To advance scientific progress with any cell type, a basic level of knowledge needs to be acquired, including protocols for cell isolation, growth, expansion, differentiation, and more. It requires that characteristics of the cells be observed to determine how they are affected by environmental variation. To date, a significant amount has been learned about mesenchymal stem cells, as 30,697 scientific articles have been published about the cell type.[1] Of those, more than half (17,998) have been published within the last five years.[2] [Read more…]
Guest Post: Role of the Physio-chemical Environment in Steering Stem Cell Differentiation
This guest post by JM Wilkinson and Kelly S. Davidge of Kirkstall Ltd. highlights an emerging technology, organotypic cell cultures.
Cell culture has come a long way in the last 20 years. 3D is rapidly replacing 2D (plated cells on cover slips) and now perfusion based systems with gentle flow of media are improving proliferation rates, control of differentiation and cell function. For in vitro safety and efficacy testing the goal is organotypic behaviour where the cell metabolism accurately reflects what happens in the human body. However some of the techniques also have direct relevance for stem cell research too. In this note we discuss some of the important factors that help to steer stem cell differentiation and could deliver mature cells with low batch to batch variation and a far more homogeneous population. [Read more…]