Delivery vehicles for stem cells and uses thereof
AssigneeThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
InventorsShawn D. Hingtgen, Julio Rodriguez Bago, Matthew G. Ewend, Karen J. Giroux, Raluca Dumitru
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Abstract
Provided herein according to some embodiments is a biocompatible scaffold comprising stem cells (e.g., a pliable scaffold) suitable for intracavity administration after surgical removal of a tumor, wherein the scaffold allows the stem cells to migrate away from the scaffold and towards a cancerous or damaged tissue, wherein the stem cells are loaded with a therapeutic agent and/or a reporter molecule. Methods of forming the scaffold, and methods of use thereof, are also provided.
Claims9
A method of forming a scaffold comprising stem cells, wherein said stem cells are mammalian neural stem cells, wherein said stem cells are loaded with a therapeutic agent, and optionally wherein said stem cells are also loaded with a reporter molecule, said method comprising:
- providing a polymerizable and/or crosslinkable material that is not gelatin, wherein said material further comprises crosslinked gelatin, wherein said crosslinked gelatin is not collagen, optionally wherein the material is sterile,
- mixing said polymerizable and/or crosslinkable material with said stem cells to form a mixture of said material and said stem cells, and
- polymerizing and/or crosslinking said material of said mixture,
- to thereby form said scaffold comprising said stem cells,
- wherein said scaffold is biocompatible and wherein said scaffold allows the stem cells to migrate away from the scaffold and towards a cancerous or damaged tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.