Derivation and Network Formation of Vascular Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells -- High-Throughput Cell Aggregate Culture for Stem Cell Chondrogenesis -- Microfluidic Device to Culture 3D In Vitro Human Capillary Networks -- Multi-Function Co-Culture Model for Evaluating Cell-Cell Interactions -- Multiwell Plate Tools for Controlling Cellular Alignment with Grooved Topography -- Bioreactor Cultivation of Anatomically-Shaped Human Bone Grafts -- Determining the Role of Matrix Compliance in the Differentiation of Mammary Stem Cells -- Conjugation of Proteins to Polymer Chains to Create Multivalent Molecules -- An Assay to Quantify Chemotactic Properties of Degradation Products from Extracellular Matrix -- Biomimetic Strategies Incorporating Enzymes into CaP Coatings Mimicking the In Vivo Environment -- Fabrication of Biofunctionalized, Cell-Laden Macroporous 3D PEG Hydrogels as Bone Marrow Analogs for the Cultivation of Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells -- Extracellular Matrix Mimetic Peptide Scaffolds for Neural Stem Cell Culture and Differentiation -- The Delivery and Evaluation of RNAi Therapeutics for Heterotopic Ossification Pathologies -- Mimicking Bone Microenvironment for Directing Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Osteogenic Differentiation -- Cultivation of Human Bone-Like Tissue from Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Osteogenic Progenitors in Perfusion Bioreactors.

Biomimetics and Stem Cells: Methods and Protocols collects a series of approaches to demonstrate the role and value of biomimetics for the better understanding of stem cell behavior and the acceleration of their application in regenerative medicine. Recent advances in tissue engineering are enabling scientists to ‘‘instruct’’ stem cells toward differentiating into the right phenotypes, in the right place and at the right time. Given these advances, biomimetic environments are being designed to recapitulate, in vitro, the combinations of factors known to guide tissue development and regeneration in vivo and thereby help unlock the full potential of the stem cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.   Practical and essential, Biomimetics and Stem Cells: Methods and Protocols focuses on the use of biomimetic systems for stem cells in order to aid in moving this vital field of study forward.