Performance of Developed Mononuclear Cell Separator for Regenerative Therapy Is Comparable to Manual

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Therapy

Background:

• Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) show therapeutic potential but require complex manual separation.
• Existing cell separation devices have not consistently demonstrated therapeutic efficacy, hindering widespread adoption.
• Manual separation is labor-intensive and requires specialized facilities, limiting accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated BM-MNC separation device that replicates manual separation efficiency.
• To enhance hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) recovery and remove degenerative red blood cells (RBCs).
• To validate the therapeutic efficacy of BM-MNCs isolated by the developed device in preclinical models.

Main Methods:

• Modification of centrifuge container injection port and circuit design for improved cell fractionation.
• Assessment of HSC recovery and degenerative RBC removal rates using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
• Evaluation of therapeutic effects in mouse models of stroke using device-isolated BM-MNCs.

Main Results:

• The developed device achieved HSC recovery and degenerative RBC removal rates comparable to manual separation.
• BM-MNCs isolated using the automated device demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in preclinical stroke models.
• The device successfully reproduced the results of manual cell separation.

Conclusions:

• The novel automated BM-MNC separation device can effectively replace manual techniques.
• This technology facilitates the widespread application of BM-MNC-based cell therapies.
• The device streamlines cell processing, making cell therapy more feasible without reliance on dedicated centers.