The Study of the Viability of Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Alginate Capsules

Stem cells with high proliferative capacity can be isolated from different tissues of the body. These cells originate from the fetal mesoderm and are found in tissues such as bone marrow, fat tissue, amniotic fluid, and Wharton's jelly. In this study, the survival of Wharton's jelly human mesenchymal stem cells inside alginate capsules after 7, 14 and 21 days has been investigated. In this experimental study, 10 umbilical cord samples were obtained from pregnant mothers during caesarean section, and the vessels of the umbilical cord samples were isolated. Then it was cultured in DMEM-HG medium containing 10% FBS serum for 5 days. To show the stemness of these cells, CD73, CD34 and CD45 markers were evaluated by flow cytometry technique. After confirmation, the cells were encapsulated in alginate hydrogels. The viability of encapsulated cells was evaluated by trypan blue and MTT. The results showed that the capsules are spherical and have a uniform border and are homogeneously dispersed throughout the capsule. Wharton jelly encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells did not change their morphology and viability. After 21 days, the survival of the encapsulated cells was maintained. Alginate as a three-dimensional biodegradable scaffold with suitable cell viability can be used as a suitable option for cell therapy and tissue engineering with the property of non-graft rejection.