Stem cells have garnered a significant amount of attention due to their ability to become different types of mature cells, including those found in the nervous system. However, achieving uniform and reproducible differentiation of stem cells into functional neural tissue remains challenging. This review focuses on novel strategies for engineering scaffolds to replicate the cues found in the neural stem cell niche — the microenvironment present in nature that guides immature neural stem cells to become mature cells of the nervous system. This opinion piece reviews recent advances in affinity based drug delivery systems and multivalent ligands as unique methods for replicating the features found in nature that promote neural differentiation.

干细胞由于具有成为不同类型的成熟细胞（包括在神经系统中发现的成熟细胞）的能力而备受关注。然而，实现干细胞向功能性神经组织的均匀且可再现的分化仍然具有挑战性。这篇综述集中在工程支架的新策略上，以复制在神经干细胞生态位中发现的线索，神经干细胞生态位是自然界中存在的微环境，可引导未成熟的神经干细胞成为神经系统的成熟细胞。该观点评论了基于亲和力的药物输送系统和多价配体的最新进展，这些技术是复制自然界中发现的促进神经分化的特征的独特方法。