Research into stem cells started in the 1960s with experiments on spleen cultures. Evans and Kaufman made a breakthrough in mouse embryo culturing and embryonic stem cell extraction in 1981, followed by the work of Thomson in 1998 on the technique for extracting human embryonic stem cells. Since then, stem cell research has rapidly expanded as a therapeutic avenue for different diseases in humans. This book explains the basic developmental biology of stem cells including the development of stem cells during the implantation stage in utero to the regulation of stem cell division. Medical applications of stem cells in the therapy of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and bone diseases are also explained in subsequent chapters. The book also explains the effect of parasitic cells on stem cell growth. Concepts in the book are explained in a simple clear manner, making this book an informative reference for non-experts, students and professionals in the field of biology and medicine.

Pluripotent stem cells have garnered tremendous interest in recent years, which is primarily driven by the hope of finding a cure for several debilitating human diseases. Cell transplantation (regeneratve medicine) offers considerable therapeutic potential. The procedure employs pluripotent stem cells as these have the inherent ability to reproduce indefinitely and have the ability to produce over 200 different types of cells constituting the human body. The isolation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) from embryos and their successful culture in a petri dish in 1998 has been considered as a major breakthrough that is set to shape stem cell research in the 21st century. This has been followed by another remarkable breakthrough in 2006 when scientists demonstrated for the first time that such pluripotent stem cells could be produced from adult somatic tissues without having to use human embryos. These pluripotent stem cells are called the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Both hESCs and iPS cells - highly versatile cells – could pave the way for alleviating patients suffering from diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more. This eBook brings together the information from the last decade on stem cells, compiled by reputed research experts. Readers will learn all aspects of pluripotent stem cells from basic biology to their use in understanding disease process, toxicology, drug discovery and in developing therapeutic strategies. Research on these cells, including transitional and translational aspects, is explained with the aid of extensive figures, colour photographs, and tables. This eBook is a valuable resource for undergraduates, postgraduates, scientists, embryologists, tissue engineers, doctors and biomedical scientists interested in stem cell research and medicine.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in 21st century to combat cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. The first volume of ‘Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research’ features reviews written by experts in key areas of stem cells and regenerative medicine. It summarizes the safety assessment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in musculoskeletal implantation that can bridge the gap between translation from animals to humans. The most prevalent strategies to improve immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have also been focused upon. This is particularly important because chemotherapy and pre-transplant conditioning impairs thymic function. The application of regenerative medicine for repair of damaged cornea and ocular has also been discussed. The emerging techniques for tissue engineering of functional corneal equivalents represent a new and fascinating way to treat corneal diseases. The area of recently used nanofibrous substrates, as an alternative tool for the expansion and differentiation of embryonic stem cells, has been included in this e-book. In future, such technologies could promote the use of hESC-derived cells for clinical applications successfully.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as tumors, Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The second volume of this series features reviews on several key topics in this field including cardiac regeneration strategies, induced pluripotent stem cell therapeutics, stem cell therapy for peripheral nerve and cutaneous injuries, dental tissue regeneration, the potential of stem cell differentiation into ovarian cells and much more.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The third volume of this series features reviews on the use of stem cells in bone repair, neonatal brain injury and esophageal tissue engineering. The volume also features an update on current knowledge on regenerative medicine for lung tissue in pulmonary disease.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The fourth volume of this series features reviews on the use of stem cells through retrodifferentiation, mesodermal regeneration, hematopoiesis and mesenchymal stem cells. The volume also features a chapter on current knowledge on cell-based therapy in veterinary medicine.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The fifth volume of this series features reviews on vascular regeneration, neuronal tissue grafting in animal CNS disease models, template mediated biomineralization in bones, corneal endothelium differentiation and stem cell uses for managing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The sixth volume of this series features reviews on roles of mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage regeneration and bone regeneration, liver regeneration, cardiogenesis, cardiomyocyte differentiation, and regenerative therapy for neurodegenerative disorders.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. The seventh volume of this series features reviews on roles of mesenchymal stem cells and biomaterials in cartilage regeneration in vivo, liver regeneration, cardiogenesis and magnetic nanoparticles for regenerative therapy.

Stem cell and regenerative medicine research is a hot area of research which promises to change the face of medicine as it will be practiced in the years to come. Challenges in the 21st century to combat diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer and related diseases may well be addressed employing stem cell therapies and tissue regeneration. Frontiers in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research is essential reading for researchers seeking updates in stem cell therapeutics and regenerative medicine. This volume includes reviews on the following topics: -the role of microvesicles and exosomes in mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) in treating diseases while overcoming side effects -alternative models for understanding cancer stem cell biology -stem cells treatments for orthopaedic injury and endocrine disorders -wound healing biomaterials -theoretical models of hematopoietic cell dynamics (with implications for bone marrow transplants)