Controlling size, shape and homogeneity of embryoid bodies using poly(ethylene glycol) microwells.
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.
Karp
Jeffrey M
JM
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Yeh
Judy
J
Eng
George
G
Fukuda
Junji
J
Blumling
James
J
Suh
Kahp-Yang
KY
Cheng
Jianjun
J
Mahdavi
Alborz
A
Borenstein
Jeffrey
J
Langer
Robert
R
Khademhosseini
Ali
A
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
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols