Going 3D: expansion, differentiation and migration of adult human stem cells in 3D cell culture systems.

Darius Widera, Lecturer in Stem Cell biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Reading. Cambridge Fluids Network - fluids-related seminars 9 February 2018 3:00pm Lecture Theatre 3, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, West Cambridge Site Since the early days, ex vivo mammalian cell culture has been conducted on flat two-dimensional (2D) glass or polystyrene surfaces. Although 2D cell culture is still widely used, it is known to result in unnatural cell polarity and morphology in addition to lacking the three-dimensional extracellular matrix. These drawback are especially evident if the cultivated cells are stem cells. In this context, 2D cultivation is known to interfere with stem cell proliferation and to alter cell migration and differentiation capability. In this talk, different approaches to 3D cultivation, differentiation and assessment of migration will be discussed. In particular, biocompatible natural and synthetic scaffolds for cultivation of adult human neural crest-derived stem cells and human mesenchymal stem cells of different origin will be presented. Moreover, different applications of 3D scaffolds within modern regenerative medicine will be presented.