Umbilical Cord Blood Banking and its Therapeutic Uses

Umbilical cord blood (UBC) can be viewed as the most promising source of stem cells, in which collection cost is minimal and its benefits are immense. The cord blood is used to treat malignant and nonmalignant diseases; this is due to its progenitor characteristics know as stem cells.Its properties of being, immunologically immature and high plasticity has made it superior to other sources of stem cells. The stem cells collected from cord blood have neutral differentiation capabilities which allow medical professionals to produce functional neural cells from these stem cells.Cord Blood Banking (CBB) is the storing of the umbilical cord blood which is collected immediately after the delivery of the baby. Great care and concern are needed for proper storage of these progenitor cells, hence cord blood banks come into the play, they are of 3 types which are: public, private and direct donation banks.Clinical trials are still at its very early stages having abundances to still be uncovered but results were obtained have demonstrated high potential and more scope towards effective development therapies and treatments for rare disorders.