Stem and progenitor cells are an attractive cell source for the treatment of degenerative diseases due to their potential to differentiate into multiple cell types and provide large cell yields. Thus far, however, clinical applications have been limited due to inefficient differentiation into desired cell types with sufficient yields for adequate tissue repair and regeneration. The ability to spontaneously aggregate in suspension makes embryonic stem cells (ESCs) amenable to large-scale culture techniques for the production of large yields of differentiating cell spheroids (termed embryoid bodies or EBs); however, the introduction of hydrodynamic conditions may alter differentiation profiles within EBs and should be methodically examined. The work presented here employs a novel, laboratory-scale hydrodynamic culture model to systematically interrogate the effects of ESC culture hydrodynamics on cardiomyocyte differentiation through the modulation of a developmentally-relevant signaling pathway. The fluidic environment was defined using computational fluid dynamic modeling, and the effects of hydrodynamic conditions on EB formation, morphology and structure were assessed. Additionally, EB differentiation was examined through gene and protein expression, and indicated that hydrodynamic conditions modulate differentiation patterns, particularly cardiogenic lineage development. This work illustrates that mixing conditions can modulate common signaling pathways active in ESC differentiation and suggests that differentiation may be regulated via bioprocessing parameters and bioreactor design.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/34710 |
| Date | 07 July 2010 |
| Creators | Sargent, Carolyn Yeago |
| Publisher | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | Georgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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