Preface

Regenerative medicine continues to be a hot and exciting field of research. In chapter 1, Shinoka et al. review a short history of organ and tissue regeneration, including recent breakthrough advances in the regeneration field, and the current state of vascular tissue engineering. The field of regenerative medicine is progressing with an accelerating pace; the prospect of using stem and progenitor cells clinically for vascular regeneration in treating vascular and ischemic diseases is on the horizon. Zeng et al. comprehensively describe the mechanisms of signaling and translation of stem/progenitor cells in vascular regenerative medicine in chapter 2.

Fortin et al., in chapter 3, cover the field of functional integration of neural tissue grafted in animal models of CNS disease. The review comprises conventional and novel procedures that are being used to treat CNS disorders with neural tissue.

In chapter 4, Schulze et al. summarize the functionalized 3D scaffolds for template mediated biomineralization in bone regeneration. They describe both conventional and recent development in guided bone tissue engineering.

Regenerative medicine has undergone major exciting advances over the last few years in the treatment of ocular diseases. Valdez-Garcia et al., in chapter 5, discuss recent development and as well as future prospects by using available bioinformatic tools for corneal endothelium differentiation. In the last chapter of this volume, Agorastou and Tsoulfas present the therapeutic strategies and the advances made in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using stem cells.

We hope that the readers will enjoy reading this volume which covers many important stem cell and regenerative medicine research. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the editorial staff of Bentham Science Publishers, particularly Dr. Faryal Sami, Mr. Shehzad Naqvi and Mr. Mahmood Alam for their constant help and support.