Cell encapsulation and delivery

Cell encapsulation is a technological procedure with the potential to treat a wide range of human diseases by replacing damaged or diseased cells. For this reason, in recent years, cell encapsulation and delivery for cellular therapy has been proposed for the treatment of different pathologies, including degenerative diseases, tumors, autoimmune diseases and trauma. Cellular therapy is generally based on two alternative concepts: the first one is based on the administration of free cells or aggregates, while in the second approach, cells are usually embedded or encapsulated in scaffolds. Generally, the first approach (defined as scaffold-free method) has the main inconvenience of likely evoking immune rejection of the implanted cells by the recipient. In addition, once implanted, the cells are not preserved by external exogenous stimuli, such as mechanical stimulation, and not surrounded by an appropriate environment promoting the regeneration of tissues and organs. On the contrary, the use of cell encapsulation methods allows immunoisolation of implanted cells, which increases their long-term in vivo survivability opening new avenues for targeted cell delivery. Moreover, encapsulation in specific scaffolds, typically made of polymers, provides the “appropriate” mechanical support for cell growth and tissue development.