Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine: History, Techniques, Frontiers, and Applications

"Cell niches" are present in several human body tissues as a dynamic microenvironment essential to modulate stem cells' behavior in health, under injury, and in regenerative processes. The interplay between stem cells and their niche is necessary for sustaining tissues. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the crucial component of the stem cell. It defines the architectural space, physical binding to the cell membrane, and interactions with the neighborhood cells and supports physical stress. Domains with nano or micrometric sizes define the surface and topology of the ECM, mediating cell interactions and macrophage recruitment to injured sites.

Over the last two decades, the integration of biomedicine with other engineering and biomaterial sciences promoted the development of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine toward mimicking the specialized stem cell niches to treat diseases with less invasive and efficient therapies. Innovative approaches in nanotechnology, such as targeting the immunological system, transporting drugs across blood-brain/BBB and blood-retinal barriers/BRB, directing active moiety to specific disease location/organs, encapsulation of multiple components, and promoting signalization and pathway-specific surfaces for cell interactions and growth, are indeed promising. On the other side, developments of biomaterial scaffolds to mimic the cell niches for interactions with stem cells in vitro or in vivo have tremendous potential.

The three-dimensional printing technology offers a base for a wide array of applications, for example, developing tissue constructs, mimetic organs, organoids, and organ-on-a-chip, thus avoiding the differences between animal model species and humans. Aiming closer to the natural environments, fresh autologous products from the blood, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), contain platelets and leukocytes, providing growth factors, cytokines, and proteins for the resident stem cells in the stages of regeneration. PRP also provides pain relief, reducing disabilities in elderly or diseased people. This book brings thought-provoking multidisciplinary topics on the diverse aspects of basic and applied sciences. The prime focus of the compilation is to understand the challenges researchers encounter in combining nanotechnology and regenerative medicine, ultimately integrating both disciplines for the benefit of the patient and offering them a ray of hope to be cured.

Author: Maria Helena Andrade Santana
Publisher: Academic Press
Published: 11/25/2022
Pages: 614
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 2.29lbs
Size: 9.25h x 7.50w x 1.24d
ISBN: 9780323904711

About the Author
Santana, Maria Helena Andrade: - Maria Helena Andrade Santana is a Full Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering and Bioprocesses and coordinator of the Laboratory for Development of Biotechnological Processes, at the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas, Brazil. She has extensive experience in multidisciplinary fields of applications of chemical engineering, more specifically in fermentation processes, nanotechnology for drug delivery and more recently in regenerative medicine of musculoskeletal system. She received twice (2004 and 2015) the "Zeferino Vaz" award of Scientific Productivity in Chemical Engineering and the Inventors award from the Innovation Agency, (2010, 2019), both from the University of Campinas, Brazil. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, Brazil (2014-present). She also obtained a nonmedical degree from the American Academy of Regenerative Medicine (American Board of Regenerative Medicine- South America Chapter) (2016).Souto, Eliana B.: - Prof. Eliana Souto holds a Master's Degree in Pharmaceutical Technology and Pharmacotechnique from the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto (2002), and the PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology, Biopharmaceutics and Biotechnology from the Institut für Pharmazie der Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany (2005). Currently, she is affiliated with the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, and researcher at the Centre of Biological Engineering of University of Minho, Braga, both in Portugal. Since August 2012, Eliana holds the Habilitation Degree from the University Fernando Pessoa (Porto). Her major research lines focus on the design, and development of new drug delivery systems. Other research interests include the controlled delivery of drugs across biological barriers, with special emphasis for brain, ocular and skin administration. Eliana Souto is Associate Editor, member of the Editorial Board, and reviewer of several international scientific journals. She counts with 6 patents and more than 400 scientific publications in the field of Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies. Her h-index (Scopus) is 58.

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