Current Status and Perspectives of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy 2020
1The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
3University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Current Status and Perspectives of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy 2020
Description
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) hold tremendous potential in cell-based therapies and regenerative medicine. Utilizing hMSCs could eliminate the ethical and safety concerns related to the use of other types of stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells. hMSCs can be isolated from various tissues, including bone marrow, fat, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord, etc. hMSCs are capable of differentiating from the major specialized cells of the tissue in which they resided, therefore helping to repair and regenerate damaged tissues and organs. With its regenerative and curative potential, hMSCs have been studied in numerous clinical settings, including musculoskeletal, vascular, respiratory, and cardiac diseases, etc. Nonetheless, while the outcomes of numerous preclinical and clinical studies support the potential of hMSCs in various clinical fields, multiple challenges are yet to be addressed to achieve successful clinical translations.
In view of the growing need for hMSCs, this issue aims to discuss the recent advances on the use of hMSCs in various clinical settings, which will help us to better understand their therapeutic impact. It is also essential to understand all the steps required in developing stem cell therapy, including bioprocessing, safety and efficacy assessment, cell administration route and delivery strategies. This will aid in establishing strategies to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of hMSCs.
This Special Issue invites researchers, industrials, biomedical engineers, technologists, and healthcare professionals specialized in cell and molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and biotechnology to share their knowledge by contributing original basic and applied research articles, clinical studies, and review articles.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal diseases
- Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for vascular diseases
- Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for respiratory diseases
- Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cardiac diseases
- Bioprocessing of hMSCs, e.g., cryopreservation, cell expansion, or cell differentiation
- Evaluation of different delivery strategies and administration routes of hMSCs
- Strategies to improve the safety and efficacy of hMSCs