Tangential flow filtration devices and methods for stem cell enrichment

1. A method for separating stem cells from a sample from a subject wherein the sample comprises stem cells and non-stem cell constituents wherein the non-stem cells constituents can include cell population which have essentially the same size as the stem cells, the method comprising separation on a tangential flow filtration device by:

(i) pretreating the sample to induce cell shrinkage of cell populations with essentially the same size as the stem cells;

(ii) introducing the sample into a remover unit ( 1 ) comprising a cross-flow chamber ( 3 ) through an inlet ( 6 ) in the remover unit;

(iii) subjecting the sample to cross-flow substantially parallel to a filter ( 5 ) having a pore size of about 1 to about 10 microns; and

(iv) selectively removing non-stem cell constituents from the sample to form a cell population enriched for stem cells.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

preparing the sample from the subject by leukopheresis, density centrifugation, differential lysis, filtration, or preparation of a buffy coat, for introduction in the remover unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sample is bone marrow, a tissue suspension, an organ suspension, or blood constituents.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or pluripotent stem cells.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the hematopoietic stem cells are CD34 + cells.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-stem cell constituents are stroma, erythrocytes, plasma and platelets.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising repeating steps (i) and (ii) at least two times to form cell population enriched for stem cells.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the hematopoietic stem cells are CD34 + cells.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stem cells are hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or pluripotent stem cells.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject has undergone stem cell mobilization by administering a stem cell mobilization agent.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the stem cell mobilization agent is M-CSF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, or cyclophosphamide.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tangential flow filtration device has a means for providing a predetermined input rate of the sample to the inlet of the cross-flow chamber; a means for controlling a filtration rate through the filter and into the filtrate chamber; and wherein the filtration rate controlling means limits the filtration rate to less than the unopposed filtration rate for the filter.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell population with essentially the same size are granulocytes.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein granulocytes are preferentially removed from the cell mixture through lysis.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein lysis is effected through sequential contact of the sample to an effective amount of DMSO and glycerol.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein contact of the sample is with a solution with low osmotic strength.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment comprises contacting the cells with a physiologically acceptable solution comprising dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO).

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the final DMSO concentration is between 5% and 20%.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the final DMSO concentration is between 10% and 15%.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the final DMSO concentration is 12.5%.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the final DMSO concentration is 15%.

22. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the physiologically acceptable solution is of low ionic strength.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pretreatment comprises contacting the cells with a physiologically acceptable solution comprising glycerol.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the final glycerol concentration is between 0.5 mol/L and 2.5 mol/L.

25. The method according to claim 23 , wherein the final glycerol concentration is 1 mol/L.

26. A method for enriching a sample of bone marrow or blood constituents for stem cells, comprising:

(i) pretreating the sample to induce cell shrinkage of cell populations with essentially the same size as the stem cells;

(ii) introducing the sample into a tangential flow filtration (TFF) unit, the TFF unit comprising a cross-flow chamber, a filtrate chamber, and a filter in fluid communication with the cross-flow chamber and the filtrate chamber, the filter having a pore size of about 1 to about 10 microns;

(iii) recirculating the sample through the TFF unit at a predetermined input rate and a predetermined filtration rate, the predetermined input rate at least five times the predetermined filtration rate; wherein the predetermined filtration rate is less than the unopposed filtration rate for the filter; and

(iv) isolating a cell population enriched for stem cells.

27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the enriched cell population is substantially free of non-leukocyte blood constituents.