Stem Cells As Targeted Drug Delivery Vehicles

Topic Editor RL is a patent inventor on exosome-related patents, PCT/AU2017/050821 and PCT/AU2016/050468. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

This invaluable resource discusses the current revolution in stem cell-based drugs and their potential use in clinical applications. Each chapter is contributed by a pre-eminent scientist in the field. An introductory section presents current stem cell drugs and stem cell-based products and a discussion of production, quality control, mechanisms, and efficacy. Following sections include discussions on stem cell-derived microvesicles based products, and derived exosomes based products. Stem Cell Drugs - A New Generation of Biopharmaceuticals and the other books in the Stem Cells in Clinical Applications series are invaluable to scientists, researchers, advanced students and clinicians working in stem cells, regenerative medicine or tissue engineering. This groundbreaking volume is also essential reading for those researching or studying drug development or pharmaceutical science.

This book was conceived from a simple question as to why cancer is so difficult to treat. Ultimately we want to find ways to cure cancers, but that may be an elusive dream at least with the technologies we have now and expect to have in the near future. This leads the question of whether it is possible to improve current cancer treatment methods, especially from the perspective of enhancing targeted drug delivery to tumors. This volume is designed to provide information related to the difficulties in treating cancers through targeted drug delivery, our current understanding of cancer biology, and potential technologies that might be used to achieve enhanced drug delivery to tumors. An ideal drug delivery system for treating cancers would maximize the therapeutic efficacy with minimal side effects in clinical applications. The seemingly improved anticancer efficacy of the current nanoparticle-based formulations needs to be viewed from the context of very poor success rates for translation to human applications. The results of in vitro cell culture models and small animal in vivo experiments have not been extrapolated to clinical applications. Finding the reasons for the lack of successful translation is required if we are to discover approaches to substantially extend the survival time of cancer patients, and hopefully identify cures. Cancer Targeted Drug Delivery: Elusive Dream describes some answers of achieving the so far elusive dream of treating cancers like other chronic diseases with therapies that focus using improved drug delivery systems designed to better align with the unique biological and physiological properties of cancer.

This volume looks at the latest techniques used to enable therapeutic molecules to be targeted for site-specific delivery. The chapters in this book discuss topics such as approaches to express biologically derived and synthetic nanocarriers; strategies to assist in nanocarrier targeting to specific cells and tissues; and methods for evaluating delivery and efficiency for new classes of agents. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Targeted Drug Delivery: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the diversity of methods used in this evolving field.

This contribution book collects reviews and original articles from eminent experts working in the interdisciplinary arena of novel drug delivery systems and their uses. From their direct and recent experience, the readers can achieve a wide vision on the new and ongoing potentialities of different smart drug delivery systems. Since the advent of analytical techniques and capabilities to measure particle sizes in nanometer ranges, there has been tremendous interest in the use of nanoparticles for more efficient methods of drug delivery. On the other hand, this reference discusses advances in the design, optimization, and adaptation of gene delivery systems for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular, diabetic, genetic, and infectious diseases, and considers assessment and review procedures involved in the development of gene-based pharmaceuticals.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes are at the forefront of research in two of the most high profile and funded scientific areas – cardiovascular research and stem cells. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Exosomes provides insight into the biofunction and molecular mechanisms, practical tools for research, and a look toward the clinical applications of this exciting phenomenon which is emerging as an effective diagnostic. Primarily focused on the cardiovascular applications where there have been the greatest advancements toward the clinic, this is the first compendium for clinical and biomedical researchers who are interested in integrating MSC-derived exosomes as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Introduces the MSC-exosome mediated cell-cell communication Covers the major functional benefits in current MSC-derived exosome studies Discusses strategies for the use of MSC-derived exosomes in cardiovascular therapies

Regenerative medicine is broadly defined as the repair or replacement of damaged cells, tissues and organs. It is a multidisciplinary effort in which technologies derive from the fields of cell, developmental and molecular biology; chemical and material sciences (i.e. nanotechnology); engineering; surgery; transplantation; immunology; molecular genetics; physiology; and pharmacology. As regenerative medicine technologies continue to evolve and expand across the boundaries of numerous scientific disciplines, they remain at the forefront of the translational research frontier with the potential to radically alter the treatment of a wide variety of disease and dysfunction. This book will draw attention to the critical role that pharmacological sciences will undeniably play in the advancement of these treatments. This book is invaluable for advanced students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers new to the field of regenerative medicine/tissue engineering, and experienced investigators looking for new research avenues. The first state-of-the-art book in this rapidly evolving field of research.

Engineering Neural Tissue from Stem Cells covers the basic knowledge needed to understand the nervous system and how existing cells can be used to create neural tissue. This book presents a broad range of topics related to the design requirements for engineering neural tissue from stem cells. It begins with the anatomy and function of the central and peripheral nervous system, also covering stem cells, their relation to the nervous system and their function in recovery after injury or disease. In addition, the book explores the role of the extracellular matrix and vasculature/immune system and biomaterials, including their suitability for neural tissue engineering applications. Provides readers entering the field with a strong basis of neural tissue engineering processes and real-world applications Discusses the most current clinical trials and their importance of treating nervous system disorders Reviews the structure and immune response of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and their present cells Offers a necessary overview of the natural and synthetic biomaterials used to engineer neural tissue