Optimization of cell suspension media for use in a cytometric neuro-catheter

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs motor and speech skills due to the degeneration of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra. It is anticipated that future treatments will involve replacing the degenerated cells with cultivated dopamine-producing multipotent cells. Previous studies involving these treatments encountered complications due to death of the majority of injected cells. It is currently unknown if cell death occurs during delivery or after injection. A neuro-catheter has been designed that is capable of taking fluorescence-based cytometric measurements using fiber optic probes. This device will allow researchers, and eventually clinicians, to quantify the number of viable cells delivered. During delivery, a uniform distribution of cells is essential to ensure the viability of the delivered cells. In order to accomplish this, cell suspension materials are required. In order to investigate the effects of suspension materials on cell delivery, a cuvette experiment was designed and implemented. The goal of this experiment was to determine the extent of cell settling issues for several different suspension materials. The 3RT1 rat gliomal cell line was used as a model for neural cell delivery. The viability of the cells was also examined in each of the given suspension materials over a two hour period. Of the tested materials, 1% methyl cellulose in phosphate buffer saline was determined to be the best material for uniform cell delivery.