A rapid and sensitive method to measure numbers of live cells in alginate capsules following depolymerization with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Cell encapsulation in alginate prevents migration and extends cell survival while allowing the secretion of factors across semipermeable capsules. Confocal microscopy is used to measure numbers of cells/capsule, but is time-consuming and limited to capsule diameters <0.4 mm for accurate counting.

Trends in mesenchymal stem cell clinical trials 2004-2018: Is efficacy optimal in a narrow dose range?

The number of clinical trials using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has increased since 2008, but this trend slowed in the past several years and dropped precipitously in 2018. Previous reports have analyzed MSC clinical trials by disease, phase, cell source, country of origin, and trial initiation date, all of which can be downloaded directly from ClinicalTrials.gov.