One of the primary goals of stem cells is to identify how undifferentiated stem cells become the differentiated cells that form the tissues and organs. Here are the areas where stem cells can help the medicine and human race.

Understanding Disease Processes

Some of the most serious medical conditions, such as cancers  are due to abnormal cell division and differentiation. A more complete understanding of the genetic and molecular controls of these processes may provide us with better understanding of the diseases and the enable us to build new therapies.

Additional basic research on the molecular and genetic signals that regulate cell division and specialization would let us identify the steps, triggeres and factors related to these events. we can then effectively control the processes at least in theory.

Test New Drugs

New medications could be tested for safety on differentiated cells generated from human pluripotent cell lines. An in use example of this is testing of anticancer medicines agianst cancer cell lines. The availability of pluripotent stem cells would allow drug testing in a wider range of cell types.

However,for effective drug testing, the precise control of the differentiation of stem cells into the specific cell type on which drugs will be tested would be required.

We lack this precision as of now.

Transplant of Organs/Tissues

This is perhaps the most important, most advertidsed and most talked about potential benefit of stem cells. It involves the generation of  the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies.

As of today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need is far more than the available supply.

Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Alzheimer’s diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

For example, in people with type 1 diabetes, the cells of the pancreas that normally produce insulin are destroyed. It may be possible to direct the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in cell culture to form insulin-producing cells that eventually could be used in transplantation therapy for persons with diabetes.

A  practical solution is to deliver the cells on small particulate matrix, in a manner that can allow their integration in the tissues. Fibrin micro-beads  has  higher cell binding capability than native fibrin gel. FMB bind matrix dependent cells and this may be used for the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells.

It is thought to have higher yield than conventional methods and expand them in suspension culture without the need of passages. Cell on fibrin micro bead are claimed to  differentiate into different phenotypes, such as bone and cartilage,  better cell survival and integration in the target organs.

What Is The Need For Alternative?

Regenrative Medicine wants to address the challenge of regenrating the complex organs.  One of the approches were proposed by methods of tissue engineering. ytis involved constructing in vitros with potent stem cell. The technique involved-

• Building in-vitro cellular scaffolds from synthetic or biological polymeric materials
• Integrating either isolated differentiated cells of the damaged tissue or pluri-potent stem cells with the addition of cocktails of growth factors

The expectationthat successful implantation can be achieved only by incorporating a scaffold of choice, optimal cells type, preferably stem cells, and growth factors is not realistic. I

One of the solutions for cell delivery is to attach the cells on particulate cell binding matrices that carry the cells and maintain vitality from adjacent circulation.

It is claimed micro-carrier scaffolds that may enable the implant and integration of the cells in the damaged tissues are practical solution.

Only the time would tell.