Controlling Stem Cells

Controlling Stem Cells

Many neurological diseases had no cure for a long time, but as technological advancements grow, new discoveries are constantly being made. Some new methods of treatment include the usage of stem cells by leading them to behave or differentiate in a certain manner so they can treat a specific disease. The research of both  Dr. Ye, at Loyola University, and a team at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering is focused on developing methods of migrating and differentiating stem cells so they can be useful in treatment.

Dr. Ye explained how his research is predominantly focused on injecting neural stem cells then leading them to migrate to the defected area in the body, so they can begin to differentiate into a specific cell type to help heal the area. He was able to use a DC electric field to guide the cell’s movement in various directions and then by adding calcium he could paralyze the cell also. Furthermore, the electric field also helped the stem cells to differentiate into the desired final cell type that can replace the injured cell and possibly cure the disease. Thus, he came to the conclusion that by using an electric field he can control the motility and differentiation of stem cells and direct them to the favored destination.

Similarly the  team of engineers at Northwestern University directed their research around controlling the migration and differentiation of neural stem cells, but with a different technique. They used a microfluidic device to migrate the stem cells, but instead of migrating all stem cells to the injured area as Dr. Ye was researching, they found a method to the long researched concept of isolating single stem cells from their clusters.  The microfluidic device is a spiral device that has a fluid containing the neural stem cells. As the fluid flows through the spiral the cells are separated from the cluster based on their size. The smaller cells move toward the inner side of the microfluidic device while the larger cells move toward the center of the device.

Microfluidic Device

Both methods of separation can be used together for further research opportunities because they both focus on migration of stem cells with the goal of finding new treatment methods. For example, a stem cell can be  separated from the cluster using the microfluid technique, but then an electric field can enhance the performance of the cell by leading its migration and differentiation. Scientific discoveries are constantly being made, so they help us to gradually reach an understanding of new treatment methods for diseases that were thought to be incurable.

Work Cited

"Global Microfluidic Device Market Is Expected to Reach USD 5,246.4 Million in 2019 : TMR |." Medgadget. N.p., 11 June 2015. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.

"Stem Cells : DNews." DNews. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.

“Using Microfluidic Devices to Sort Stem cells." Using Microfluidic Devices to Sort Stem Cells. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.

Zhao H, Steiger A, Nohner M, Ye H (2015)

Specific Intensity Direct Current (DC) Electric Field

Improves Neural Stem Cell Migration and Enhances

Differentiation towardsΒ III-Tubulin+ Neurons. PLoSONE 10(6): e0129625. doi:10.1371/journal.

pone.0129625