Early retinal differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in microwell suspension cultures.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a microwell suspension platform for the adaption of attached stem cell differentiation protocols into mixed suspension culture.


RESULTS
We adapted an adherent protocol for the retinal differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a two-step protocol. Establishing the optimum embryoid body (EB) starting size and shaking speed resulted in the translation of the original adherent process into suspension culture. Embryoid bodies expanded in size as the culture progressed resulting in the expression of characteristic markers of early (Rx, Six and Otx2) and late (Crx, Nrl and Rhodopsin) retinal differentiation. The new process also eliminated the use of matrigel, an animal-derived extracellular matrix coating.


CONCLUSIONS
Shaking microwells offer a fast and cost-effective method for proof-of-concept studies to establish whether pluripotent stem cell differentiation processes can be translated into mixed suspension culture.
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Vishal S
VS
Sharma
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Rana
R
Khalife
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Rui
R
Tostoes
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Leonard
L
Leung
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Rose
R
Kinsella
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
Ludmilla
L
Ruban
Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. f.veraitch@ucl.ac.uk.
Farlan S
FS
Veraitch
D019149:Bioreactors; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D058732:Embryoid Bodies / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology*
Bioreactor; Embryoid body; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Matrigel; Microwell; Orbital shaking culture; Retinal differentiation