Human embryonic stem cells as a cellular model for osteogenesis in implant testing and drug discovery

Abstract

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) hold great promises in many aspects of research and clinical usage. Comparing with other type of stem cells such as adult stem cells and induced pluri-potent stem cells (iPSCs), hESCs are unique with many advantages such as their pluripotency, capable of unlimited self-renewal with intact chromosomal integrity. In daily life, we are subjected to bone injuries and illnesses which our bodies are unable to recover by themselves. The emergence of tissue engineering and cell therapy in the past decades has shown some progress in both research and clinical practice. However, the exploration of hESCs in such applications is still far early from practice. This study aims to open the horizon for the use of hESCs as a cellular model for implant testing and drug discovery along its differentiation process toward osteogenic lineage. Most of the current implant testing relies on adult stem cell (Mesenchymal stem cells, etc.) and primary cells from human tissue.