Biomechanical regulation of stem cells: Implications for cell therapeutics

Stem cell biology has rapidly expanded into an interdisciplinary field with potential for next-generation cell-based therapies. However, a critical gap remains in our understanding of how physical forces influence stem cell behavior. Recent studies in mechanotransduction, the process by which cells sense and convert mechanical cues into biochemical signals, have revealed that biomechanical regulation is fundamental for stem cell fate, proliferation, and therapeutic efficacy. This review synthesizes recent findings on the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of physical cues that govern mechanotransduction and shape stem cell biology, highlights the mechanosensitive responses, and explores how biomedical engineering (BME) can be employed to manipulate these processes to improve translational outcomes in clinical settings. By integrating insights from cell biology, mechanobiology, and engineering, this interdisciplinary field offers strategies to translate benchside discoveries into clinical applications, advancing the development of precise and effective stem cell-based therapies.