Attachment of stem cells to scaffold particles for intra-cerebral transplantation

Cell-replacement therapy and tissue regeneration using stem cells are of great interest to recover histological damage caused by neuro-degenerative disease or traumatic insults to the brain. To date, the main intra-cerebral delivery for these cells has been as a suspension in media through a thin needle. However, this does not provide cells with a support system that would allow tissue regeneration. Scaffold particles are needed to provide structural support to cells to form de novo tissue. In this 16-d protocol, we describe the generation and functionalization of poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) particles to enhance cell attachment, the attachment procedure to avoid clumping and aggregation of cells and particles, and their preparation for intra-cerebral injection through a thin needle. Although the stem cell–scaffold transplantation is more complicated and labor-intensive than cell suspensions, it affords de novo tissue generation inside the brain and hence provides a significant step forward in traumatic brain repair.