Stem Cells for Myocardial Regeneration: Methods and Protocols

There is currently a great deal of enthusiasm surrounding organ regeneration, which mainly comes from the potential pleuripotency of stem cells to differentiate into various tissue types. In Stem Cells for Myocardial Regeneration: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore exciting new developments in the field of regenerative medicine, focusing both on the benefits of using stem cells in myocardial repair and regeneration and on the challenges associated with making this a mainstream therapy. Chapters consider the optimal cell type for myocardial repair, examine the developmental processes of the human heart in order to develop strategies for regeneration, consider ex-vivo optical mapping and in vivo electrophysiology studies, and investigate the effects of the extracellular matrix on stem cell renewal and differentiation. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(tm) series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Ground-breaking and current, Stem Cells for Myocardial Regeneration: Methods and Protocols, is an essential guide for scientists, translational investigators, and cardiologists alike, providing readers with a means to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adopting stem cells as the standard for myocardial regeneration.