for tissue regeneration. However, the challenges like reproducibility, uncontrolled propagation and differentiation, isolation of specific kinds of cell and tumorigenic nature made these stem cells away from clinical application. Today, various types of stem cells like embryonic, fetal or gestational tissue, mesenchymal and induced-pluripotent stem cells are under investigation for their clinical application. Tissue engineering helps in configuring the stem cells to develop into a desired viable tissue, to use them clinically as a substitute for the conventional method. The use of stem cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) is being studied to replace the stem cells, which decreases the immunological complications associated with the direct administration of stem cells. Tissue engineering also investigates various biomaterials to use clinically, either to replace the bones or as a scaffold to support the growth of stemcells/ tissue. Depending upon the need, there are various biomaterials like bio-ceramics, natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers to support replacement or regeneration of tissue. Like the other fields of science, tissue engineering is also incorporating the nanotechnology to develop nano-scaffolds to provide and support the growth of stem cells with an environment mimicking the Extracellular matrix (ECM) of the desired tissue. Tissue engineering is also used in the modulation of the immune system by using patient-specific Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and by modifying the physical features of scaffolds that may provoke the immune system. This review describes the use of various stem cells, biomaterials and the impact of nanotechnology in regenerative medicine.

Exploring and Exploiting Tissue Engineering Through the Design of Multifunctional Therapeutic Systems

This article presents a special issue of "Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy" devoted to exploring and exploiting tissue engineering through the design of multifunctional therapeutic systems. This lead article draws from twelve contributed articles to discuss the most recent advancements in this emerging field. The common theme in the contributed articles is the emerging therapeutic strategies, and a special appeal is made for collaboration between engineers and biologists for the development of multifunctional therapeutic systems for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.