Stem Cells in Drug Discovery, Tissue Engineering, and Regenerative Medicine: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges

Stem cells, irrespective of their origin, have emerged as valuable reagents or tools in human health in the past 2 decades. Initially, a research tool to study fundamental aspects of developmental biology is now the central focus of generating transgenic animals, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine to address degenerative diseases of multiple organ systems. This is because stern cells are pluripotent or rnultipotent cells that can recapitulate developmental paths to repair damaged tissues. However, it is becoming clear that stein cell therapy alone may not be adequate to reverse tissue and organ damage in degenerative diseases. Existing small-molecule drugs and biologicals may be needed as molecular adjuvants or enhancers of stem cells administered in therapy or adult stern cells in the diseased tissues. Hence, a combination of stern cell-based, high-throughput screening and 3D tissue engineering approaches is necessary to advance the next wave of tools in preclinical drug discovery. In this review, the authors have attempted to provide a basic account of various stem cells types, as well as their biology and signaling, in the context of research in regenerative medicine. An attempt is made to link stern cells as reagents, pharmacology, and tissue engineering as converging fields of research for the next decade. (Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2009:755-768)