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Microfluidic processing of stem cells for autologous cell replacement
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Microfluidic processing of stem cells for autologous cell replacement

Nicholas E Stone, Andrew P Voigt, Robert F Mullins, Todd Sulchek and Budd A Tucker
Stem cells translational medicine, Vol.10(10), pp.1384-1393
10/2021
DOI: 10.1002/sctm.21-0080
PMCID: PMC8459636
PMID: 34156760
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.21-0080View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Autologous photoreceptor cell replacement is one of the most promising approaches currently under development for the treatment of inherited retinal degenerative blindness. Unlike endogenous stem cell populations, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be differentiated into both rod and cone photoreceptors in high numbers, making them ideal for this application. That said, in addition to photoreceptor cells, state of the art retinal differentiation protocols give rise to all of the different cell types of the normal retina, the majority of which are not required and may in fact hinder successful photoreceptor cell replacement. As such, following differentiation photoreceptor cell enrichment will likely be required. In addition, to prevent the newly generated photoreceptor cells from suffering the same fate as the patient's original cells, correction of the patient's disease‐causing genetic mutations will be necessary. In this review we discuss literature pertaining to the use of different cell sorting and transfection approaches with a focus on the development and use of novel next generation microfluidic devices. We will discuss how gold standard strategies have been used, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how novel microfluidic platforms can be incorporated into the clinical manufacturing pipeline to reduce the complexity, cost, and regulatory burden associated with clinical grade production of photoreceptor cells for autologous cell replacement. Incorporation of novel microfluidic transfection and cell sorting strategies into an autologous photoreceptor cell replacement pipeline. A‐F, Autologous photoreceptor cell replacement for the treatment of inherited retinal degenerative blindness begins with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation (A), followed by CRISPR correction of the patient's disease‐causing genetic mutations (B), generation of 3D retinal organoids (C), dissociation and enrichment of photoreceptor precursor cells (D), seeding of photoreceptor cell grafts (E), and subretinal transplantation (F).
autologous stem cell transplantation induced pluripotent stem cells retina retinal photoreceptors stem/progenitor cell

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