One of the challenges in clinical translation of cell-replacement therapies is the definition of optimal cell generation and storage/recovery protocols which would permit a rapid preparation of cell-treatment products for patient administration. Besides, the availability of injection devices that are simple to use is critical for potential future dissemination of any spinally targeted cell-replacement therapy into general medical practice. Here, we compared the engraftment properties of established human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived neural precursor cell (NPCs) line once cells were harvested fresh from the cell culture or previously frozen and then grafted into striata or spinal cord of the immunodeficient rat. A newly developed human spinal injection device equipped with a spinal cord pulsation-cancelation magnetic needle was also tested for its safety in an adult immunosuppressed pig. Previously frozen NPCs showed similar post-grafting survival and differentiation profile as was seen for freshly harvested cells. Testing of human injection device showed acceptable safety with no detectable surgical procedure or spinal NPCs injection-related side effects.

Department of Anesthesiology School of Medicine University of California San Diego San Diego CA USA

Department of Biomaterials and Bioanalogous System Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neurosurgery School of Medicine University of California San Diego San Diego CA USA

Department of Orthopedic Surgery Keio University School of Medicine Tokyo Japan

Division of Stem Cell Medicine Department of Advanced Medicine Medical Research Institute Kanazawa Medical University Uchinada Japan

Gene Expression Laboratory Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla CA USA

Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics AS CR v v i Liběchov Czech Republic

Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Kobe Center Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd Kobe Japan

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