INJECTABLE POLYMER COMPOSITION FOR USE AS A CELL DELIVERY VEHICLE

摘要

This invention provides a polymer composition comprising at least one thermal gelling polymer and at least one anionic polymer for cell delivery applications. These injectable polymer compositions are shear-thinning, thixotropic and resorbable. More specifically there is described a hyaluronan (HA) and methylcellulose (MC) based thermogelling cell delivery system (HAMC) that promotes cell survival both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, HAMC (relative to media alone) enhances survival of transplanted stem/progenitor cells in the injured CNS. HAMC provides a minimally-invasive cell delivery strategy where the microenvironment can be further defined and the differentiation and regenerative capacity further explored. This hydrogel system has applications for minimally-invasive cell delivery to other tissues/organs in the body as well.