Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing cells that differentiate into several terminally differentiated cell types. These cells have been isolated from multiple sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, peripheral blood, and other adult tissues(1–6). The interest in these cells is that they hold the potential to cure disease and are being pursued in clinical trials. Three emerging fields of interest for stem cells are cell therapy, regenerative medicine and screening of candidate drugs. In many cases, poor correlation between…

Cell-based therapies hold promise for treating many acute and chronic diseases (1). Optimism surrounding that therapeutic potential has driven the initiation of multiple clinical trials in pursuit of such treatments. Procedures for preparing these therapeutic agents begin with selective isolation of cells from desired tissues. That is followed by ex vivo expansion of cells of desired phenotype and functionality. Once expanded to acceptable levels, cells are stored to preserve their viability during transportation to treatment facilities. The final step in…