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Stem Cell Delivery Methods and Routes

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Progenitor Cell Therapy for Neurological Injury

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

Abstract

A long-held tenet of cell therapies has been that a biologically relevant dose of cells must be delivered to the site of injury and at least transiently engraft. It naturally follows that strategies to optimize these endpoints would be pursued as a translational goal. Optimization of progenitor cell efficacy requires delivery of the implanted progenitor cells to the site of neurological injury without significant effect on cell viability and function. An ideal delivery vehicle would provide high levels of cellular engraftment without affecting viability. Delivery vehicles include intravenous infusion, intra-arterial infusion, direct implantation (with or without synthetic scaffolds), and intrathecal infusion. In addition, preliminary investigation into novel forms of delivery such as cellular manipulation to improve engraftment and the seeding of extruded biocompatible polymer nanofiber scaffolds is under way. We will discuss the potential benefits and untoward effects associated with each method of delivery. Also, emerging data suggest that the tenet of local delivery/engraftment to achieve a positive biological effect is cell type-specific and not necessary in all circumstances.

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Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

FDA:

US Food and Drug Administration

HSC:

Hematopoietic stem cell

hUCBC:

Human umbilical cord blood cell

IL:

Interleukin

MAPC:

Multipotent adult progenitor cell

MCAO:

Middle cerebral artery occlusion

MSC:

Mesenchymal stromal cell

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-kappa-B

NGF:

Nerve growth factor

NgR-Ab:

Nogo receptor antibody

NSC:

Neural stem cell

PLL:

Poly-l-lysine

SDF-1:

Stromal cell-derived factor-1

TBI:

Traumatic brain injury

TLR:

Toll-like receptor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Peter A. Walker

  2. Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Peter A. Walker

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  1. Peter A. Walker
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Correspondence to Peter A. Walker .

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  1. Medical School at Houston, Div. Pediatric Surgery, University Texas, Fannin Street 6431, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    S. Charles Jr.

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Walker, P.A. (2011). Stem Cell Delivery Methods and Routes. In: Charles, S. (eds) Progenitor Cell Therapy for Neurological Injury. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-965-9_3

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