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Three-dimensional biomaterials for the study of human pluripotent stem cells

Nature Methods volume 8, pages 731–736 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The self-renewal and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have typically been studied in flat, two-dimensional (2D) environments. In this Perspective, we argue that 3D model systems may be needed in addition, as they mimic the natural 3D tissue organization more closely. We survey methods that have used 3D biomaterials for expansion of undifferentiated hPSCs, directed differentiation of hPSCs and transplantation of differentiated hPSCs in vivo.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Three-dimensional matrices for directed hPSC differentiation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by US National Institutes of Health (grant HL060435). T.P.K. was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant PBELP3-127902), a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and a Medicus Exchange Scholarship. L.S.F. was supported by a Marie Curie–Reintegration grant (FP7-People-2007-4-3-IRG; contract 230929), Massachusetts Institute of Technology–Portugal program and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/SAU-BEB/098468/2008; PTDC/CTM/099659/2008).

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  1. rlanger@mit.edu

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Thomas P Kraehenbuehl & Robert Langer

  2. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Translational Research Sciences, Nutley, New Jersey, USA

    Thomas P Kraehenbuehl

  3. Biocant–Center of Innovation in Biotechnology, Cantanhede, Portugal

    Lino S Ferreira

  4. Center of Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Lino S Ferreira

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  1. Thomas P Kraehenbuehl
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Correspondence to Robert Langer.

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Kraehenbuehl, T., Langer, R. & Ferreira, L. Three-dimensional biomaterials for the study of human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Methods 8, 731–736 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.1671

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