Development of the studies on engineered neural stem cells

Stem cell is one of the hot spot in the research area of biomedical engineering. Special attentions are drawn to the research and application of neural stem cells. Neural stem cells exist widely in central nervous system, which has the capacity of self-renewal and the potential to differentiate into other cells. The so-called engineered neural stem cell is constructed by using the technique of genetic engineering to make it be able to express various neural growth factors with high-performance and stability. The engineered neural stem cells have a great potential in the therapy of diseases of central nervous system, especially the spinal cord injury. This article reviews the research development of engineered neural stem cells, the problems confronted with it, and the trend for research in the future. Key words: Engineered;  Neural stem cells;  Tissue engineering