Intramuscular administration potentiates extended dwell time of mesenchymal stromal cells compared to other routes

- IM implantation represents a minimally invasive alternative to IV infusion that supports extended survival of MSCs.
- Adult and neo-natal human MSCs can survive 5 months at an IM implantation site, but survive only 1-4 weeks when delivered IV, IP or SC.
- Equivalent cell survival is observed for 3 days after IV, IP, SC or IM transplantation.
- Survival potential can be recovered after cryopreservation, but diminishes with in vitro passage.