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Microcarriers with Synthetic Hydrogel Surfaces for Stem Cell Expansion
Andrew D Dias1, Jonathan M Elicson2, William L Murphy1,2,3
1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave., WIMR 5418, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|May 17, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed custom poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based microcarriers for human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) expansion. These novel microcarriers support rapid hMSC growth and differentiation, offering potential for biomanufacturing applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Microcarriers are crucial for scalable cell expansion, especially for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).
- Existing microcarriers lack customizable surface properties like elasticity and cell adhesion ligands.
- Tuning material properties of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogels influences cell attachment and expansion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a customizable PEG-based microcarrier coating for enhanced hMSC expansion.
- To create microcarriers with tunable surface properties for improved cell culture.
Main Methods:
- Adsorbed Eosin-Y onto polystyrene microcarriers as a photoinitiator for visible light-initiated thiol-ene polymerization.
- Created thick (over 100 µm) PEG hydrogel coatings localized to microcarrier surfaces.
- Utilized serum-free media for hMSC culture and expansion.
Main Results:
- Developed PEG-coated microcarriers that support hMSC attachment and expansion.
- Achieved rapid hMSC expansion with doubling times under 25 hours in serum-free media.
- Maintained osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity of hMSCs after culture.
Conclusions:
- Customizable PEG-based microcarriers facilitate efficient hMSC expansion and maintain differentiation potential.
- These tailored microcarriers offer a promising platform for biomanufacturing applications.
- The defined synthetic coatings allow for versatile surface property modifications for cell expansion.
