Emerging Nanotechnology for Stem Cell Therapy

Application of nanotechnology in stem cell therapy has emerged as an exciting field. Interaction studies between nanomaterials and stem cells have made significant advances. The importance of nanotechnology in the fundamental developments of stem cell–based therapy for various degenerative diseases is evident. Apart from tracking the localization of stem cells, nanotechnology has improved targetability, half-life, and stability of stem cells by providing a suitable microenvironment. In particular nanomaterials have played a vital role in the isolation and proliferation/differentiation of stem cells and intracellular delivery of small and macromolecules within stem cells. Such a great development has rendered this field as an interdisciplinary frontier in regeneration medicine and material science. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to provide an overview of emerging nanotechnology-based stem cell therapy.