New Methods in Cardiovascular Biology

Both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine.1–5 These cells are characterized by their indefinite self-renewing ability and pluripotent differentiation potential. Because these cells possess the ability to differentiate into all somatic cell types present in the human body,6 in theory hESCs and iPSCs are ideal therapeutic donor sources, as exemplified by the recent first-in-human trial involving the transplantation of hESC-differentiated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt’s macular dystrophy.7 However, further research has brought to light many issues regarding the direct delivery of these stem cells and their derivatives. Cell survival, teratoma formation, host immune rejection, and cellular migration outside the area of administration are among the most pressing challenges.8–1