Pluripotent Stem Cell Isolation via Magnetic Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for obtaining pluripotent stem cells face challenges in efficiently isolating and utilizing cells from human umbilical cord or placenta for clinical applications, particularly in avoiding ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells and ensuring safety and efficacy in differentiation and gene therapy.

Innovation Solution

A method for isolating, purifying, and expanding pluripotent stem cells from human umbilical cord or placenta tissues using aseptic processing, protease incubation, and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting, characterized by specific markers (CD151+, OCT4+, CD184-) and the ability to differentiate into three germ layers, with the cells being used for gene therapy and treating diseases related to cell damage or aging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If embryonic stem cells are used for research and therapy, then differential potential and biological characteristics are improved, but medical ethical problems arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential potentialVSAvoidmedical ethical problems
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pluripotent stem cells as an intermediary between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. These cells are derived from umbilical cord or placenta (non-embryonic sources) but exhibit embryonic-like pluripotent characteristics, thereby avoiding ethical issues while maintaining high differential potential for clinical applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If specialized stem cells are used for clinical therapy, then ethical problems are avoided, but differential potential is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveethical problemsVSAvoiddifferential potential
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the differentiation parameter of stem cells by isolating pluripotent stem cells that can differentiate into three germ layers (endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm), unlike specialized adult stem cells limited to specific lineages. This is achieved through specific culture conditions and selection markers (CD151+, OCT4+, CD184-) to expand differentiation capacity while using non-embryonic sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If conventional methods are used to isolate stem cells from umbilical cord or placenta, then source availability is improved, but isolation efficiency and purity are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesource availabilityVSAvoidisolation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical isolation methods with magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) technology. This allows for highly efficient and specific isolation of pluripotent stem cells from umbilical cord or placenta tissues based on surface markers (CD151+, OCT4+, CD184-), achieving both high purity and yield without relying on labor-intensive mechanical procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method provides a population of pluripotent stem cells that can be used for gene therapy, treating cell damage, aging, and immunological abnormalities, with the ability to differentiate into various cell types and avoid teratoma formation, demonstrating high efficacy in clinical and experimental applications.

Implementation Method 1

mincing collected tissues into fragments and incubating the fragments with protease

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProtease digestion: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

isolating, purifying and culturally expanding of a population of human pluripotent stem cells, comprising (a) cutting and collecting human umbilical cord and or placenta tissues by aseptic processing; and (b) mincing collected tissues into fragments and incubating the fragments with protease and then passing through a filter to obtain primary mononuclear cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic separation: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP2374871B1Pluripotent stem cells, method for preparation thereof and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 BEIJING HEALTH & BIOTECH (H&B) CO LTD
  • EP2374871B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2374871B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP2374871B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Human pluripotent stem cells which are isolated from cut human umbilical cord or placenta and characteristic of cell surface marker CD 151+, OCT4+ and CD 184-, can adhere to tissue culture plastic and have the potential to differentiate into three germ layers: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. Methods of isolating, purifying and culturally expanding of a population of human pluripotent stem cells and uses for treating diseases caused by cell damage or cell aging, and as a kind of carrier cells in gene therapy are provided.