Media compositions and methods of enhancing binding of cells to an integrin-binding ligand comprising treating integrin-expressing hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo with an agonist of integrin, wherein the integrin is selected from the group consisting of &alpha4&bgr1, &alpha5&bgr1, &alpha4&bgr7, &alphav&bgr3 and &alphaL&bgr2, and contacting the treated cells ex vivo with an integrin-binding ligand integrin agonist compounds having the general formula I methods of treating integrin-expressing cells with such agonists to enhance binding and therapeutic methods comprising administering agonist-treated cells with minimal exposure agonist compounds to a mammal requiring stem cell transplantation in the management of hematologic cancers and genetic diseases.
