An integrative approach based on microfluidic design and stem cell biology enables capture of the spatial-temporal environmental evolution underpinning epigenetic remodeling and the morphogenetic process. We examine the body of literature that encompasses microfluidic applications where human induced pluripotent stem cells are derived starting from human somatic cells and where human pluripotent stem cells are differentiated into different cell types. We focus on recent studies where the intrinsic features of microfluidics have been exploited to control the reprogramming and differentiation trajectory at the microscale, including the capability of manipulating the fluid velocity field, mass transport regime, and controllable composition within micro- to nanoliter volumes in space and time. We also discuss studies of emerging microfluidic technologies and applications. Finally, we critically discuss perspectives and challenges in the field and how these could be instrumental for bringing about significant biological advances in the field of stem cell engineering.

中文翻译：

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微流体装置中人类多能干细胞的衍生和分化

基于微流体设计和干细胞生物学的综合方法能够捕获支撑表观遗传重塑和形态发生过程的时空环境演化。我们研究了包含微流体应用的文献，其中人类诱导多能干细胞源自人类体细胞，以及人类多能干细胞分化成不同的细胞类型。我们重点关注最近的研究，其中利用微流体的内在特征来控制微尺度上的重编程和分化轨迹，包括操纵流体速度场、质量传输机制以及空间中微米到纳升体积内的可控成分的能力和时间。我们还讨论新兴微流体技术和应用的研究。最后，我们批判性地讨论了该领域的观点和挑战，以及这些如何有助于在干细胞工程领域带来重大的生物学进展。