Ex Utero Harvest of Hematopoietic Stem Cells From Placenta/Umbilical Cord With an Automated Collection System

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from the human placenta and umbilical cord blood (UCB) provide a rich source of highly proliferative cells for many clinical uses with advantages over traditional sources like the bone marrow and periphery blood. However, the key current constraint with this source of HSCs is the inadequate number of HSCs cells that can be harvested in a single collection using current approaches, which render a large number of collections unusable on their own, even for pediatric patients. This paper will present the development of a device to enable more efficient harvesting of HSCs from placentas, which can be used ex utero, upon the discharge of placentas after deliveries. The device can be used to facilitate a two-fraction collection process. Results, in terms of mononucleated cells (MNCs) count, CD34+ cells count, as well as flow cytometry, will be furnished to verify the effectiveness of the developed system.