During lab practice exercises, methodological approaches necessary for the study of the molecular processes underlying isolation, culturing and differentiation of stem cells. Particular emphasis will be placed on the molecular characterization, and on the molecular mechanisms responsible for maintaining the pluripotency / multipotency and for cell differentiation. The main biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent cells (IPS) and the principles that lie at the basis of their potential applications will be further dissected.
Some aspects related to 3D cultures and tissue engineering will be discussed.
Finally the main mode of clinical application of stem cells will be illustrated, and results described in the literature will be analyzed.