Route of delivery, cell retention, and efficiency of polymeric microcapsules in cellular cardiomyoplasty.

ABSTRACT

Stem cell transplantation has been considered as a major breakthrough for treating ischemic heart disease. However, survival and retention of transplanted cells at the site of infarction remains tenuous. This chapter details a method of creating polymeric microcapsules for cell delivery, resulting in increased retention of transplanted cells at the target site, while achieving minimal mechanical trauma and cell loss. Simultaneously biocompatible and biodegradable, polymeric microcapsules have important implications in regenerative cell therapy.