Hydrogel microsphere stem cell encapsulation enhances cardiomyocyte differentiation and functionality in scalable suspension system.

ABSTRACT: A reliable suspension-based platform for scaling engineered cardiac tissue (ECT) production from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is crucial for regenerative therapies. Here, we compared the production and functionality of ECTs formed using our scaffold-based, engineered tissue microsphere differentiation approach with those formed using the prevalent scaffold-free aggregate platform. We utilized a microfluidic system for the rapid (1 million cells/min), high density (30, 40, 60 million cells/ml) encapsulation of hiPSCs within PEG-fibrinogen hydrogel microspheres. HiPSC-laden microspheres and aggregates underwent suspension-based cardiac differentiation in chemically defined media. In comparison to aggregates, microspheres maintained consistent size and shape initially, over t

SUBMITTER: Hashemi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11471139 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature