Summary
Stem cell therapy involves using viable human stem cells to regenerate tissues and treat various diseases. It encompasses embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and adult stem cells. EVE™ HT uses trypan blue for quick and accurate viability evaluation in up to 48 samples within 3 minutes.
Therefore, EVE™ HT automates and elevates the efficiency of cell counting and viability assessment process, which is essential for maintaining quality in stem cell analysis.
Cell Therapy and its classification
Cell therapy uses living cells to regenerate and restore damaged or diseased cells. It has applications in drug development, toxicology testing, and biomarker research. The three main types are tissue cell therapy, immune cell therapy, and stem cell therapy. The following content will primarily focus on stem cell therapy.
What is Stem Cell therapy?
Stem cell-based therapies are defined as any treatment for a disease or a medical condition that fundamentally involves the use of any type of viable human stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), iPSCs and adult stem cells for autologous and allogeneic therapies. Stem cells offer the perfect solution when there is a need for tissue and organ transplantation through their ability to differentiate into the specific cell types that are required for repair of diseased tissues. [1]
Where Can I use Stem Cell therapy?
Stem cells serve as the source for all cells, possessing undifferentiated characteristics, self-replication abilities, and the potential for differentiation. This differentiation function allows the treatment of damaged organs or tissues by promoting division and indefinite duplication. Stem cells are categorized into adult stem cells (AS cells), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), and embryonic stem cells (ES cells).
Stem cell therapy, harnessing the capacity to differentiate and multiply into diverse cells, has been extensively studied and developed for various diseases, facilitated by technological advancements. Many developed countries offer policy support, recognizing it as a key component of the medical industry. Stem cells also serve as biomarkers to monitor post-treatment effectiveness and as cell treatments for incurable diseases.
Through differentiation and proliferation, stem cells can be injected into patients to replace damaged cells, fostering tissue development in cell therapy. Additionally, stem cells play a role in enhancing the efficiency of new drug development by identifying candidates and assessing their efficacy. Stem cell therapy has shown effectiveness in treating a myriad of conditions, including burns, cardiovascular diseases, muscle diseases, vision impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, stem cells hold promise for addressing challenging diseases such as spinal cord injuries, dementia, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Among various stem cell types, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) play a crucial role in producing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and immune cells like T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a rapidly growing procedure worldwide, finding application in treating conditions such as aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, and solid cancers.
EVE™ HT: Efficient, Accurate, and High-Throughput Solutions for
Stem Cell analysis
When working with tissue-derived cells, particularly stem cells, accurate assessment of cell concentration and viability is essential for maintaining quality throughout subsequent procedures. A High Throughput Trypan Blue-Based Cell Counter, such as the EVE™ HT, is a valuable tool in the manufacturing process of stem cell therapy products, offering specific capabilities that contribute to the overall efficiency and quality control.
EVE™ HT is an automated cell counter that uses trypan blue for high-throughput measurements. In less than 3 minutes, it can accurately measure up to 48 samples, making it an efficient solution for busy laboratories or industries. The efficiency is maximized through the use of a disposable 48 channel plate.
Here's a detailed explanation of how it can be utilized:
Why is evaluating viability of cells important in Stem cell therapy?
Therapeutic Efficacy: Ensuring Potency
The therapeutic efficacy of stem cell therapies is directly linked to the potency of the administered cells. Only viable and functional stem cells have the potential to contribute to tissue regeneration or repair. Monitoring cell viability guarantees that the therapeutic product contains a sufficient number of viable cells capable of carrying out the intended therapeutic functions.
Patient Safety: Minimizing Risks
Administering non-viable or compromised stem cells to patients can pose serious risks. Non-viable cells may not survive after transplantation, leading to treatment failure and potential harm to the patient. By assessing viability during the manufacturing process, the risk of administering ineffective or harmful cell products can be minimized.
Consistency and Reproducibility: Quality Control
Viability measurements contribute to maintaining consistent product quality. Quality control measures ensure that each batch of stem cell therapy meets predefined standards. Consistency in viability levels across batches enhances reproducibility, allowing for reliable therapeutic outcomes and facilitating regulatory compliance.
Optimizing Dosing: Accurate Cell Dosing
Determining the appropriate cell dose for each patient is crucial for the success of stem cell therapy. Viability data is essential for calculating the actual number of viable cells in a given dose, allowing clinicians to administer an optimal and standardized cell dose tailored to individual patient needs.
Cost-Effectiveness: Efficient Resource Utilization
Monitoring cell viability helps avoid wasting resources on non-viable cells. Inefficient use of resources, such as culture media, supplements, and laboratory personnel time, can be minimized by eliminating non-viable cell populations early in the manufacturing process. This contributes to cost-effectiveness in the production of stem cell therapies.
Post-Transplantation Outcomes: Predicting In Vivo Performance
The viability of stem cells before transplantation can influence their survival and behavior in the patient's body. Monitoring viability helps predict post-transplantation outcomes, providing valuable information for clinicians and researchers to optimize treatment protocols and improve long-term therapeutic benefits.
Reference
[1] Current state of stem cell-based therapies: an overview, Stem Cell Investigations