Evaluating the Feasibility of Hydrogel-Based Neural Cell Sprays

Abstract

Neurological injuries have poor prognoses with serious clinical sequelae. Stem cell transplantation enhances neural repair but is hampered by low graft survival ( ca. 80%) and marker expression/proliferative potential of hydrogel-sprayed astrocytes was retained. Combining a cell spray format with polymer encapsulation technologies could form the basis of a non-invasive graft delivery method, offering potential advantages over current cell delivery approaches.