Bioreactors for hematopoietic cell culture

The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the biophysical microenvironment during hematopoietic stem cell development: from embryo to adult

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with the ability to self-renew and differentiate are responsible for maintaining the supply of all types of blood cells. The complex and delicate microenvironment surrounding HSCs is called the HSC niche and can provide physical, chemical, and biological stimuli to regulate the survival, maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation of HSCs. Currently, the exploration of the biophysical regulation of HSCs remains in its infancy. There is evidence that HSCs are susceptible to biophysical stimuli, suggesting that the construction of engineered niche biophysical microenvironments is a promising way to regulate the fate of HSCs in vitro and ultimately contribute to clinical applications. In this review, we introduced the spatiotemporal heterogeneous biophysical microenvironment during HSC development, homeostasis, and malignancy. Furthermore, we illustrated how these biophysical cues contribute to HSC behaviors, as well as the possible mechanotransduction mechanisms from the extracellular microenvironment into cells. Comprehending the important functions of these biophysical regulatory factors will provide novel approaches to resolve clinical problems.

The differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells on 3D bone scaffold in a dynamic culture system

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is used for cell-based therapy for many hematological disorders. However, difficulty in finding proper donors has limited this source of stem cells. For clinical application, the generation of these cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs) is a fascinating and endless source. One of the experimental methods to generate HSCs from iPSs is the mimicking of the hematopoietic niche. In the current study, as the first phase of differentiation, embryoid bodies were formed from iPSs. They were then cultured in different dynamic conditions in order to determine the appropriate settings for their differentiation into HSCs. The dynamic culture was composed of DBM Scaffold with or without growth factor. After ten days, the specific HSC markers (CD34, CD133, CD31 and CD45) were assessed using flow-cytometry. Our findings demonstrated that the dynamic conditions were significantly suitable than static ones. In addition, in 3D scaffold and dynamic system the expression of CXCR4, as a homing marker, was increased. These results suggest that the 3D culture bioreactor with DBM scaffold could provide a new approach for differentiation of iPSs into HSCs. Moreover, this system could provide maximum mimicry of bone marrow niche.

Development and clinical translation considerations for the next wave of gene modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells therapies

INTRODUCTION

Consistent and reliable manufacture of gene modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HPSC) therapies will be of the utmost importance as they become more mainstream and address larger populations. Robust development campaigns will be needed to ensure that these products will be delivered to patients with the highest quality standards.

AREAS COVERED

Through publicly available manuscripts, press releases, and news articles - this review touches on aspects related to HSPC therapy, development, and manufacturing.

EXPERT OPINION

Recent advances in genome modification technology coupled with the longstanding clinical success of HSPCs warrants great optimism for the next generation of engineered HSPC-based therapies. Treatments for some diseases that have thus far been intractable now appear within reach. Reproducible manufacturing will be of critical importance in delivering these therapies but will be challenging due to the need for bespoke materials and methods in combination with the lack of off-the-shelf solutions. Continued progress in the field will manifest in the form of industrialization which currently requires attention and resources directed toward the custom reagents, a focus on closed and automated processes, and safer and more precise genome modification technologies that will enable broader, faster, and safer access to these life-changing therapies.

Lymphocyte expansion in bioreactors: upgrading adoptive cell therapy

Bioreactors are essential tools for the development of efficient and high-quality cell therapy products. However, their application is far from full potential, holding several challenges when reconciling the complex biology of the cells to be expanded with the need for a manufacturing process that is able to control cell growth and functionality towards therapy affordability and opportunity. In this review, we discuss and compare current bioreactor technologies by performing a systematic analysis of the published data on automated lymphocyte expansion for adoptive cell therapy. We propose a set of requirements for bioreactor design and identify trends on the applicability of these technologies, highlighting the specific challenges and major advancements for each one of the current approaches of expansion along with the opportunities that lie in process intensification. We conclude on the necessity to develop targeted solutions specially tailored for the specific stimulation, supplementation and micro-environmental needs of lymphocytes’ cultures, and the benefit of applying knowledge-based tools for process control and predictability.

Agitation increases expansion of cord blood hematopoietic cells and promotes their differentiation into myeloid lineage

Mechanical stress caused by agitation is one of the factors that can affect hematopoietic stem cell expansion in suspension bioreactors. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of agitation on umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell (UCB-HSC) growth and differentiation. A comparison was made between various agitation rates (20, 40 and 60 rpm) in spinner-flask and cells cultured in glass petri dish as a static culture. Moreover, the fluid dynamic at various agitation rates of spinner-flask was analyzed to determine shear stress. The spinner-flask contained a rotational moving mixer with glass ball and was kept in tissue culture incubator. To reduce consumption of cytokines, UCB-serum was used which widely decreased the costs. Our results determined that, agitation rate at 40 rpm promoted UCB-HSCs expansion and their colony forming potential. Myeloid progenitors were the main type of cells at 40 rpm agitation rate. The results of glucose consumption and lactic acid production were in complete agreement with colony assay and expansion data and indicated the superiority of culture in spinner-flask when agitated at 40 rpm over to other agitation speeds and also static culture. Cell viability and colony count was affected by changing the agitation speed. We assume that changes in cell growth resulted from the effect of shear stress directly on cell viability, and indirectly on signaling pathways that influence the cells to differentiate.

Biophysical regulation of hematopoietic stem cells

Blood is renewed throughout the entire life. The stem cells of the blood, called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), are responsible for maintaining a supply of all types of fresh blood cells. In contrast to other stem cells, the clinical application of these cells is well established and HSC transplantation is an established life-saving therapy for patients suffering from haematological disorders. Despite their efficient functionality throughout life in vivo, controlling HSC behaviour in vitro (including their proliferation and differentiation) is still a major task that has not been resolved with standard cell culture systems. Targeted HSC multiplication in vitro could be beneficial for many patients, because HSC supply is limited. The biology of these cells and their natural microenvironment - their niche - remain a matter of ongoing research. In recent years, evidence has come to light that HSCs are susceptible to physical stimuli. This makes the regulation of HSCs by engineering physical parameters a promising approach for the targeted manipulation of these cells for clinical applications. Nevertheless, the biophysical regulation of these cells is still poorly understood. This review sheds light on the role of biophysical parameters in HSC biology and outlines which knowledge on biophysical regulation identified in other cell types could be applied to HSCs.

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells: Recent advances

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have become the most extensively studied stem cells and HSC-based cellular therapy is promising for hematopoietic cancers and hereditary blood disorders. Successful treatment of patients with HSC cells depends on sufficient number of highly purified HSCs and progenitor cells. However, stem cells are a very rare population no matter where they come from. Thus, ex vivo amplification of these HSCs is essential. The heavy demands from more and more patients for HSCs also require industrial-scale expansion of HSCs with lower production cost and higher efficiency. Two main ways to reach that goal: (1) to find clinically applicable, simple and efficient methods (or reagents) to enrich HSCs; (2) to find new developmental regulators and chemical compounds in order to replace the currently used cytokine cocktails for HSCs amplification. In this Editorial review, we would like to introduce the current status of ex vivo expansion of HSCs, particularly focusing on enrichment and culture supplements.

Large-scale production of red blood cells from stem cells: what are the technical challenges ahead?

Blood-transfusion centers regularly face the challenge of donor blood shortages, especially for rare blood groups. The possibility of producing universal red blood cells from stem cells industrially has become a possible alternative since the successful injection of blood generated in vitro into a human being in 2011. Although there remains many biological and regulatory issues concerning the efficacy and safety of this new product, the major challenge today for future clinical applications is switching from the current limited 2-dimensional production techniques to large-scale 3-dimensional bioreactors. In addition to requiring technological breakthroughs, the whole process also has to become at least five-fold more cost-efficient to match the current prices of high-quality blood products. The current review sums up the main biological advances of the past decade, outlines the key biotechnological challenges for the large-scale cost-effective production of red blood cells, proposes solutions based on strategies used in the bioindustry and presents the state-of-the-art of large-scale blood production.

Ex vivo expansion of cord blood haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells under physiological oxygen tensions: clear-cut effects on cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism

Physiologically low O(2) tensions are believed to regulate haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions in the bone marrow (BM; 0-5%). In turn, placenta and umbilical cord are characterized by slightly higher physiological O(2) tensions (3-10%). We hypothesized that O(2) concentrations within this range may be exploited to augment the ex vivo expansion/maintenance of HSCs from umbilical cord (placental) blood (UCB). The expansion of UCB CD34(+) -enriched cells was studied in co-culture with BM mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) under 2%, 5%, 10% and 21% O(2). 2% O(2) resulted in a significantly lower CD34(+) cell expansion (25-fold vs 60-, 64- and 92-fold at day 10 for 5%, 21%, 10% O(2), respectively). In turn, 10% O(2) promoted the highest CD34(+) CD90(+) cell expansion, reaching 22 ± 5.4- vs 5.6 ± 2.4- and 5.7 ± 2.0-fold for 2%, 5% and 21% O(2), respectively, after 14 days. Similar differentiation patterns were observed under different O(2) tensions, being primarily shifted towards the neutrophil lineage. Cell division kinetics revealed a higher proliferative status of cells cultured under 10% and 21% vs 2% O(2). Expectedly, higher specific glucose consumption and lactate production rates were determined at 2% O(2) when compared to higher O(2) concentrations (5-21%). Overall, these results suggest that physiological oxygen tensions, in particular 10% O(2), can maximize the ex vivo expansion of UCB stem/progenitor cells in co-culture with BM MSCs. Importantly, these studies highlight the importance of exploiting knowledge of the intricate microenvironment of the haematopoietic niche towards the definition of efficient and controlled ex vivo culture systems capable of generating large HSCs numbers for clinical applications.

Stem cell bioengineering strategies to widen the therapeutic applications of haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from umbilical cord blood

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation has observed a significant increase in recent years, due to the unique features of UCB haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs) for the treatment of blood-related disorders. However, the low cell numbers available per UCB unit significantly impairs the widespread use of this source for transplantation of adult patients, resulting in graft failure, delayed engraftment and delayed immune reconstitution. In order to overcome this issue, distinct approaches are now being considered in clinical trials, such as double-UCB transplantation, intrabone injection or ex vivo expansion. In this article the authors review the current state of the art, future trends and challenges on the ex vivo expansion of UCB HSCs, focusing on culture parameters affecting the yield and quality of the expanded HSC grafts: novel HSC selection schemes prior to cell culture, cytokine/growth factor cocktails, the impact of biochemical factors (e.g. O2 ) or the addition of supportive cells, e.g. mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based feeder layers) were addressed. Importantly, a critical challenge in cellular therapy is still the scalability, reproducibility and control of the expansion process, in order to meet the clinical requirements for therapeutic applications. Efficient design of bioreactor systems and operation modes are now the focus of many bioengineers, integrating the increasing 'know-how' on HSC biology and physiology, while complying with the GMP standards for the production of cellular products, i.e. through the use of commercially available, highly controlled, disposable technologies.

Polymeric biomaterials for stem cell bioengineering

This review covers the application of polymeric materials in stem cell bioengineering. Main emphasis is directed towards current material design concepts that mimic distinct exogenous signals of the stem cell microenvironment. Progress within the field of stem cell-specific biomaterials will be discussed, focusing on pluripotent, hematopoietic, mesenchymal and neural stem cells. The future role of biomaterials will be outlined with possible applications for cell reprogramming and engineering cancer cell microenvironments.

Improved function and growth of pancreatic cells in a three-dimensional bioreactor environment

Methods of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture have made significant progress in recent years due to a better understanding of cell to cell interactions and the cell's interface with their surrounding environment. We hypothesized that a microgravity 3D culture system would improve upon the growth and function of a pancreatic progenitor cell population. We developed a rotating wall vessel bioreactor and established a culture system using a pancreatic cell line. Cells in the bioreactors showed robust proliferation, enhanced transcriptional signaling, and improved translation of pancreatic genes compared with two-dimensional static culture. Cells also gained the ability to respond to glucose stimulation, which was not observed in the control cultures. These findings suggest that a 3D microgravity bioreactor environment mimics the niche of the pancreas yielding a cell source with potential for cell-based therapy in the treatment of diabetes.

Stem cell cultivation in bioreactors

Cell-based therapies have generated great interest in the scientific and medical communities, and stem cells in particular are very appealing for regenerative medicine, drug screening and other biomedical applications. These unspecialized cells have unlimited self-renewal capacity and the remarkable ability to produce mature cells with specialized functions, such as blood cells, nerve cells or cardiac muscle. However, the actual number of cells that can be obtained from available donors is very low. One possible solution for the generation of relevant numbers of cells for several applications is to scale-up the culture of these cells in vitro. This review describes recent developments in the cultivation of stem cells in bioreactors, particularly considerations regarding critical culture parameters, possible bioreactor configurations, and integration of novel technologies in the bioprocess development stage. We expect that this review will provide updated and detailed information focusing on the systematic production of stem cell products in compliance with regulatory guidelines, while using robust and cost-effective approaches.

Investigation of the effective action distance between hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and human adipose-derived stem cells during their in vitro co-culture

The in vitro suitable action distance between umbilical cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and its feeder cell, human adipose-derived stem cells, during their co-culture, was investigated through a novel transwell co-culture protocol, in which the distance between the two culture chambers where each cell type is growing can be adjusted from 10 to 450 μm. The total cell number was determined with a hemacytometer, and the cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope each day. After 7 days of co-culture, the fold-expansion, surface antigen expression of CD34(+) and CFU-GM assay of the hematopoietic mononuclear cells (MNCs) were analyzed. The results showed that there was an optimal communication distance at around 350 μm between both types of stem cells during their in vitro co-culture. By using this distance, the UCB-MNCs and CD34(+) cells were expanded by 15.1 ± 0.2 and 5.0 ± 0.1-fold, respectively. It can therefore be concluded that the optimal action distance between stem cells and their supportive cells, when cultured together for 7 days, is of around 350 μm.

Cell population modelling describes intrinsic heterogeneity: a case study for hematopoietic stem cells

The control of stem cell properties during in vitro expansion is of paramount importance for their clinical use. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, phenotypic heterogeneity is a critical aspect influencing therapeutic response. Even if the authors ability to reduce heterogeneity were limited, the sources from which it arises should be well understood for safe clinical applications. The aim of this work was to describe theoretically the intrinsic cell population heterogeneity that is present even when cells are cultured in a perfectly homogeneous environment. A bivariate population balance model is developed to account for the heterogeneity in the number of receptors and receptor-ligand complexes per cell, and is coupled with a ligand conservation equation. As a case study, the model is applied to the hematopoietic stem cell expansion, considering the c-Kit receptor and stem cell factor pair. Results show the dependence of intrinsic heterogeneity from ligand concentration and the kinetics of its administration. By tracking the cell generations within the total population, the authors highlight intra- and an inter-generational contributions to total population heterogeneity. In terms of dimensionless variables, intrinsic heterogeneity is dependent on the ratio of the characteristic time of cell division to that needed by a newborn cell to reach its single-cell steady state. [Includes supplementary material].

Cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells: current challenges in engraftment, infection, and ex vivo expansion

Umbilical cord blood has served as an alternative to bone marrow for hematopoietic transplantation since the late 1980s. Numerous clinical studies have proven the efficacy of umbilical cord blood. Moreover, the possible immaturity of cells in umbilical cord blood gives more options to recipients with HLA mismatch and allows for the use of umbilical cord blood from unrelated donors. However, morbidity and mortality rates associated with hematopoietic malignancies still remain relatively high, even after cord blood transplantation. Infections and relapse are the major causes of death after cord blood transplantation in patients with hematopoietic diseases. Recently, new strategies have been introduced to improve these major problems. Establishing better protocols for simple isolation of primitive cells and ex vivo expansion will also be very important. In this short review, we discuss several recent promising findings related to the technical improvement of cord blood transplantation.

Clinical utility of flow cytometry in the study of erythropoiesis and nonclonal red cell disorders

Erythropoiesis involves proliferation and differentiation of small population of hematopoietic stem cells resident in the bone marrow into mature red blood cells. The determination of the cellular composition of the blood is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of diseases and monitoring of therapy. Flow cytometric analysis is increasingly being used to characterize the heterogeneous cell populations present in the blood and the hematopoietic cell differentiation and maturation pathways of the bone marrow. Here we discuss the role of flow cytometry in the study of erythropoiesis and nonclonal red blood cell disorders. First, we discuss flow cytometric analysis of reticulocytes. Next, we review salient quantitative methods that can be used for detection of fetal-maternal hemorrhage (FMH). We also discuss flow cytometric analysis of high hemoglobin F (HbF) in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), hereditary spherocytosis (HS), red cell survival and red cell volume. We conclude by discussing cell cycle of erythroid cells.

Toward modeling the bone marrow niche using scaffold-based 3D culture systems

In the bone marrow, specialized microenvironments, called niches, regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance and function through a complex crosstalk between different cell types. Although in vivo studies have been instrumental to elucidate some of the mechanisms by which niches exert their function, the establishment of an in vitro model that recapitulates the fundamental interactions of the niche components in a controlled setting would be of great benefit. We have previously shown that freshly harvested bone marrow- or adipose tissue-derived cells can be cultured under perfusion within porous scaffolds, allowing the formation of an organized 3D stromal tissue, composed by mesenchymal and endothelial progenitors and able to support hematopoiesis. Here we describe 3D scaffold-based perfusion systems as potential models to reconstruct ex vivo the bone marrow stem cell niche. We discuss how several culture parameters, including scaffold properties, cellular makeup and molecular signals, can be varied and controlled to investigate the role of specific cues in affecting HSC fate. We then provide a perspective of how the system could be exploited to improve stem cell-based therapies and how the model can be extended toward the engineering of other specialized stromal niches.

Clinical-grade, large-scale, feeder-free expansion of highly active human natural killer cells for adoptive immunotherapy using an automated bioreactor

BACKGROUND AIMS

Natural killer (NK) cell-based adoptive immunotherapy is a promising approach for the treatment of cancer. Ex vivo expansion and activation of NK cells under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions are crucial for facilitating large clinical trials. The goal of this study was to optimize a large-scale, feeder-free, closed system for efficient NK cell expansion.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and myeloma patients were cultured for 21 days using flasks, cell culture bags and bioreactors. Final products from different expansions were evaluated comparatively for phenotype and functionality.

RESULTS

Significant NK cell expansions were obtained in all systems. The bioreactor yielded a final product rich in NK cells (mean 38%) ensuring that a clinically relevant cell dose was reached (mean 9.8 x 10⁹ NK cells). Moreover, we observed that NK cells expanded in the bioreactor displayed significantly higher cytotoxic capacity. It was possible to attribute this partially to a higher expression level of NKp44 compared with NK cells expanded in flasks.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that large amounts of highly active NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy can be produced in a closed, automated, large-scale bioreactor under feeder-free current GMP conditions, facilitating clinical trials for the use of these cells.

Microliter-bioreactor array with buoyancy-driven stirring for human hematopoietic stem cell culture

This work presents the development of an array of bioreactors where finely controlled stirring is provided at the microliter scale (100-300 mul). The microliter-bioreactor array is useful for performing protocol optimization in up to 96 parallel experiments of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cultures. Exploring a wide range of experimental conditions at the microliter scale minimizes cost and labor. Once the cell culture protocol is optimized, it can be applied to large-scale bioreactors for stem cell production at the clinical level. The controlled stirring inside the wells of a standard 96-well plate is provided by buoyancy-driven thermoconvection. The temperature and velocity fields within the culture volume are determined with numerical simulations. The numerical results are verified with experimental velocity measurements using microparticle image velocimetry (muPIV) and are used to define feasible experimental conditions for stem cell cultures. To test the bioreactor array's functionality, human umbilical cord blood-derived CD34(+) cells were cultured for 7 days at five different stirring conditions (0.24-0.58 mums) in six repeated experiments. Cells were characterized in terms of proliferation, and flow cytometry measurements of viability and CD34 expression. The microliter-bioreactor array demonstrates its ability to support HSC cultures under stirred conditions without adversely affecting the cell behavior. Because of the highly controlled operative conditions, it can be used to explore culture conditions where the mass transport of endogenous and exogenous growth factors is selectively enhanced, and cell suspension provided. While the bioreactor array was developed for culturing HSCs, its application can be extended to other cell types.

Unique differentiation profile of mouse embryonic stem cells in rotary and stirred tank bioreactors

Embryonic stem (ES)-cell-derived lineage-specific stem cells, for example, hematopoietic stem cells, could provide a potentially unlimited source for transplantable cells, especially for cell-based therapies. However, reproducible methods must be developed to maximize and scale-up ES cell differentiation to produce clinically relevant numbers of therapeutic cells. Bioreactor-based dynamic culture conditions are amenable to large-scale cell production, but few studies have evaluated how various bioreactor types and culture parameters influence ES cell differentiation, especially hematopoiesis. Our results indicate that cell seeding density and bioreactor speed significantly affect embryoid body formation and subsequent generation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in both stirred tank (spinner flask) and rotary microgravity (Synthecon™) type bioreactors. In general, high percentages of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells were generated in both bioreactors, especially at high cell densities. In addition, Synthecon bioreactors produced more sca-1(+) progenitors and spinner flasks generated more c-Kit(+) progenitors, demonstrating their unique differentiation profiles. cDNA microarray analysis of genes involved in pluripotency, germ layer formation, and hematopoietic differentiation showed that on day 7 of differentiation, embryoid bodies from both bioreactors consisted of all three germ layers of embryonic development. However, unique gene expression profiles were observed in the two bioreactors; for example, expression of specific hematopoietic genes were significantly more upregulated in the Synthecon cultures than in spinner flasks. We conclude that bioreactor type and culture parameters can be used to control ES cell differentiation, enhance unique progenitor cell populations, and provide means for large-scale production of transplantable therapeutic cells.

Marrow stromal fibroblastic cell cultivation in vitro on decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix

The in vitro biocompatibility of decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix was evaluated. Following a freeze-thaw cycle, sectioned discs of fresh frozen rat metaphyseal bone were sequentially incubated in solutions of hypertonic, then hypotonic Ringer's solution, followed by deoxycholic acid, then DNAase I. The adequacy of decellularization of marrow stroma was examined by light microscopy. Marrow stromal fibroblastic cells were harvested by dispersion of rat long bone marrow, followed by concentration by discontinuous Ficoll-Paque gradient centrifugation. The fibroblastic cells were expanded by in vitro cultivation, and second passage cells were cryopreserved until needed. Cryopreserved marrow stromal cells were applied dropwise to sections of decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix, and cultured in BJGb medium with 20% fetal bovine serum for ten days. Mature cultures were formalin fixed, decalcified, and embedded in paraffin. Light microscopy of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections showed individual spindle cells invading the upper portion of the decellularized extracellular matrix, and also a monolayer of spindle cells on the upper surfaces of exposed trabecular and cortical bone. This experiment showed that decellularized marrow extracellular matrix is a biocompatible three dimensional in vitro substrate for marrow stromal fibroblastic cells.

The potential of human peripheral blood derived CD34+ cells for ex vivo red blood cell production

The potential of peripheral blood derived CD34+ cells for ex vivo erythropoiesis was investigated in a stroma-free culture system using a novel strategy of daily passaging. By expanding PB-derived CD34+ cells up to 1.5 x 10(6)-fold this method achieved expansion factors previously only reported for CD34+ cells derived from more potent stem cell sources such as cord blood, bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood. Analysis of cell surface markers showed differentiation of immature CD34+ cells to populations with 80% CD71-/GpA+ cells and up to 45% enucleated cells, indicating a significant amount of terminal maturation. Cell crowdedness was found to have decisive effects on in vitro erythropoiesis. Cell density per surface area rather than cell concentration per media volume determined cell expansion during exponential growth where more crowded cells showed reduced overall expansion. In late stage erythropoiesis, however, when cells no longer proliferating, increased cell density was seen to enhance cell viability. These results indicate that peripheral blood derived haematopoietic stem cells can be an alternative to cells sourced from bone marrow, cord blood or leukapheresis in terms of expansion potential. This provides distinct advantages in terms of availability for studies of conditions for scale-up and maturation, and may have particular clinical applications in the future.

Engineering imaging: using particle image velocimetry to see physiology in a new light

1. Despite the array of sophisticated imaging techniques available for biological applications, none of the standard biomedical techniques adequately provides the capability to measure motion and flow. Those techniques currently in use are particularly lacking in spatial and temporal resolution. 2. Herein, we introduce the technique of particle image velocimetry. This technique is a well-established tool in engineering research and industry. Particle image velocimetry is continuing to develop and has an increasing number of variants. 3. Three case studies are presented: (i) the use of microparticle image velocimetry to study flow generated by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in a human airway model; (ii) the use of stereoparticle image velocimetry to study stirred cell and tissue culture devices; and (iii) a three-dimensional X-ray particle image velocimetry technique used to measure flow in an in vitro vascular flow model. 4. The case studies highlight the vast potential of applying the engineering technique of particle image velocimetry and its many variants to current research problems in physiology.

Stem cell bioprocessing: fundamentals and principles

In recent years, the potential of stem cell research for tissue engineering-based therapies and regenerative medicine clinical applications has become well established. In 2006, Chung pioneered the first entire organ transplant using adult stem cells and a scaffold for clinical evaluation. With this a new milestone was achieved, with seven patients with myelomeningocele receiving stem cell-derived bladder transplants resulting in substantial improvements in their quality of life. While a bladder is a relatively simple organ, the breakthrough highlights the incredible benefits that can be gained from the cross-disciplinary nature of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) that encompasses stem cell research and stem cell bioprocessing. Unquestionably, the development of bioprocess technologies for the transfer of the current laboratory-based practice of stem cell tissue culture to the clinic as therapeutics necessitates the application of engineering principles and practices to achieve control, reproducibility, automation, validation and safety of the process and the product. The successful translation will require contributions from fundamental research (from developmental biology to the 'omics' technologies and advances in immunology) and from existing industrial practice (biologics), especially on automation, quality assurance and regulation. The timely development, integration and execution of various components will be critical-failures of the past (such as in the commercialization of skin equivalents) on marketing, pricing, production and advertising should not be repeated. This review aims to address the principles required for successful stem cell bioprocessing so that they can be applied deftly to clinical applications.

Effects of encapsulated rabbit mesenchymal stem cells on ex vivo expansion of human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

The expansion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) was investigated in a novel co-culture system by means of encapsulation of rabbit bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in alginate beads (Alg beads). Three kinds of media were applied and the experiments lasted for 7 days. The total nucleated cell density was measured every 24 h. Flow cytometric assay for CD34(+) cells and methylcellulose colony assays were carried out at 0, 72 and 168 h. It was found that the encapsulated MSCs illustrated remarkable effects on UCB MNCs expansion regardless of whether serum is present in culture media or not. At the end of 168 h co-culture, the total nucleated cell number was multiplied by 15 +/- 2.9 times, and CD34(+) cells 5.3 +/- 0.3 times and colony-forming units in culture (CFU-Cs) 5.6 +/- 1.2 times in the serum-free media supplemented with conventional dose of cytokines, which was very similar to the results in the containing 20% serum media. While in the control, i.e. MNC expansion without encapsulated MSCs, however, total nucleated cells density changed mildly, CD34(+) cells and CFU-Cs showed little effective expansion. It is demonstrated that the encapsulated stromal cells can support the expansion of UCB MNCs effectively under the experimental condition.

Large scale production of stem cells and their derivatives

Stem cells have been envisioned to become an unlimited cell source for regenerative medicine. Notably, the interest in stem cells lies beyond direct therapeutic applications. They might also provide a previously unavailable source of valuable human cell types for screening platforms, which might facilitate the development of more efficient and safer drugs. The heterogeneity of stem cell types as well as the numerous areas of application suggests that differential processes are mandatory for their in vitro culture. Many of the envisioned applications would require the production of a high number of stem cells and their derivatives in scalable, well-defined and potentially clinical compliant manner under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP). In this review we provide an overview on recent strategies to develop bioprocesses for the expansion, differentiation and enrichment of stem cells and their progenies, presenting examples for adult and embryonic stem cells alike.

Activation of hypoxic response in human embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies

Oxygen tension can provide an important determinant for differentiation and development of many cells and tissues. Genetic regulation of hemato-endothelial commitment is known to respond to oxygen deprivation via stimulation of hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs). Here, we use a closed bioreactor system to monitor and control the dissolved oxygen during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) via formation of embryoid bodies (hEBs). Exposing hESC-derived EBs to ambient oxygen at or below 5% results in stabilization of HIF-1alpha and increased transcription of hypoxic responsive genes. Interestingly, we find that rather than HIF-1alpha expression being stable over prolonged (7-16 days) culture in hypoxic conditions, HIF-1alpha expression peaks after approximately 48 hours of hypoxic exposure, and then declines to near undetectable levels, despite constant hypoxic exposure. This transient stabilization of HIF-1alpha during hESC-derived EB culture is demonstrated for four distinct stages of differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate hEB cell expansion is slowed by hypoxic exposure, with increased apoptosis. However, hEB cell proliferation returns to normal rates upon return to normoxic conditions. Therefore, although hypoxia effectively stimulates hypoxic responsive genes, this single variable was not sufficient to improve development of hemato-endothelial cells from hESCs.

Hematopoietic reconstitution of CD34+ cells grown in static and stirred culture systems in NOD/SCID mice

The hematopoietic reconstitution of cord blood (CB) CD34(+)cells grown in static and stirred system was studied. Static cultures were better than stirred cultures for cell expansion. Engraftment of stirred-culture hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) was higher than static-culture HSCs. Stirred-culture HSCs had better multilineage reconstitution ability and colony-forming ability than static-culture HSCs. Static cultures thus favor the expansion of HSCs and stirred cultures are more effective in preserving functional HSCs.

Regenerative Medicine Bioprocessing: Building a Conceptual Framework Based on Early Studies

This paper reviews early studies of regenerative medicine using human cells and engineered tissues progressing from a laboratory-centered manual procedure toward automated manufacture. It then examines the distinctive bioprocesses by which autologous human material must be produced, the degree of simplification allowed by use of allogeneic cell lines and engineered tissue derived from them, and issues that affect both cell types. The paper concludes by drawing upon this discussion to suggest some factors that will determine how regenerative medicine bioprocessing can progress to provide many units of material economically.

Improved development of human embryonic stem cell-derived embryoid bodies by stirred vessel cultivation

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) represent an important resource for novel cell-based regenerative medical therapies. hESCs are known to differentiate into mature cells of defined lineages through the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs) which are amenable to suspension culture for several weeks. However, EBs derived from hESCs in standard static cultures are typically non-homogeneous, leading to inefficient cellular development. Here, we systematically compare the formation, growth, and differentiation capabilities of hESC-derived EBs in stirred and static suspension cultures. A 15-fold expansion in total number of EB-derived cells cultured for 21 days in a stirred flask was observed, compared to a fourfold expansion in static (non-stirred) cultures. Additionally, stirred vessel mediated cultures have a more homogeneous EB morphology and size. Importantly, the EBs cultivated in spinner flasks retained comparable ability to produce hematopoietic progenitor cells as those grown in static culture. These results demonstrate the decoupling between EB cultivation method and EB-derived cells' ability to form hematopoietic progenitors, and will allow for improved production of scalable quantities of hematopoietic cells or other differentiated cell lineages from hESCs in a controlled environment.

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood in rotating wall vessel

Expansion of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCB MNCs) was carried out in a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor and tissue culture flasks (T-flasks) in serum-containing medium supplemented with relatively low doses of purified recombinant human cytokines (5.33 ng/ml IL-3, 16 ng/ml SCF, 3.33 ng/ml G-CSF, 2.13 ng/ml GM-CSF, 7.47 ng/ml FL and 7.47 ng/ml TPO) for 8 days. The cell density, pH and osmolality of the culture medium in the two culture systems were measured every 24h. Flow cytometric assay for CD34+ cells was carried out at 0, 144 and 197 h and methylcellulose colony assays were performed at 0, 72, 144 and 197 h. The pH and osmolality of the medium in the two culture systems were maintained in the proper ranges for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitors culture. The RWV bioreactor, combined with a cell-dilution feeding protocol, was efficient to expand UCB MNCs. At the end of 200 h culture, the total cell number was multiplied by 435.5+/-87.6 times, and CD34+ cells 32.7+/-15.6 times, and colony-forming units of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) 21.7+/-4.9 times. While in T-flasks, however, total cells density changed mildly, CD34+ cells and CFU-GM decreased in number. It is demonstrated that the RWV bioreactor can provide a better environment for UCB MNCs expansion, enhance the contact between HSCs and accessory cells and make the utilization of cytokines more effective than T-flask.

A fluid dynamics approach to bioreactor design for cell and tissue culture

The problem of controlling cylindrical tank bioreactor conditions for cell and tissue culture purposes has been considered from a flow dynamics perspective. Simple laminar flows in the vortex breakdown region are proposed as being a suitable alternative to turbulent spinner flask flows and horizontally oriented rotational flows. Vortex breakdown flows have been measured using three-dimensional Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry, and non-dimensionalized velocity and stress distributions are presented. Regions of locally high principal stress occur in the vicinity of the impeller and the lower sidewall. Topological changes in the vortex breakdown region caused by an increase in Reynolds number are reflected in a redistribution of the peak stress regions. The inclusion of submerged scaffold models adds complexity to the flow, although vortex breakdown may still occur. Relatively large stresses occur along the edge of disks jutting into the boundary of the vortex breakdown region.

Stem cell bioengineering for regenerative medicine

Stem cells can be used to treat a variety of diseases and several recent studies in animal models demonstrate the potential of bioengineering strategies targeting adult and embryonic stem cells. In order to obtain the desired cells for transplantation, stem cell bioengineering approaches entail the manipulation of environmental signals influencing cell survival, proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation. In that regard, multivariate analytical approaches have been used with success to optimise different stem cell culture processes. The genetic or molecular enhancement of stem cells is also a powerful means to control their proliferation or differentiation or to correct genetic defects in recipients. In the future, systems-level approaches have the potential to revolutionise the field of stem cell bioengineering by improving our understanding of regulatory networks controlling cellular behaviour. This advance in basic biology will be instrumental for the implementation of many stem cell-based regenerative therapies at the clinical level, as treatment accessibility will depend on the development of robust technologies to produce sufficient cell numbers.

Biopreservation of cells and engineered tissues

The development of effective preservation and long-term storage techniques is a critical requirement for the successful clinical and commercial application of emerging cell-based technologies. Biopreservation is the process of preserving the integrity and functionality of cells, tissues and organs held outside the native environment for extended storage times. Biopreservation can be categorized into four different areas on the basis of the techniques used to achieve biological stability and to ensure a viable state following long-term storage. These include in vitro culture, hypothermic storage, cryopreservation and desiccation. In this chapter, an overview of these four techniques is presented with an emphasis on the recent developments that have been made using these technologies for the biopreservation of cells and engineered tissues.

Hematopoietic stem cells: from the bone to the bioreactor

The ex vivo expansion of human hematopoietic stem cells is a rapidly developing area with a broad range of biomedical applications. The mechanisms of renewal, differentiation and plasticity of stem cells are currently under intense investigation. However, the complexity of hematopoiesis, the heterogeneity of the culture population and the complex interplay between the culture parameters that significantly influence the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells have impaired the translation of small scale results to the highly demanded large-scale applications. The better understanding of these mechanisms is providing the basis for more rational approaches to the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. Efforts are now being made to establish a rational design of bioreactor systems, allowing the modeling and control of large-scale production of stem cells and the study of their proliferation and differentiation, under conditions as similar as possible to those in vivo.