Table 1 A summary of the applications of nanomaterials in stem cell differentiation

Nanoparticles and nano-carriers

AuNPs

Osteogenic differentiation

mMSCs/hADSCs/hMSCs

[34, 44, 47]

AuNPs

Chitosan

Osteogenic differentiation

hADSCs

[49]

AgNPs

Osteogenic differentiation

mMSCs

[29]

AgNPs

Osteogenic differentiation

hUSCs

[57]

AgNPs

miR-148b

Osteogenic differentiation

hADSCs

[58]

GO

Dopamine neurons

mESCs

[33]

GQD

Osteoblasts and adipocytes

rBMSCs

[79]

Silica nanoparticles

Insulin

Adipogenic differentiation

rMSCs

[94]

Silica nanoparticles

AA

Cardiac differentiation

hESCs

[15]

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles

HNF3β plasmid DNA

Hepatocyte-like cells

miPSCs

[95]

Silica nanoparticles

PEDF siRNA

Self-renewal and differentiation

hCSCs

[96]

IONPs

Osteogenic differentiation

hBMSCs

[65]

IONPs

HSA/FGF2

Neuronal, adipogenic and osteogenic lineages

hMSCs

[67]

Barium titanate nanoparticles

Proliferation and differentiation

rMSCs

[68]

DNA nanotubes

Peptide RGDS

Neurons

mNSCs

[114]

Chitosan-based-microRNA nanoparticles

AntimiR-138

Osteogenic differentiation

rMSCs

[104]

Polymeric nanoparticles

RA

Neuronal differentiation

mNSCs/hiPSCs/mouse SVZ stem cells

[99, 100, 130]

Chitosan nanoparticles

Hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocytes

mBMSCs

[129]

Polyethyleneimine complex nanoparticles

RA

Neuronal differentiation

mESCs

[98]

Polymeric nanoparticles

siSOX9 and RA

Neurons

mNSCs

[140]

2D and 3D nano-scaffolds

AuNPs-loaded functionalized nanofibers

PCL/SF/AV/VitB12/GNP fibers

Cardiac differentiation

hMSCs

[51]

AuNPs-loaded hybrid nanofibers

BSA/PVA scaffolds

Cardiac differentiation

hMSCs

[46]

TiO₂ nanotubes

Osteogenic differentiation

hADSCs/rBMSCs

[35, 62]

TiO₂-coated CoCrMo

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[141]

TiO₂ scaffolds

Osteogenic differentiation

hADSCs

[14]

GR/TiO₂ heterojunction

Neurons

hNSCs

[142]

 GR

Laminin-coated

Neurons

hNSCs

[76]

 GR

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[41]

GO-PLGA nanofiber scaffolds

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[78]

rGO-collagen hybrid scaffold

Neural cells

rBMSCs

[77]

Graphene nanogrids

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[143]

Aligned SWCNTs

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[131]

SWCNTs

Adipogenesis

rMSCs

[87]

MWCNTs

Poly(ε-caprolactone)

Cardiac differentiation

hMSCs

[90]

MWCNTs

Carboxylated

Neural cells

hBMSCs

[86]

MWCNTs

PEG

Osteogenic differentiation

hMSCs

[40]

MWCNTs-incorporated nanocomposite scaffolds

Cartilage regeneration

hBMSCs

[88, 89]

Xanthan and magnetite nanoparticles hybrid scaffolds

Neurons

mESCs

[144]

PLLA/PBLG/collagen nanofibrous

Osteogenic lineages

Rabbits-ADSCs

[145]