Amniotic stem cell bank
Encyclopedia
An amniotic stem cell bank is a facility that stores stem cells derived from amniotic fluid
for future use. Stem cell samples in private (or family) banks are stored specifically for the use by the individual person from who such cells have been collected and the banking costs are paid by such person. The sample can later be retrieved only by this individual and for the use by such individual or, in many cases, by her/his first degree blood relatives. In case of amniotic fluid stem cell banking, the mother providing the donation initially has ownership of the stem cells and financial responsibility of its storage. When the child from that pregnancy reaches legal age, the ownership and responsibility for the sample may be transferred. The first private amniotic stem cell bank in the US was opened by Biocell Center
in October 2009 in Medford, Massachusetts
.
, a prenatal diagnosis procedure typically performed during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. For the purpose of stem cell preservation, a small amount of the fluid withdrawn for genetic analysis is saved in a collection container for transport to a processing and storage facility. Collection of the sample causes no change to the standard amniocentesis procedure and therefore adds no additional risk to the mother.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates amniotic stem cells under the category of “Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue Based-Products.”
Research in this area has the potential to revolutionize medicine. It is advancing so rapidly that it is even difficult for medical professionals to supply the most up-to-date information for their patients. Possible future uses in the field of regenerative medicine include repairing heart tissue, birth defects, and other damaged tissues.
Amniotic fluid
Amniotic fluid or liquor amnii is the nourishing and protecting liquid contained by the amniotic sac of a pregnant woman.- Development of amniotic fluid :...
for future use. Stem cell samples in private (or family) banks are stored specifically for the use by the individual person from who such cells have been collected and the banking costs are paid by such person. The sample can later be retrieved only by this individual and for the use by such individual or, in many cases, by her/his first degree blood relatives. In case of amniotic fluid stem cell banking, the mother providing the donation initially has ownership of the stem cells and financial responsibility of its storage. When the child from that pregnancy reaches legal age, the ownership and responsibility for the sample may be transferred. The first private amniotic stem cell bank in the US was opened by Biocell Center
Biocell Center
Biocell Center is an international company specializing in the cryopreservation and private banking of amniotic fluid stem cells. The company is headquartered in Italy with several international locations and is involved with numerous partnerships and research studies of amniotic fluid stem...
in October 2009 in Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
.
The collection process
Amniotic stem cells are collected from amniotic fluid extracted during a genetic amniocentesisAmniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections, in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is sampled from the amnion or amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus, and the fetal DNA is examined for...
, a prenatal diagnosis procedure typically performed during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. For the purpose of stem cell preservation, a small amount of the fluid withdrawn for genetic analysis is saved in a collection container for transport to a processing and storage facility. Collection of the sample causes no change to the standard amniocentesis procedure and therefore adds no additional risk to the mother.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration regulates amniotic stem cells under the category of “Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue Based-Products.”
Cryopreservation
After the collection, the amniotic fluid sample containing the stem cells is shipped to a lab for processing, cryopreservation and storage. The processed sample is exposed to a gradual freezing process which is important because it keeps the cells alive during the cryopreservation process. After freezing, the sample is transferred to a liquid nitrogen storage tank. The protocols used for the cryopreservation process have largely been adapted from those originally designed for bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells.Stem cells and regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine is a field of medical research developing treatments to repair or re-grow specific tissue in the body. Because a person’s own (autologous) amniotic stem cells can be safely infused back into that individual without being rejected by the body’s immune system - and because they have unique characteristics compared to other sources of stem cells - they are an increasing focus of regenerative medicine research.Research in this area has the potential to revolutionize medicine. It is advancing so rapidly that it is even difficult for medical professionals to supply the most up-to-date information for their patients. Possible future uses in the field of regenerative medicine include repairing heart tissue, birth defects, and other damaged tissues.