Purification technologies for induced pluripotent stem cell therapies

The reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells using Yamanaka factors has revolutionized biomedical research. In the past few years, substantial advances have been made in differentiating them into a variety of different cell types, including neurons, cardiomyocytes, megakaryocytes, endothelial cells, β-pancreatic cells and more. Today, these cells are ready to be used for clinical purposes in regenerative medicine and disease modelling to explore and pinpoint new therapeutic approaches. Nonetheless, before these therapies are ready for practical application, we must ensure the quality and integrity of the cells employed in various uses. Thus, it is essential to possess well-characterized and high-quality purified cell populations. In this Review, we discuss the latest applicable cell purification methods for clinical preparations, encompassing both current technologies that have been used in clinical settings and emerging state-of-the-art approaches that promise even greater potential.