Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology And Engineering

Since the isolation and culture of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in vitro, the use of these cells as a potential tool for research and biomedical applications has been growing. Therefore, it is essential to understand the complexity and the dynamics of such stem cell-derived systems, from the single-cell to the multiorgan level. It has been at the intersection of stem cell biology and engineering that new advances on the study and recreation of niches, tissues, and organ-like structures has been accomplished, mimicking the complexity and architecture of the human body. In this chapter, the main bioengineering strategies used to recreate cellular, multicellular, and multiorgan level systems are discussed. We also highlight how stem cell bioengineering is producing the necessary tools for the development of precision medicine approaches that are expected to have a major impact in the fields of disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.