Review
Biomaterial-driven kidney organoid maturation
Published: March 2022
Abstract
Differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) toward kidney organoids is known to suffer from batch-to-batch differences, off-target populations, and skewered cellular compositions. Application of synthetic hydrogels as a tool for hiPSC-differentiation may provide additional control over this variable process. This review discusses important material properties that affect kidney organoid generation. We summarize cellular adhesive cues for synthetic materials, that allow transduction of the mechanical forces to the cell, and how these signals directly affect Hippo-Canonical Wnt signaling and morphogenic events. In addition, chemical strategies are discussed that allow spatiotemporal presentation of biochemical agents to the cell in a material-dependent approach.
Full Access Link: Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering