The Synthetic Biology Approach to Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

From its humble beginnings in bacterial prokaryotic systems and bioprocess engineering, the rapidly expanding field of synthetic biology is now making deep inroads into the field of human clinical therapy. At the same time, the application of stem cells in regenerative medicine has demonstrated much promise in human clinical trials. The convergence of these two disparate disciplines opens up many exciting possibilities, and offers novel solutions to various clinical challenges currently faced in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine, including: (i) nonspecific pleiotropic effects of growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix molecules on cellular differentiation and lineage fate determination; (ii) the need for intercellular communication and spatiotemporal coordination within 3D tissue-engineered constructs; (iii) safety issues pertaining to genetic modification of human stem cells and the utilization of recombinant DNA and viral vectors; and (iv) limited plasticity and proliferative capacity of adult stem cells and the need for extensive in vitro expansion to attain adequate cell numbers for therapeutic applications. In this review, these challenges are critically examined, together with the relevant safety and ethical issues pertaining to the application of synthetic biology in the field of regenerative medicine. Keywords: cellular reprogramming; gene circuit; regenerative medicine; stem cell; synthetic biology