A 3D ECM-Mimicking Device to Assess Stem Cells Differentiation: A Novel Approach to Stemness Evaluation

Stem cell therapy is considered a leading field of research worldwide, attracting a stunning amount of clinical applications, given its promising potential for recovery or replacement of tissues and organs. The idea of combining principles from cell biology and engineering of biocompatible materials in order to create biologic replacement structures that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function, is at the basis of the so called “Tissue Engineering” area, a new emerging avenue in regenerative medicine. On account of the more demanding requirements for the use of stem cells in clinical settings and of the constant description of new stem cells types, the authors developed a functional biological assay, based on 3D ECM-mimicking supports, for the assessment of differentiative potential of candidate bone marrow-derived cells towards chondrocytic, vascular and muscular phenotypes.