Engineering Neural Tissue from Stem Cells

Book excerpt: Engineering Neural Tissue from Stem Cells covers the basic knowledge needed to understand the nervous system and how existing cells can be used to create neural tissue. This book presents a broad range of topics related to the design requirements for engineering neural tissue from stem cells. It begins with the anatomy and function of the central and peripheral nervous system, also covering stem cells, their relation to the nervous system and their function in recovery after injury or disease. In addition, the book explores the role of the extracellular matrix and vasculature/immune system and biomaterials, including their suitability for neural tissue engineering applications. - Provides readers entering the field with a strong basis of neural tissue engineering processes and real-world applications - Discusses the most current clinical trials and their importance of treating nervous system disorders - Reviews the structure and immune response of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and their present cells - Offers a necessary overview of the natural and synthetic biomaterials used to engineer neural tissue