Targeting Mechanobiology of Stem Cells via Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine Approaches

Mechanical forces have been considered significant regulators of stem cell behavior, controlling stem cell fate, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine for years. Mechanical cues from their niche and the physiology of tissues, including cells and extracellular matrix (ECM), are essential for deciding stem cell fate. The cells are exposed to various biomechanical cues from neighboring cells and ECM, including proteins of ECM, composition, stiffness, viscoelasticity, topology, and fibrosity. The critical question is how stem cells perceive myriad biomechanical signals from their environment and respond with appropriate biological behaviors. The biomaterials-systems to direct stem cell fate and mechanobiology to appear as a stem cell guide system that can mimic the complexity of in vivo environment has gained attention for a better understanding of the regulation of tissue and organ function. This chapter reevaluates the broad scope of evidence that combines various biomaterial-based stem cell systems to the tasks of mechanobiology. The rational design on material-based platforms will be improved through novel technological functionalities with these approaches, producing new specific biomaterials for stem cell-based applications in regenerative medicine.