title: Application of cell encapsulation for controlled delivery of biological therapeutics.
abstract: Cell microencapsulation technology is likely to have an increasingly important role in new approaches rather than the classical and pioneering organ replacement. Apart from becoming a tool for protein and morphogen release and long-term drug delivery, it is becoming a new three-dimensional platform for stem cell research. Recent progress in the field has resulted in biodegradable scaffolds that are able to retain and release the cell content in different anatomical locations. Additional advances include the use biomimetic scaffolds that provide greater control over material-cell interactions and the development of more precise encapsulated cell-tracking systems. This review summarises the state of the art of cell microencapsulation and discusses the main directions and challenges of this field towards the controlled delivery of biological therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain; Networking Biomedical Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, SLFPB-EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Electronic address: gorka.orive@ehu.es.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orive
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain; Networking Biomedical Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, SLFPB-EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain; Networking Biomedical Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, SLFPB-EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pedraz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain; Networking Biomedical Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, SLFPB-EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Electronic address: rosa.hernandez@ehu.es.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Cell encapsulation; Drug delivery; Microcapsule; Protein release; Scaffold