Using stem cells or their derivatives, stem cell therapy, also known as regenerative medicine, stimulates the repair of diseased, dysfunctional, or injured tissue. It is the next chapter in organ transplantation and uses cells in place of the limited donor organs.

Stem cells are the raw materials of the body, the organisms from which all the specialized cells are generated. Under the proper conditions in the body or in the laboratory, stem cells differentiate to produce daughter cells.

These daughter cells either become new stem cells or differentiate into specialized cells with a more specific function, such as blood cells, brain cells, heart muscle cells, or bone cells. No other cell type in the body possesses the inherent capacity to generate new cell types.

Stem cells used in regenerative medicine are derived from the patient’s own fat, blood, or bone marrow. The cells are then placed in a centrifuge so the doctor can identify and separate them to find the appropriate ones for the regenerative therapy treatment. The cells are then injected into the damaged organ or tissue. For instance, stem cells would be injected directly into the damaged disc to repair spinal discs. The cells will then transform into healthy disc cells and help heal the disc.

The study of stem cells and their applications in transplant and regenerative medicine continues to advance.

The stem cells are generated from:

-Embryonic stem cells

These stem cells are derived from 3- to 5-day-old embryos. At this stage, the embryo is known as a blastocyst and contains approximately 150 cells.

–Adult stem cells

These stem cells are present in minute quantities in the majority of adult tissues, such as bone marrow and fat. Compared to embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells are less able to differentiate into various types of body cells. Emerging evidence suggests that adult stem cells may be capable of generating numerous cell types. For example, bone marrow stem cells may be capable of producing bone or heart muscle cells. The majority of stem cells used are mesenchymal stem cells, derived from adipose tissue and bone marrow, respectively. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue are immunosuppressive and can differentiate into numerous cell types, such as osteocytes, adipocytes, neural cells, and vascular endothelial cells, making them ideal including for anti-aging therapies.

–Perinatal stem cells

Scientists have discovered stem cells in both amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood. These stem cells have the capacity of transforming into specialized cells.

Cartilage regeneration is one type of regenerative therapy that can help people with musculoskeletal conditions. This treatment intends to heal damaged cartilage. Cartilage does not heal well on its own because it lacks blood vessels and is not constantly supplied with blood. There are several cartilage regeneration techniques available. There are various regeneration options for cartilage.

–Membrane-induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI):

MACI is a surgical procedure that uses the patient’s own cartilage-forming cells to restore damaged knee cartilage. Beginning with arthroscopy, a minimally invasive biopsy is performed to obtain a sample of cartilage cells (chondrocytes). This sample is then sent to a laboratory and given time to develop.

During a second minimally invasive procedure, a sample of the recipient’s cartilage cells will be embedded on a collagen membrane and implanted into the knee.

-Osteochondral Grafting:

Osetochondral grafting is a cartilage regeneration procedure that not only replaces the cartilage but also the bone beneath it. When the cartilage has worn down to the bone, it is frequently used. The healthy bone and cartilage used during surgery (graft) can be obtained from a donor (allograft) or from other parts of your body (autograft). Global arthrosis is a contraindication of the highest order. Nonetheless, focal lesions in two or more regions of the knee may be amenable to this procedure. But where secondary changes, such as osteophytes or joint space narrowing, exist, the procedure’s efficacy is diminished.

-Osteoarticular Transfer System (OATS) Procedure:

The OATS (osteoarticular transfer system) procedure is a type of mosaicplasty surgery used to treat focal cartilage defects, a type of knee injury. The mosaicplasty procedure transfers cartilage from undamaged areas of the joint to the damaged area. This type of procedure is only useful for the treatment of focal cartilage damage, so conditions like osteoarthritis cannot be treated with mosaicplasty.

The patient is both the donor and the recipient, with healthy cartilage and its underlying bone being harvested from a nearby area of the joint and transplanted into the cartilage defect area.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are gaining popularity as a treatment for a variety of conditions, including hair loss and sports injuries. The treatment employs the patient’s own blood cells to expedite the healing of a specific area.

Platelet-rich plasma consists of plasma, the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an essential role in the body’s healing process. Platelets are well-known for their ability to coagulate, but they also contain growth factors that can stimulate cell reproduction and tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains an abnormally high concentration of platelets. Clinicians take a blood sample from the patient and place it in a device called a centrifuge, which rapidly spins the sample, separating the platelets from the other components of the blood and concentrating them within the plasma.

After creating platelet-rich plasma from a patient’s blood sample, the solution is injected into the injured knee or tendon, for example. In some instances, the injection may be guided by ultrasound. To accelerate the healing process, it is proposed to increase the concentration of specific bioproteins or hormones, known as growth factors, in a specific area.

The factors underlying PRP injections is not fully comprehended. According to studies, the increased concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma may stimulate or accelerate the healing process, shortening injury recovery time, reducing pain, and even promoting hair growth.

In particular, PRP injections are used for a variety of conditions, including musculoskeletal pain and injuries as well as cosmetic procedures: Tendon, Ligament, Muscle, and Joint Injuries, Post-Surgical Healing, Osteoarthritis, Hair Loss, and Skin Rejuvenation.

It is sometimes called regenerative injection therapy or proliferation therapy. Since the 1930s, prolotherapy has been utilized in clinical settings, but over the past two decades, prolotherapy has grown in popularity as a treatment for chronic pain among both physicians and patients, as clinical and anecdotal evidence has demonstrated its efficacy as a non-surgical option for joint and back pain in numerous instances. By repairing damaged and weakened ligaments and tendons, prolotherapy is used to treat joint and back pain. It is regarded as a viable alternative to surgery, as well as to painkillers, cortisone, and other steroidal injections.

In prolotherapy, a sugar or salt solution is injected into a sore joint or muscle, where it acts as an irritant. It is believed that when your body detects an irritant, it sends immune cells and other chemicals to the affected area, thereby initiating its natural healing process. This procedure is intended to aid in the repair of any damaged soft tissue in the joint or muscle region, including nerves, blood vessels, and muscle tissue.