Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell sheet therapy: A new frontier in drug delivery systems

The evolution of drug discovery exploded in the early 20th century with the advent of critical scientific advancements in organic chemistry, chemical analysis, and purification. Early drug generations focused largely on symptom control and pain management, effective targets for small-molecule drugs. Recently, the attention in drug discovery has shifted to pursuit of radical cures. Cell therapy presents the ideal attributes of a promising new drug, targeting specific tissues based on chemotactic cues and modulating secretion of instructive regenerative molecules in response to dynamic signaling from disease environments. To actuate the therapeutic potential of cell therapy toward worldwide clinical use, cell delivery methods that can effectively localize and engraft mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with high disease-site fidelity and enable dynamic MSC bioactive function are paramount. In this review, we discuss the evolution of cell therapies with a focus on stem cell advantages, as well as the limitations to these therapies. This review aims to introduce cell sheet technology as a breakthrough cell therapy with demonstrated therapeutic success across indications for heart, liver, and kidney tissue regeneration. Opportunities and anticipated clinical impacts of cell sheet technology using MSCs are discussed.

Automated summary

The evolution of drug discovery in the early 20th century saw a shift from focusing on symptom control to pursuing radical cures, with cell therapy emerging as a promising new treatment targeting specific tissues and dynamic signaling environments. Cell delivery methods play a crucial role in realizing the therapeutic potential of cell therapy, especially in the context of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) engraftment and bioactive function. Cell sheet technology is presented as a breakthrough in cell therapy, showcasing therapeutic success in tissue regeneration and discussing its anticipated clinical impacts.