ENHANCED STEM CELL THERAPY AND STEM CELL PRODUCTION THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOW LEVEL LIGHT ENERGY

• US 20110060266A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pthera,Llc
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: De Taboada, Luis, Streeter, Jackson
• Granted Patent: US 10,683,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

Abstract

Methods of enhancing stem cell therapy through the administration of low level light energy are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments comprise irradiating stem cells before or after implantation at a target tissue having loss of function due to damage or disease, with a resultant increase in the efficacy of the cell therapy. In some embodiments, light energy enhances one or more of the viability, proliferation, migration or engraftment of the stem cells, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effects of the irradiated cells during cell therapy.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the suitability of neural stem cells for use in neural cell therapy comprising:

obtaining a population of neural stem cells;

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy;

delivering light energy to said neural stem cells,

wherein the light energy has a wavelength between about 350 nm and 1200 nm,

wherein the light energy has a time averaged irradiance at or within about one centimeter of said stem cells at least about 0.01 mW/cm², and

wherein the light energy increases one or more of the viability, proliferation, differentiation, migration, or engraftment of said stem cells, thereby enhancing the suitability of said neural stem cells for use in neural cell therapy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said light energy is delivered to said neural stem cells in vitro.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said light energy is delivered to said neural stem cells in vivo.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said neural stem cells are derived from the group of stem cell sources consisting of adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, placenta-derived stem cells, bone marrow-derived stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, adipose stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said neural stem cells are for use in cell therapy to treat a neurological disease or injury

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cell therapy is for the treatment of Parkinson'"'"'s disease.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has a time averaged irradiance at or within about one centimeter of said neural stem cells of about 20 mW/cm² to about 60 mW/cm².

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has an time averaged energy density at or within about one centimeter of said neural stem cells of about between 0.5 and 5 J/cm².

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said light energy is pulsed.

10. A method for enhancing the efficacy of stem cell therapy in a mammal comprising:

identifying a mammal having a tissue with impaired function;

administering one or more stem cells to said tissue;

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy;

delivering light energy to said tissue,

wherein the light energy has a wavelength between about 600 nm and about 1100 nm, and

wherein the light energy enhances one or more of the viability, engraftment, proliferation, migration, or differentiation of said administered stem cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy of said stem cell therapy.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said tissue with impaired function is neural tissue having impaired function due to degenerative neural disease.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the degenerative neural disease is selected form the group consisting of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, Huntington'"'"'s disease, dopaminergic impairment, and dementia.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the impaired neural function is a result of injury to the neurons.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said light energy is delivered to said stem cells prior to administration of said stem cells to said impaired tissue.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said light energy is delivered to said stem cells after administration of said stem cells to said impaired tissue.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the administered stem cells comprise mesenchymal stem cells.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said mesenchymal stem cells are allogeneic to said mammal.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said light energy is pulsed

19. A method for improving the efficiency of peripheral collection of stem cells in a mammal comprising,

administering a stem cell stimulating or mobilizing compound to said mammal,

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy,

delivering light energy to at least one long bone of the mammal,

wherein said light energy has a wavelength between about 600 nm and about 1100 nm, and

wherein said stem cell stimulating or mobilizing compound stimulates bone marrow within said at least one long bone to release stem cells to the peripheral blood, and

wherein said light energy further stimulates bone marrow within said at least one long bone, thereby improving the peripheral collection of stem cells.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the mammal is afflicted with neutropenia resulting from one or more of the group consisting of:

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin'"'"'s disease, cancer, or a side-effect of a therapy for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin'"'"'s disease, or cancer.