Microcarriers for stem cell culture
First Claim
1. A method for achieving stable, long-term culture and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells in suspension culture in vitro, the method comprising:
- (i) attaching human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells to a plurality of microcarriers to form microcarrier-stem cell complexes, wherein the surface of the microcarriers is coated in a matrix comprising an extracellular matrix component;
(ii) culturing the microcarrier-stem cell complexes in suspension culture;
(iii) passaging the cultured cells from (ii); and
(iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) through at least 7 passages, wherein stem cells in the culture after step (iv) are respectively pluripotent or multipotent, thus achieving stable, long-term culture and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells in suspension culture in vitro.
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Abstract
We disclose a particle comprising a matrix coated thereon and having a positive charge, the particle being of a size to allow aggregation of primate or human stem cells attached thereto. The particle may comprise a substantially elongate, cylindrical or rod shaped particle having a longest dimension of between 50 μm and 400 μm, such as about 200 μm. It may have a cross sectional dimension of between 20 μm and 30 μm. The particle may comprise a substantially compact or spherical shaped particle having a size of between about 20 μm and about 120 μm, for example about 65 μm. We also disclose a method of propagating primate or human stem cells, the method comprising: providing first and second primate or human stem cells attached to first and second respective particles, allowing the first primate or human stem cell to contact the second primate or human stem cell to form an aggregate of cells and culturing the aggregate to propagate the primate or human stem cells for at least one passage. A method of propagating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in long term suspension culture using microcarriers coated in Matrigel or hyaluronic acid is also disclosed. We also disclose a method for differentiating stem cells.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for achieving stable, long-term culture and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells in suspension culture in vitro, the method comprising:
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(i) attaching human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells to a plurality of microcarriers to form microcarrier-stem cell complexes, wherein the surface of the microcarriers is coated in a matrix comprising an extracellular matrix component; (ii) culturing the microcarrier-stem cell complexes in suspension culture; (iii) passaging the cultured cells from (ii); and (iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) through at least 7 passages, wherein stem cells in the culture after step (iv) are respectively pluripotent or multipotent, thus achieving stable, long-term culture and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells in suspension culture in vitro. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19)
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- 16. A method of differentiating stem cells in vitro comprising attaching human pluripotent stem cells or human multipotent stem cells to a plurality of microcarriers to form microcarrier-stem cell complexes, wherein the surface of the microcarriers is coated in a matrix comprising an extracellular matrix component, and culturing the microcarrier-stem cell complexes in suspension culture under conditions that induce the differentiation of the stem cells to one of ectoderm cells, endoderm cells, mesoderm cells, cardiomyocytes, cardiac mesoderm cells, hepatocytes, hepatic endoderm cells, pancreatic islet cells, pancreatic endoderm cells, insulin-producing cells, neural cells, neuroectoderm cells, epidermal cells, surface ectoderm cells, bone cells, cartilage cells, muscle cells, ligament cells, tendon cells, or other connective tissue cells, wherein at least about 15% of the cells in the culture differentiate.
Specification