title: Developing Defined and Scalable 3D Culture Systems for Culturing Human Pluripotent Stem Cells at High Densities.
abstract: Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) - including embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) - are very promising candidates for cell therapies, tissue engineering, high throughput pharmacology screens, and toxicity testing. These applications require large numbers of high quality cells; however, scalable production of human pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives at a high density and under well-defined conditions has been a challenge. We recently reported a simple, efficient, fully defined, scalable, and good manufacturing practice (GMP) compatible 3D culture system based on a thermoreversible hydrogel for hPSC expansion and differentiation. Here, we describe additional design rationale and characterization of this system. For instance, we have determined that culturing hPSCs as a suspension in a liquid medium can exhibit lower volumetric yields due to cell agglomeration and possible shear force-induced cell loss. By contrast, using hydrogels as 3D scaffolds for culturing hPSCs reduces aggregation and may insulate from shear forces. Additionally, hydrogel-based 3D culture systems can support efficient hPSC expansion and differentiation at a high density if compatible with hPSC biology. Finally, there are considerable opportunities for future development to further enhance hydrogel-based 3D culture systems for producing hPSCs and their progeny.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Yuguo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Daeun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Jifang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA ; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA.
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Schaffer
keywords: 3D culture system; human embryonic stem cells; induced pluripotent stem cells; thermoreversible hydrogel