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.

• Keywords
• cryopreservation, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), human injection device, immunosuppressed adult pig, neural precursor cells (NPCs), spinal cord,
• MeSH
• Cell Differentiation physiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Genetic Vectors genetics   MeSH
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells * physiology   transplantation   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Spinal Cord MeSH
• Brain MeSH
• Neural Stem Cells * physiology   transplantation   MeSH
• Specimen Handling methods   MeSH
• Tissue and Organ Harvesting methods   MeSH
• Swine MeSH
• Cellular Reprogramming * genetics   physiology   MeSH
• Graft Survival physiology   MeSH
• Injections, Spinal * adverse effects   instrumentation   methods   MeSH
• Stem Cell Transplantation * adverse effects   instrumentation   methods   MeSH
• Sendai virus MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH