Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2026; 18(4): 118404
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i4.118404
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i4.118404
Anatomy, function, biomechanics, and regenerative properties of Wharton’s jelly in the umbilical cord
Umm E Habiba, David Lawrence Greene, Department of Research and Development, R3 Medical Research LLC., Scottsdale, AZ 85262, United States
Umm E Habiba, David Lawrence Greene, Department of Research and Development, R3 Stem Cell LLC., Scottsdale, AZ 85262, United States
Sabiha Shamim, Department of Research and Development, R3 Medical Research, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Author contributions: Habiba UE wrote the original draft and supervised data collection; Greene DL conceptually designed, reviewed, and validated the manuscript; Shamim S collected the data, managed references, and helped in drafting the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript for submission.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Sabiha Shamim, Researcher, Department of Research and Development, R3 Medical Research, Office 1B, First Floor, Jahangir Multiplex, Golra Mor H-13, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan. sabiha@r3stemcell.com
Received: December 31, 2025
Revised: January 21, 2026
Accepted: March 11, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 110 Days and 13.1 Hours
Revised: January 21, 2026
Accepted: March 11, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 110 Days and 13.1 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: In this review, the authors examine the basic anatomical features of Wharton’s jelly in an umbilical cord, how its components and structure correlate with its function during the gestation period, the latest reported clinical uses of mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly, and their future potential applications in tandem with other technologies and therapies.