Discovery of a Novel Polymer for Xeno‐Free, Long‐Term Culture of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Expansion

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials Vol. 10; no. 6; pp. e2001448 - n/a
• Main Authors: Nasir, Aishah, Thorpe, Jordan, Burroughs, Laurence, Meurs, Joris, Pijuan‐Galito, Sara, Irvine, Derek J., Alexander, Morgan R., Denning, Chris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.03.2021
• Subjects: biomaterials discovery; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Essential 8 medium; human pluripotent stem cells; Humans; Pluripotent Stem Cells; polymer microarrays; Polymers; Reproducibility of Results; xeno‐free conditions; biomaterials discovery; human pluripotent stem cells; xeno-free conditions; Essential 8 medium; polymer microarrays
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001448
• ISSN: 2192-2640

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be expanded and differentiated in vitro into almost any adult tissue cell type, and thus have great potential as a source for cell therapies with biomedical application. In this study, a fully‐defined polymer synthetic substrate is identified for hPSC culture in completely defined, xenogenic (xeno)‐free conditions. This system can overcome the cost, scalability, and reproducibility limitations of current hPSC culture strategies, and facilitate large‐scale production. A high‐throughput, multi‐generational polymer microarray platform approach is used to test over 600 unique polymers and rapidly assess hPSC‐polymer interactions in combination with the fully defined xeno‐free medium, Essential 8 (E8). This study identifies a novel nanoscale phase separated blend of poly(tricyclodecane‐dimethanol diacrylate) and poly(butyl acrylate) (2:1 v/v), which supports long‐term expansion of hPSCs and can be readily coated onto standard cultureware. Analysis of cell‐polymer interface interactions through mass spectrometry and integrin blocking studies provides novel mechanistic insight into the role of the E8 proteins in promoting integrin‐mediated hPSC attachment and maintaining hPSC signaling, including ability to undergo multi‐lineage differentiation. This study therefore identifies a novel substrate for long‐term serial passaging of hPSCs in serum‐free, commercial chemically‐defined E8, which provides a promising and economic hPSC expansion platform for clinical‐scale application. Discovery of poly(tricylodecane‐dimethanol diacrylate‐blend‐butyl acrylate) substrate offers a cost‐effective and xenogenic‐free adherent culture system for human pluripotent stem cells in Essential 8 medium. This scalable substrate can be readily applied to tissue culture plasticware; whilst retaining stem cell integrity after long‐term serial passage. Fulfillment of regulatory culture requirements, makes this a desirable expansion platform for clinical‐scale, therapeutic, and biomedical applications.