Top 5 Latest Advances in Stem Cell Applications for Tissue Engineering

1. Three-Dimensional (3D) Cell Culture Techniques: New 3D cell culture methods have significantly improved the properties of stem cells, enhancing their viability and functionality for tissue regeneration. These techniques allow for more accurate modeling of tissue architecture and function.


2. Engineered Stem Cells: Advances in bioengineering have led to the development of "engineered stem cells," which are modified to enhance their regenerative capabilities. These next-generation stem cells are designed to be more effective in tissue repair and regeneration.


3. Injectable Biomimetic Hydrogels: Researchers have developed advanced injectable hydrogels that mimic natural tissue environments. These hydrogels hold significant promise for tissue engineering applications, providing a supportive matrix for stem cell growth and differentiation.


4. Integration with Tissue Scaffolds: There have been significant improvements in integrating stem cells with biomaterial scaffolds. These scaffolds provide structural support and enhance the differentiation and growth of stem cells into specific tissue types, improving the outcomes of regenerative treatments.


5. Gene Editing and mRNA Technologies: Techniques like CRISPR and mRNA-based therapies are being used to modify stem cells at the genetic level, enhancing their ability to regenerate tissues. These technologies allow for precise control over stem cell behavior and function.

Why building a liver is like solving a 3D puzzle—and how MTM Laboratory researchers are finally cracking the code

November 27, 2025
Recent advances in biofabrication are revolutionizing liver tissue engineering by enabling precise spatial patterning of liver cells to mimic the organ’s complex architecture. Techniques like 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, and self-assembled cell aggregates help recreate critical features such as metabolic zones, cell polarity, and vascular networks. These engineered liver models improve drug testing, disease research, and hold promise for regenerative therapies. Despite challenges in scaling and standardization, integrating multiple fabrication methods and emerging technologies like machine learning are driving progress. Ultimately, these innovations bring us closer to creating functional liver tissues for clinical and pharmaceutical applications. See full article here.

October 18, 2025
𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: This study explores how we can improve lab-grown liver cells for medical research and drug testing. The MTMLab team works with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) - special cells that can be transformed into liver-like cells - because real human liver cells are hard to obtain. However, these lab-grown liver cells don't function as well as mature adult liver cells. The research team discovered that the surface environment where these cells grow is crucial for their development. We created tiny fiber scaffolds made from different materials like collagen, decellularized livers, and chitosan that mimic the natural structure around liver cells. When liver cells were grown on these specially designed nanofibers for three weeks, they displayed higher function compared to cells grown on standard surfaces. Our key finding was that both the material composition and the nanoscale fiber structure were important - stiffer synthetic fibers or softer materials without the appropriate topography or composition prevented proper cell maturation. This research helps create better lab models of human liver tissue that can be used for testing new drugs and studying liver diseases more effectively.

2025 BMES Annual Meeting - MTMLab Member Presentations!

October 7, 2025
Owen Lally Modeling the synergistic effects of alcohol and fats on liver disease via engineered cocultures In Vitro Liver Toxicology Testing of Rat and Dog Hepatocytes to Reduce In Vivo Regulatory Requirements Nathan Shelton Enhancing the Functions and Hepatitis B Virus Infectability of Primary Human Hepatocytes Protein Microarrays to Probe Synergistic Effects of Extracellular Matrix Composition and Stiffness on Liver Macrophages Lesly Villarreal Engineering a 3D Placental Trophoblast Invasion Platform Via Droplet Microfluidics Gas-permeable Plates to Model Synergetic Effects of Oxygen and Endothelial Factors on Liver Zonation Emanuele Spanghero Modeling the Interplay Between Liver and Heart Diseases via a Human Dual-Organ Platform Engineering High Cell Density Beating Cords of Cardiomyocytes and Fibroblasts via Photopatterned Alginate