The need for customized stem cell therapies for specific conditions will be a major issue in the coming decades. This unique book by experts in the field reviews the subject as it stands today. Its coverage includes: basic and applied stem cell research and history; sources of adult stem cells; a comparison of difficulties in derivation, and the applications of embryonic and adult stem cells. Specific topics dealt with include advantages and problems associated with stem cell / matrix interactions and stem cell differentiation, difficulties using stem cells for clinical application, stem cell based tissue engineering - myth or reality, stem cells and immunity, natural biological matrices versus synthetic (biocompatibility and integration), stem cell delivery, labeling, imaging and tracking, bioreactors: 2D and 3D cell culturing for in-vitro studies and for stem cell implantation, ethical and safety issues and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).