Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC MSCs) explained - CytoSMART Academy

There is a number of advantages associated with using mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord. Firstly, mesenchymal stem cells are medical waste, so there are no ethical concerns over the harvest of these cells. Also, cell harvesting is non-invasive, so there are no pain or medical risks involved. Because these cells are relatively young (±9 months), they also give rise to mesenchymal stem cells that have extremely high expansion potential; especially when you compare these cells to mesenchymal stem cells that are harvested from bone marrow or adipose tissue. Additionally, mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord, have immunosuppressive properties and a low level of pluripotency markers, reducing the risk of rejection or teratoma formation.