Plasticity is the hallmark of stem cells. At the same time, stem cells, like any other cell type, are influenced by their microenvironment and respond to it accordingly. A specific microenvironment is defined by a variety of factors, including biological and chemical factors, cell-cell interactions, but also metabolic and mechanical cues. Such dynamic and specialized microenvironment where the stem cells reside is considered a stem cell niche. Tissue injury as well as malignant tissue alterations lead to changes in the niche influencing the plasticity and biology of residing stem cells. Similarly, the niche changes upon tissue damage, which eventually induces differentiation of stem cells and ultimately regeneration of the tissue.

This is a comprehensive review of the current state of stem cell bioengineering from authorities in the field. The first part of the book includes the basic research work on stem cells and bioengineering carried out by various laboratories. The second part consists of a review of the current development of various microcapsules in stem cell therapy. The last part will summarize the overall clinical trials on stem cell therapy and myocardial regeneration as well as the most updated personal experience recently completed by well-known experts in this field.

In the post-genomic era, cancer is a genetic disease. However, cancer genotype does not always equal cancer phenotype. Cancers with the same genetic abnormalities don’t always behave the same. Understanding and eradicating cancers will require an appreciation for cancer’s ecology. This book is the first to comprehensively explore and critically appraise cancer microenvironments and host interactions with an eye towards exploiting our understanding for new treatments. The team of contributors share amongst them impressive experiences at the laboratory bench and in the clinic. These physician-scientists have dedicated themselves to the tension between the urgency for cures and the technical challenges of discovery. The target audience includes clinical oncologists, clinical hematologists, research oncologists, research hematologists, immunologists, stem cell researchers, oncology and hematology fellows (trainees), oncology educators (graduate and undergraduate levels), and course book for graduate students and undergraduate students.

Cancer cells can change and adapt, especially within the host environment; a phenomenon known as cancer plasticity. Several factors, including the immune system can influence, and be influenced by, cancer plasticity which in turn can impact upon patient responses to treatment. As such, we currently face several challenges for implementing combination therapies as effective cancer treatment strategies. We have compiled a topic with a number of articles that emphasize the various aspects of cancer plasticity, describing in particular the important role of the tumor microenvironment. As we embark on a new era of precision medicine with multi-modal therapies for improving patient outcomes, this topic highlights some relevant points for consideration that are pertinent to the incorporation and effective use of new treatments as part of cancer treatment regimens, including immune-modulating drugs.

This book comprehensively reviews the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to anticancer therapies. The initial chapters examine the methods and procedure of the detection, isolation, and characterization of CSCs. It also introduces various epigenetic pathways that contribute to cancer initiation and tumorigenesis, particularly regarding the maintenance and survival of CSCs. It also explores the role of CSCs metabolism and the mechanisms of metabolic plasticity of CSCs in cancer biology. Further, it also presents the implications of CSCs on the origin of tumor heterogeneity and on heterogeneity of the therapeutic response. Towards the end, this book highlights the different immunotherapeutic approaches targeting CSCs with the potential of strongly improving cancer outcomes. This book offers a broad framework to scientists and clinicians into the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer stem cell biology and highlights their therapeutic implications. ​

Among the many applications of stem cell research are nervous system diseases, diabetes, heart disease, auto-immune diseases as well as Parkinson's disease, end-stage kidney disease, liver failure, cancer, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Stem cells are self-renewing, unspecialised cells that can give rise to multiple types all of specialised cells of the body. Stem cell research also involves complex ethical and legal considerations since they involve adult, foetal tissue and embryonic sources. This new book brings together leading research from throughout the world in this frontier field.

Recent developments in stem cell biology have opened new directions in cell therapy. This book provides the state-of-the-art developments in using biomaterials as artificial niches for engineering stem cells, both for the purpose of better understanding their biology under 3D biomimetic conditions as well as for developing new strategies for efficient long term maintenance and directed differentiation of stem cells into various therapeutic lineages. Animal and human stem cells of both embryonic and adult origin are discussed with applications ranging from nerve regeneration, orthopedics, cardiovascular therapy, blood cell generation and cancer therapy. Both synthetic and natural biomaterials are reviewed with emphasis on how material-stem cell interactions direct specific signaling pathways and ultimately modulate the cell fate. This book is valuable for biomaterial scientists, tissue engineers, clinicians as well as stem cell biologists involved in basic research and applications of adult and embryonic stem cells.

This volume “Cell Engineerring 11 - Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: Progress, Trends and Challenges” is a source of the latest innovative research and technical development in biomanufacturing systems. It is organised into 2 parts: 1) Manufacturing of recombinant therapeutic proteins (e.g. therapeutic antibodies, biosimilars/biogenerics) and 2) Manufacturing aspects of cell and gene therapy. Each with selected chapters on the following topics for both up- and downstream, such as: Advanced process strategies, especially continuous manufacturing, Advanced culture techniques, especially single-use systems, Process transfer, scale-up/scale-down models, Processing advances/Manufacturing productivity/efficiency, Model-assisted process understanding and development/Digital Twins, Process controls and analytics, Quality control, Quality by design, Facility design and full-scale commercial systems, manufacturing technology innovation. The book comprises contributions of experts from academia and industry active in the field of cell culture development for the production of recombinant proteins, cell therapy and gene therapy, with consideration of Digital Twin ́s and facility design. The knowledge and expertise of the authors cover disciplines like cell biology, engineering, biotechnology and biomedical sciences. Inevitably, some omissions will occur in the test, but the authors have sought to avoid duplications by extensive cross-referencing to chapters in other volumes of this series and elsewhere. We hope the volume provides a useful compendium of techniques for scientists in industrial and research laboratories active in this field.

This timely volume explores various techniques for tissue and organ regeneration using stem cells isolated from adult tissues. It discusses alternative explanations of stem cell plasticity as well as current clinical results with adult stem cell therapies. It examines the presence of potential pluripotent stem cells in adult tissues, paracrine effects of stem cell therapies, and involvement of exosomes and microparticles into observed phenomena. Fifteen chapters, all written by noted leaders of their fields, focus on a variety of topics including cord blood and hematopoietic stem cells, skin and tissue organ regeneration, very small embryonic-like stem cells, and cell therapies in cardiology, neonatology, and neurology. Edited by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak, an internationally known specialist in adult stem cell biology, Adult Stem Cell Therapies: Alternatives to Plasticity is an important addition to the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series.