Tuned gels reveal molecules that drive stem cell differentiation

By monitoring stem cell differentiation on gels that mimic the stiffness of biological tissue, researchers have identified the metabolites that stem cells use when selecting bone and cartilage fates. When fed to standard stem cell cultures, these molecules were then found to guide stem cells to generate desired cell types. The study shows how new biomaterials can take the guesswork out of identifying factors that drive stem cell differentiation.