Abstract
Before stem cell-based therapies can become a clinical reality, technologies for cell delivery must be developed that can control differentiation and pluripotency, maintain a hospitable environment for cell survival and function, and provide a structural framework for regenerative healing of the target tissue. Insights gained from developmental and stem cell biology should guide the design of devices and techniques to facilitate stem cell-based therapies. Several strategies have been developed for surgical delivery of stem cells, including synthetic and biologic matrices for cell seeding, complex biochemical delivery devices for maintenance and modulation of stem cell properties, and smart constructs with the ability to adapt to the dynamic in vivo environment after implantation. In aggregate, surgical delivery of complex stem cell-seeded constructs has the potential to revolutionize surgical therapies for a wide range of diseases in order to provide a more regenerative platform for tissue and organ healing.