Encapsulated cell grafting into the brain for the treatment of neurological disorders

The merits of using cell lines as donors for neural grafting are that they are unlimited as donor source theoretically and they can be genetically modified. However, when using cell lines as donors, immunological rejection and tumor formation should be controlled. To overcome these issues, encapsulated cell grafting technique using semipermeable membrane consisted of polymer has been developed. This technique also has safety because the capsule is retrieval after transplantation. In this review, encapsulated cell grafting research using neurotransmitter and/or neurotrophic factor secreting cell lines will be summarized and future perspectives will be performed from the aspects of therapy for neurological disorders.