Direct jetting approaches for handling stem cells

Abstract

Cell handling by means of jets has recently been highlighted as having significant implications for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bio-electrosprays and aerodynamically assisted bio-jetting, two recently discovered direct cell jetting methods, have undergone extensive developmental studies which have seen these techniques have many implications for the life sciences. In our previous investigations both these techniques have only been explored for the direct handling of primary living cells, which have demonstrated great promise. However, stem cells play a critical role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and hence these jetting protocols must be applied to stem cells if these approaches are to be employed for wider applications in both biology and medicine. Thus, the investigations reported herein, which are the first of their kind, elucidate the ability to explore these jetting methodologies for safe handling of stem cells. Our studies report cellular viability on several controls in comparison to those post-jetted stem cells over a 72 h time frame. In addition, we have explored flow cytometry and apoptosis assays, further providing evidence that those stem cells handled by means of either bio-electrosprays or aerodynamically assisted bio-jetting have not incurred any gross cellular damage. These pilot studies provide the much needed proof-of-principle for these techniques to progress for their exploration as an advanced strategy in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.