title: Aggregation kinetics of human mesenchymal stem cells under wave motion.
abstract: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are primary candidates in cell therapy and regenerative medicine but preserving their therapeutic potency following culture expansion is a significant challenge. hMSCs can spontaneously assemble into three-dimensional (3D) aggregates that enhance their regenerative properties. The present study investigated the impact of hydrodynamics conditions on hMSC aggregation kinetics under controlled rocking motion. While various laboratory methods have been developed for hMSC aggregate production, the rocking platform provides gentle mixing and can be scaled up using large bags as in wave motion bioreactors. The results show that the hMSC aggregation is mediated by cell adhesion molecules and that aggregate size distribution is influenced by seeding density, culture time, and hydrodynamic conditions. The analysis of fluid shear stress by COMSOL indicated that aggregate size distribution is inversely correlated with shear stress and that the rocking angle had a more pronounced effect on aggregate size distribution than the rocking speed due to its impact on shear stress. hMSC aggregates obtained from the bioreactor exhibit increased stemness, migratory properties, and expression of angiogenic factors. The results demonstrate the potential of the rocking platform to produce hMSC aggregates with controlled size distribution for therapeutic application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ang-Chen
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Xuegang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ravindran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chella
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007700:Kinetics; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: Computational fluid dynamics and shear stress; Human mesenchymal stem cells; Three-dimensional aggregates; Wave motion