159th iCeMS Seminar: Assoc Prof KiBum Lee
This presentation will focus on the interface between nanomedicine and stem cell biology.
Even though it is well-established that stem cell fate is regulated by interactions that occur
between microenvironmental cues and intrinsic cellular programs, our understanding of
the function of the microenvironment and gene expression in neural stem cells is
hampered by the limitations of conventional methods and the lack of extensive knowledge
of multiple regulatory signals. If complex stem cell behaviors, such as di erentiation and
proliferation, are to be fully investigated, both approaches from nanotechnology--the
"top-down" patterning of extracellular matrix (ECM) and signal molecules (e.g. ECM
compositions, nanotopography, pattern geometry, and pattern density), and the
"bottom-up" synthesis of multifunctional nanoparticles and their surface modi cation with
speci c signal molecules--should be combined synergistically. To address the
aforementioned challenges, our research mainly focuses on two approaches: i) the
development of combinatorial arrays of microenvironmental signal molecules for the
investigation of stem cell behaviors; and ii) the synthesis and utilization of multifunctional
nanoparticles as drug (e.g. small molecules or siRNA) and gene delivery vehicles to
manipulate the expression of key genes in stem cells.
More speci cally, we have applied combinatorial signal arrays to study the temporal/spatial
e ect of microenvironmental cues on adhesion, growth, and di erentiation of neural stem
cells. Furthermore, novel multifunctional nanosystems such as magnetic coreshell
nanoparticles and graphene-hybrid nanomaterials were developed and utilized to deliver
genetic materials into stem cells for controlling their neural-differentiation pathways and
neuronal behaviors (Figure 1). In this presentation, a summary of the most updated results
from these e orts and future directions will be discussed.
| Lecturer |  Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers University |
|---|---|
| Title | Nanotechnology approaches for controlling neural stem cell fate |
| Date / Time | Thur, 27 Feb 2014 / 15:00-16:00 |
| Venue | 2nd Floor Seminar Room (#A207) iCeMS Main Building (#70), Kyoto University -> Directions |
| Flyer |  PDF (324KB) |
| Host | Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS) | Contact | iCeMS Chen Group | chen-g@icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp |