Stem cell delivery systems and devices-spraying

Abstract

Despite huge progress in interrogating the benefits of stem cells for lung diseases, more studies on optimal routes of cell delivery are required. The ability of intravenously injected stem cells to reach all parts of the lung is limited, particularly when the extracellular matrix and vasculature are damaged in various lung diseases. Hence, an alternative route of stem cell administration that delivers cells directly to the lung through the airway may provide a more adequate supply of stem cells at the site of injury. In many lung injuries and diseases, much of the damage occurs in the airway epithelium, and thus intratracheal administration of the stem cells directly delivered to the injury site may be beneficial. For optimal therapeutic benefits, it is important that cells are uniformly distributed across the whole lung. The exogenous cells are required to be in a healthy state when delivered to the injured area. Therefore, there is a need to optimise the technology to deliver cells directly to airways. This chapter presents an overview of the currently available technologies for cell spraying and discusses other important parameters for successful delivery of stem cells to the lung.