A Novel Alternative to Cryopreservation for the Short-Term Storage of Stem Cells for Use in Cell Therapy Using Alginate Encapsulation
A Novel Alternative to Cryopreservation for the Short-Term Storage of Stem Cells for Use in Cell Therapy Using Alginate Encapsulation
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DOI：
10.1089/ten.tec.2012.0489
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发表时间：
2013-07-01
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Connon, Che J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Chen, Bo;Wright, Bernice;Connon, Che J.
干细胞/祖细胞的有效运输而不影响其存活和功能是任何实际细胞疗法的关键因素。然而，目前使用液氮转移干细胞的方法需要较短的交付时间窗口，这在技术上具有挑战性并且在经济上昂贵。本研究旨在使用半透性藻酸盐水凝胶（通过锶交联）来封装、储存和释放干细胞，以取代传统的冷冻保存方法，在全球范围内运输治疗细胞。人间充质干细胞 (hMSC) 和小鼠胚胎干细胞 (mESC) 在气密环境（密封冷冻管）的环境条件下成功保存在藻酸盐水凝胶内 5 天。从藻酸盐凝胶中提取的细胞的细胞活力为 74% (mESC) 和 80% (hMSC) 存活率，这与冷冻保存相比更为有利。更重要的是，从藻酸盐水凝胶中回收的 hMSC 和 mESC 的随后增殖率和常见干细胞标记物的检测（mRNA 和蛋白质水平）也与冷冻保存后获得的结果相当（如果不是更好）。总之，藻酸盐水凝胶封装的这种新的、简单的应用可以为临床和研究目的的干细胞运输和储存提供一种廉价而强大的冷冻保存替代方案。
Efficient transport of stem/progenitor cells without affecting their survival and function is a key factor in any practical cell-based therapy. However, the current approach using liquid nitrogen for the transfer of stem cells requires a short delivery time window is technically challenging and financially expensive. The present study aims to use semipermeable alginate hydrogels (crosslinked by strontium) to encapsulate, store, and release stem cells, to replace the conventional cryopreservation method for the transport of therapeutic cells within worldwide distribution time frame. Human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were successfully stored inside alginate hydrogels for 5 days under ambient conditions in an air-tight environment (sealed cryovial). Cell viability, of the cells extracted from alginate gel, gave 74% (mESC) and 80% (hMSC) survival rates, which compared favorably to cryopreservation. More importantly, the subsequent proliferation rate and detection of common stem cell markers (both in mRNA and protein level) from hMSCs and mESCs retrieved from alginate hydrogels were also comparable to (if not better than) results gained following cryopreservation. In conclusion, this new and simple application of alginate hydrogel encapsulation may offer a cheap and robust alternative to cryopreservation for the transport and storage of stem cells for both clinical and research purposes.