Biomaterials and Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine

Work in the area of biomaterials and stem cell therapy has revealed great potential for many applications, from the treatment of localized defects and diseases to the repair and replacement of whole organs. Researchers have also begun to develop a better understanding of the cellular environment needed for optimal tissue repair and regeneration. Biomaterials and Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine explores a range of applications for biomaterials and stem cell therapy and describes recent research on suitable cell scaffolds and substrates for tissue repair and reconstruction.

Featuring contributions by experts in the field, the book explores important scientific and clinical aspects. It covers the basic science involved in structure and properties, techniques and technological innovations in processing and characterization, and applications of biomaterials and stem cells.

Topics include:

• Polymeric systems for stem cell delivery
• The potential of membranes and porous scaffolds in tissue repair, including myocardial, periodontal, ophthalmic, and bone tissues
• The optimization of the interaction between stem cells and biomaterial substrates
• The source and nature of stem cells for tissue engineering applications
• The clinical translation of stem cell–based tissue engineering for regenerative medicine

From fundamental principles to recent advances at the macro, micro, nano, and molecular scales, the book brings together current knowledge on biomaterials and stem cells in the context of regenerative medicine. It also stimulates discussion about future research directions.

This unique book offers a valuable benchmark for the current status of clinically relevant research and development in stem cells and regenerative medicine. It bridges the gaps in experimental approaches and understanding among the materials science and engineering, biological sciences, and biomedical science and engineering communities, making it a valuable reference for graduate students, researchers, and practitioners working in the multidisciplinary field of biomedical research.

Murugan Ramalingam is an associate professor of biomaterials and tissue engineering at the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale U977, Faculte de Chirurgie Dentaire, University of Strasbourg (UdS), France. Concurrently, he holds an adjunct associate professorship at Tohoku University, Japan. He has authored over 125 publications, including several patents, relevant to biomaterials and tissue engineering. He serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals, including as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Bionanoscience and the Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. For more about Dr. Ramalingam, see his profile on the University of Strasbourg’s Biomaterials Group website.

Seeram Ramakrishna, FREng, FNAE, FAIMBE, is a professor of materials engineering at the National University of Singapore. He pioneered translucent biomaterials and devices, which are now marketed globally. He specializes in the design, processing, and validation of biomimetic scaffolds for the regeneration of various tissues. He is acknowledged as the number one in the field of materials by electrospinning. Ramakrishna has authored five books and over 400 international journal papers, which has attracted approximately 14,000 citations with an h-index of 54. For more about Dr. Ramakrishna, see his profile on the National University of Singapore website.

Serena Best is a professor at the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials within the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge. She has more than 130 publications in the field of biomaterials, and her work has contributed to the formation of two successful spinout companies. Her interests currently encompass the development of bioactive ceramics, coatings, and composites for various biomedical applications. Dr. Best is an editor of the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine and also sits on several editorial boards, including the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. For more about Dr. Best, see her profile on the University of Cambridge website.