title: Controlling size, shape and homogeneity of embryoid bodies using poly(ethylene glycol) microwells.
abstract: Directed differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells is useful for creating models of human disease and could potentially generate a wide array of functional cell types for therapeutic applications. Methods to differentiate ES cells often involve the formation of cell aggregates called embryoid bodies (EBs), which recapitulate early stages of embryonic development. EBs are typically made from suspension cultures, resulting in heterogeneous structures with a wide range of sizes and shapes, which may influence differentiation. Here, we use microfabricated cell-repellant poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) wells as templates to initiate the formation of homogenous EBs. ES cell aggregates were formed with controlled sizes and shapes defined by the geometry of the microwells. EBs generated in this manner remained viable and maintained their size and shape within the microwells relative to their suspension counterparts. Intact EBs could be easily retrieved from the microwells with high viability (>95%). These results suggest that the microwell technique could be a useful approach for in vitro studies involving ES cells and, more specifically, for initiating the differentiation of EBs of greater uniformity based on controlled microenvironments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Karp
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blumling
authors.forename: Kahp-Yang
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Alborz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borenstein
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khademhosseini
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols