title: A 3D sphere culture system containing functional polymers for large-scale human pluripotent stem cell production.
abstract: Utilizing human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in cell-based therapy and drug discovery requires large-scale cell production. However, scaling up conventional adherent cultures presents challenges of maintaining a uniform high quality at low cost. In this regard, suspension cultures are a viable alternative, because they are scalable and do not require adhesion surfaces. 3D culture systems such as bioreactors can be exploited for large-scale production. However, the limitations of current suspension culture methods include spontaneous fusion between cell aggregates and suboptimal passaging methods by dissociation and reaggregation. 3D culture systems that dynamically stir carrier beads or cell aggregates should be refined to reduce shearing forces that damage hPSCs. Here, we report a simple 3D sphere culture system that incorporates mechanical passaging and functional polymers. This setup resolves major problems associated with suspension culture methods and dynamic stirring systems and may be optimal for applications involving large-scale hPSC production.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Otsuji
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Azumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., 3-7-1 Kanda Nishiki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-1154, Japan.
authors.forename: Misayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomura
authors.affiliation: Nipro Corporation, 3023 Noji-cho, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0055, Japan.
authors.forename: Daiki
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tateyama
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Itsunari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.affiliation: Nipro Corporation, 3023 Noji-cho, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0055, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aiba
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heuser
authors.affiliation: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., 3-7-1 Kanda Nishiki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-1154, Japan.
authors.forename: Taito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan ; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India.
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Ushinomiya-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan ; Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakatsuji
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D014157:Transcription Factors