Stem Cell and Its Banking: Current Trends and Developments

Abstract

Stem cells are immature cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into mature cells. They are of different types and functionally diverse depending on the site it is produced. A major leap in stem cell culture is seen from using the conventional Mouse Embryo Fibroblast (MEF) with the possibility of problems arising due to xenogenicity to Induced Pluripotent cells (iPS) cells which take the stem cell harvesting to a new level. The usage of stem cells were expanded from human Embryonic stem cell (hESC) to various Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSC), Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and human-animal cybrids which showed promise in the treatment of diseases like HIV, Parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s. The stem cell banking made it possible for researchers to further their knowledge and also the patients to utilize the variety of stem cell transplantation obtained from adipose tissue, menstrual blood and dental pulp and thereby not limiting to hESC. In this review we discuss the developing trends in the stem cell culture and also in its banking mainly public with private, considering the facilities available on the storage and accessibility to the researchers and patients. We also discuss about the prerequisites of such storage and the challenges faced by alternative therapeutic possibilities to stem cell therapies. Stem cell banking looks promising amidst its pitfalls however the future trend of stem cell therapy and banking still appears shrouded with unpredictability in the face of newer developments.