Title: Nanoporous membrane-encapsulated feeder cells for culture of human embryonic stem cells

Authors: Jing Zhou, Ren-He Xu, Yong Wang

Addresses: Department of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. ' UConn Stem Cell Institute, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Centre, Farmington, CT 06032, USA. ' Department of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA

Abstract: Current methods for the extended culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are far from optimal. Therefore, we proposed to use nanoporous membrane for the co-culture of feeder cells and hESCs. In this proof-of-concept study, we first studied the stability, biocompatibility and permeability of an alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate membrane. This membrane was then used to encapsulate feeder cells to examine the cell viability and TGF-β secretion. Finally, the encapsulated feeder-conditioned media were used to culture hESCs. The data indicate that nanoporous membrane is a potential tool for the co-culture of feeder cells and hESCs in a safe, efficient, and continuous manner.

Keywords: hESCs; human embryonic stem cells; nanoporous membrane; MEF; mouse embryonic fibroblasts; pathogens; self-renewal; feeder cells; extended culture; stability; biocompatibility; permeability; cell viability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIPM.2009.022838

International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalised Medicine, 2009 Vol.2 No.1, pp.77 - 88

Published online: 27 Jan 2009 *

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