This study was supported by a grant from the New Business Promotion Center, Panasonic Production Engineering Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.

The Ethics Committee of the Kansai Medical University approved the generation and use of the healthy volunteer-derived iPSCs named KMUR001 (approval No. 2020197). The donor, who was openly recruited, provided formal informed consent and agreed with the scientific usage of the cells.
NOTE: The current interface (the special software named &#34;ccssHMI&#34; running under the Windows XP operating system) is the fundamental operation screen. Under the aforementioned interface, a series of tabs are arranged, allowing users to initiate various operations.
1. Loading operations
<ol>
	<li>Click the Loading button on the software&#39;s top screen. Click the Loading Preparation Start button.</li>
	<li>Place the dish(es) or plate(s) to be entered into the apparatus in position in the apparatus. 
	NOTE: Necessary information for dish identification should be written on each lid.</li>
	<li>Manually close the front sliding window and push the mechanical safety-confirmation button.</li>
	<li>Select the type and quantity of dish(es) or plate(s) in the software.</li>
	<li>Click the Loading Preparation Completed button. Click the Loading Start button.</li>
	<li>After a dish is uploaded into the system, select the information on the dish, such as with iPS cells or without iPS cells, on the software. Register notes about each dish in the software.</li>
	<li>Click the Registration button at the end to complete the loading operation.</li>
</ol>
2. Unloading operation
<ol>
	<li>Click the Unload button on the software&#39;s top screen. Select the dish(es) to be removed in the software.</li>
	<li>After selecting the dish(es), click the Unloading Preparation Start button. Click the Unloading Start button.</li>
	<li>After the dish(es) have been transferred from the incubator to the workbench in the system, press the Dish Removal button.</li>
	<li>Manually open the front sliding window and take out the dish(es). Manually close the front sliding window and push the mechanical safety-confirmation button.</li>
</ol>
3. Supplement of consumables: pipettes, tubes, and medium
<ol>
	<li>To replenish consumables such as pipettes, tubes, and medium, click the Consumables button on the software&#39;s top screen, then select the item to be replenished.
	<ol>
		<li>Pipettes
		<ol>
			<li>Click the Pipette button. Select the Replenish button.</li>
			<li>Select a rack that the user wants to replenish on the software. Click the Replenish Start button.</li>
			<li>After confirming that the lid of the pipette storage area on the workbench is opened, manually open the front sliding window and replenish the pipettes as needed.</li>
			<li>Manually close the front sliding window and push the mechanical safety-confirmation button. Click the Replenish Completed button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenishment Setup button and enter the information for the replenishment, then click the Registration button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenish Completed button.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Tubes
		<ol>
			<li>Click the Tube button. Select the Replenish button.</li>
			<li>Select a rack that the user wants to replenish on the software. Click the Replenish Start button.</li>
			<li>After confirming that the rack has moved to the top, click the Replenish Tube button.</li>
			<li>Manually open the front sliding window and replenish the tubes as needed.</li>
			<li>Manually close the front sliding window and push the mechanical safety-confirmation button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenish Completed button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenishment Setup button and enter the information for the replenishment, then click the Registration button. Click the Close button.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Medium
		<ol>
			<li>Click the Medium button. Select the Replenish button in the software.</li>
			<li>Select one rack from three that users want to replenish. Click the Replenish Start button.</li>
			<li>After confirming that the lid of the medium storage area has been opened, manually open the front sliding window and replenish the medium.</li>
			<li>Manually close the front sliding window and push the mechanical safety-confirmation button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenish Completed button.</li>
			<li>Click the Replenish button and enter the information for the medium, including the name and the amount of the medium. Enter additional comments if necessary.</li>
			<li>Click the Registration button.</li>
			<li>Click the Close button.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Task selection
<ol>
	<li>Click the Task button on the software&#39;s top screen.</li>
	<li>Select the Task Setting button. Select the desired task from the task list and click the Next Step button.</li>
	<li>Specify the date and time to perform the task, and then click the Registration button. Select a dish or plate to perform the task, and then click the Registration button.</li>
	<li>After reconfirming the selected task, click the Registration button. Confirm that the task has been registered on the next screen.</li>
	<li>If necessary, set the next task in the same way.</li>
	<li>Click the Start button at the end. Then, the task will start automatically at the specified date and time. 
	NOTE: Immediately after finishing every task, UV lights (located on two sides of the hood) automatically turn on, and after 5-30 min, in accordance with the auxiliary setting, they are turned off to keep the hood in aseptic condition. To stop, users can click the Start button.</li>
	<li>If users want to cancel a scheduled task in advance, click the Stop button.</li>
	<li>After selecting the task to be aborted, click the Edit Task button.</li>
	<li>Click the Task Cancel button. Confirm that the task has been deleted on the next screen.</li>
</ol>
5. Check cell pictures
<ol>
	<li>Every task includes microscopic observations(taking photos) before and after the task work. Observe the progress of cell culture photographically by incorporating a microscopic photography task before or after each task.</li>
	<li>Select pre-set task programs, including selecting multiple specific locations of the dish or the well plate in advance for fixed-point observation to monitor the same location over time.</li>
</ol>
6. Passaging and differentiation
<ol>
	<li>Follow the steps in sections 1-5 and set the automated cell culture system to perform passaging and differentiation. The instrument settings for passaging, cardiomyocyte differentiation, hepatocyte differentiation, neural precursor cell differentiation, and keratinocyte differentiation are shown in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, and Table 5, respectively.</li>
</ol>

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation Using an Automated Culture System

<ol>
	<li>Okita, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+more+efficient+method+to+generate+integration-free+human+iPS+cells.">A more efficient method to generate integration-free human iPS cells.</a> Nature Methods. 8 (5), 409-412 (2011).</li><li>Tanaka, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+pharmacologic+testing+using+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cell-derived+cardiomyocytes.">In vitro pharmacologic testing using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.</a> Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 385 (4), 497-502 (2009).</li><li>Egashira, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Disease+characterization+using+LQTS-specific+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Disease characterization using LQTS-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Cardiovascular Research. 95 (4), 419-429 (2012).</li><li>Sasamata, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishment+of+a+robust+platform+for+induced+pluripotent+stem+cell+research+using+Maholo+LabDroid.">Establishment of a robust platform for induced pluripotent stem cell research using Maholo LabDroid.</a> SLAS technology. 26 (5), 441-453 (2021).</li><li>Tristan, C. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Robotic+high-throughput+biomanufacturing+and+functional+differentiation+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Robotic high-throughput biomanufacturing and functional differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells.</a> Stem Cell Reports. 16 (12), 3076-3092 (2021).</li><li>Konagaya, S., Ando, T., Yamauchi, T., Suemori, H., Iwata, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+maintenance+of+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+by+automated+cell+culture+system.">Long-term maintenance of human induced pluripotent stem cells by automated cell culture system.</a> Scientific Reports. 5, 16647 (2015).</li><li>McClymont, D. W., Freemont, P. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=With+all+due+respect+to+Maholo,+lab+automation+isn't+anthropomorphic.">With all due respect to Maholo, lab automation isn't anthropomorphic.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 35 (4), 312-314 (2017).</li><li>Gonzalez, F., Zalewski, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Teaching+joint-level+robot+programming+with+a+new+robotics+software+tool.">Teaching joint-level robot programming with a new robotics software tool.</a> Robotics. 6 (4), 41 (2017).</li><li>Bando, K., Yamashita, H., Tsumori, M., Minoura, H., Okumura, K., Hattori, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Compact+automated+culture+system+for+human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cell+maintenance+and+differentiation.">Compact automated culture system for human induced pluripotent stem cell maintenance and differentiation.</a> Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 10, 1074990 (2022).</li><li>Tohyama, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glutamine+oxidation+is+indispensable+for+survival+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Glutamine oxidation is indispensable for survival of human pluripotent stem cells.</a> Cell Metabolism. 23 (4), 663-674 (2016).</li><li>Yamashita, H., Fukuda, K., Hattori, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatocyte-like+cells+derived+from+human+pluripotent+stem+cells+can+be+enriched+by+a+combination+of+mitochondrial+content+and+activated+leukocyte+cell+adhesion+molecule.">Hepatocyte-like cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells can be enriched by a combination of mitochondrial content and activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule.</a> JMA journal. 2 (2), 174-183 (2019).</li><li>Shimojo, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid,+efficient+and+simple+motor+neuron+differentiation+from+human+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Rapid, efficient and simple motor neuron differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells.</a> Molecular Brain. 8 (1), 79 (2015).</li><li>Nishimoto, R., Kodama, C., Yamashita, H., Hattori, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+induced+pluripotent+stem+cell-derived+keratinocyte-like+cells+for+research+on+Protease-Activated+Receptor+2+in+nonhistaminergic+cascades+of+atopic+dermatitis.">Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived keratinocyte-like cells for research on Protease-Activated Receptor 2 in nonhistaminergic cascades of atopic dermatitis.</a> The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 384 (2), 248-253 (2023).</li><li>International Stem Cell Initiative. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Screening+ethnically+diverse+human+embryonic+stem+cells+identifies+a+chromosome+20+minimal+amplicon+conferring+growth+advantage.">Screening ethnically diverse human embryonic stem cells identifies a chromosome 20 minimal amplicon conferring growth advantage.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 29 (12), 1132-1144 (2011).</li><li>Keller, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+and+epigenetic+factors+which+modulate+differentiation+propensity+in+human+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Genetic and epigenetic factors which modulate differentiation propensity in human pluripotent stem cells.</a> Human Reproduction Update. 24 (2), 162-175 (2018).</li></ol>

The author has nothing to disclose.

A critical step in the protocol is that if a user finds any faults, click the cancel, stop, or reset button anytime and start over from the first step. The software can avoid human mistakes, including double booking, opening doors while the system tasks are active, and a lack of replenishment. Another critical point for successful and efficient differentiation to the desired somatic cell is the proper selection of pluripotent stem cell lines because each pluripotent stem cell has an uncontrollable bias in its differentia...

This article aims to provide actual and detailed handling procedures for an automated culture system for human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which we produced by collaborating with a company, and to show representative results.
Since the publication of the article in 2007, iPSC has been attracting attention all over the world1. Due to its greatest feature of being able to differentiate into any type of somatic cell, it is expected to be applied in various fields such as regenerative medicine, elucidating the causes of intractable diseases, and developing new therapeutic drugs2,3. In addition, using human iPSC-derived somatic cells could reduce animal experiments, which are subject to significant ethical restrictions. Although numerous homogeneous iPSCs are constantly required to research new methods with iPSCs, it is too laborious to manage them. Moreover, handling iPSC is difficult because of its high sensitivity, even to subtle cultural and environmental changes.
To solve this problem, automated culture systems are expected to perform tasks instead of humans. Some groups have developed a few automated human pluripotent stem cell culture systems for cell maintenance and differentiation and published their achievements4,5,6. These systems equip multiarticulated robotic arm(s). Robotic arms have not only merit in that they highly mimic human arm movements but also demerit in that they require higher cost(s) for the arm(s), larger and heavier system packaging, and time-consuming education efforts by the engineers to obtain the aimed movements7,8. In order to make it easier to introduce the apparatus to more research facilities at the points of economic, space, and human resource consumption, we have developed a novel automated culture system for the maintenance and differentiation of iPSC into various cell types9.
Our rationale for the new system was to adopt an X-Y-Z axis rail system instead of multiarticulated robotic arms9. To replace the complex hand-like functions of robotic arms, we applied a new idea to this system, which can automatically change three types of specific functional arm tips. Here, we also indicate how users can easily make task schedules with simple orders on software because of the lack of requirements for engineers&#39; contributions throughout the process.
One of the robotic culture systems has demonstrated the making of embryoid bodies using 96-well plates as 3D cell aggregates for differentiation4. The system reported here cannot handle 96-well plates. One achieved the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) grade using a cell line, although it was not a human pluripotent stem cell5. The automated culture system detailed here has now been developed with the specific aim of helping laboratory experiments (Figure 1). However, it has enough systems to keep clean levels equivalent to a level IV safety cabinet.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.15% bovine serum albumin fraction V</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc., Miyazaki, Japan</td>
			<td>9048-46-8</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1% GlutaMAX</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 cm plastic plates&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning Inc., NY, United States</td>
			<td>430167</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>253G1</td>
			<td>RKEN Bioresource Research Center</td>
			<td>HPS0002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>21985023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Actinin&#160; mouse</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab9465</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Activin A&#160;</td>
			<td>Nacali Tesque</td>
			<td>18585-81</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adenine</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A14906.30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Albumin&#160; rabbit</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>A0001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>All-trans retinoic acid</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td>186-01114</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Automated culture system</td>
			<td>Panasonic</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>B-27 supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>17504044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>bFGF</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td>062-06661</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BMP4&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>PHC9531</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>810037</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CHIR-99021&#160;</td>
			<td>MCE, NJ, United States #HY-10182</td>
			<td>252917-06-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Defined Keratinocyte-SFM</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10744019</td>
			<td>Human keratinocyte medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethasone</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>266785</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dihexa&#160;</td>
			<td>TRC, Ontario, Canada</td>
			<td>13071-60-8</td>
			<td>rac-1,2-Dihexadecylglycerol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable hemocytometer</td>
			<td>CountessTM Cell Counting Chamber Slides, Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>C10228</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dorsomorphin</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>1219168-18-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s modified Eagle medium/F12&#160;</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc.</td>
			<td>12634010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EGF</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td>053-07751</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Essential 8&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A1517001</td>
			<td>Human pluripotent stem cell medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum&#160;</td>
			<td>Biowest, FL, United States</td>
			<td>S140T</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FGF-basic&#160;</td>
			<td>Nacalai Tesque Inc.</td>
			<td>19155-07</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forskolin</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>J63292.MF</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutamine</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>25030081</td>
			<td>Glutamine supplement</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat IgG(H+L) AlexaFluo546</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>A11056</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HNF-4A&#160; goat</td>
			<td>Santacruz</td>
			<td>6556</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrocortisone</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A16292.06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>H2882</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iMatrix511 Silk&#160;</td>
			<td>Nippi Inc., Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td>892 021</td>
			<td>Cell culture matrix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin-transferrin-selenium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>41400045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Keratin 1&#160; mouse</td>
			<td>Santacruz</td>
			<td>376224</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Keratin 10&#160; rabbit</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>19054</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KMUR001</td>
			<td>Kansai Medical University&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Patient-derived iPSCs&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Knockout serum replacement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10828010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate&#160;</td>
			<td>A8960, Merck</td>
			<td>A8960</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leibovitz&#8217;s L-15 medium&#160;</td>
			<td>Fuji Film Wako Chemical Inc.</td>
			<td>128-06075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matrigel</td>
			<td>Corning Inc.</td>
			<td>354277</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse IgG(H+L) AlexaFluo488</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>A21202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-2 supplement</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>17502048</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nestin mouse</td>
			<td>Santacruz</td>
			<td>23927</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurobasal medium</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>21103049</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neurofilament&#160; rabbit</td>
			<td>Chemicon</td>
			<td>AB1987</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neutristem</td>
			<td>Sartrius AG, G&#246;ttingen, Germany</td>
			<td>05-100-1A</td>
			<td>cell culture medium&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Oct 3/4&#160; mouse</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>611202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS(-)</td>
			<td>Nacalai Tesque Inc., Kyoto, Japan</td>
			<td>14249-24</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit IgG(H+L) AlexaFluo488</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>A21206</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit IgG(H+L) AlexaFluo546</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>A10040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Recombinant human albumin&#160;</td>
			<td>A0237, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany</td>
			<td>A9731</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632&#160;</td>
			<td>Sellec Inc., Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td>129830-38-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RIKEN 2F</td>
			<td>RKEN Bioresource Research Center</td>
			<td>HPS0014</td>
			<td>undifferentiated hiPSCs&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific #11875</td>
			<td>12633020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SB431542</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>301836-41-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium L-ascorbate</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>A4034-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SSEA-4&#160; mouse</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB4304</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>StemFit AK02N&#160;</td>
			<td>Ajinomoto, Tokyo, Japan</td>
			<td>AK02</td>
			<td>cell culture medium&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TnT rabbit</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab92546</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TRA 1-81 mouse</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB4381</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triiodothyronine</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>H34068.06</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TripLETM express enzyme&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, United States</td>
			<td>12604013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue solution&#160;</td>
			<td>Nacalai Tesque, Kyoto, Japan</td>
			<td>20577-34</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tryptose phosphate broth</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>T8782-500G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Wnt-C59&#160;</td>
			<td>Bio-techne, NB, United Kingdom</td>
			<td>5148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#946;&#160;<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/65672/65672eq01v2.jpg" style="margin: auto;" /> Tublin&#160; mouse</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>G712A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an automated culture system for maintaining and differentiating human-induced pluripotent stem cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with infinite self-proliferating ability have been expected to have applications in numerous fields, including the elucidation of rare disease pathologies, the development of new medicines, and regenerative medicine aiming to restore damaged organs. Despite this, the social implementation of hiPSCs is still limited. This is partly because of the difficulty of reproducing differentiation in culture, even with advanced knowledge and sophisticated technical skills, due to the high sensitivity of iPSCs to minute environmental changes. The application of an automated culture system can solve this issue. Experiments with high reproducibility independent of a researcher's skill can be expected according to a shared procedure across various institutes. Although several automated culture systems that can maintain iPSC cultures and induce differentiation have been developed previously, these systems are heavy, large, and costly because they make use of humanized, multi-articulated robotic arms. To improve on the above issues, we developed a new system using a simple x-y-z axis slide rail system, allowing it to be more compact, lighter, and cheaper. Furthermore, the user can easily modify parameters in the new system to develop new handling tasks. Once a task is established, all the user needs to do is prepare the iPSC, supply the reagents and consumables needed for the desired task in advance, select the task number, and specify the time. We confirmed that the system could maintain iPSCs in an undifferentiated state through several passages without feeder cells and differentiate into various cell types, including cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, neural progenitors, and keratinocytes. The system will enable highly reproducible experiments across institutions without the need for skilled researchers and will facilitate the social implementation of hiPSCs in a wider range of research fields by diminishing the obstacles for new entries.

Author Spotlight: Automating iPSC Culture for Enhanced Reproducibility 

An Automated Culture System for Maintaining and Differentiating Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

This study focuses on automating the culture of iPS cells. Our goal is to reduce the variability due to manual experimentations and human labor, by utilizing smaller and more affordable equipment, which leads to enhance the reproducibility, and provide opportunities for more researchers who are even unfamiliar with iPS cells. Several types of automated culture machines have emerged, but most of them are still large, costly, and can only perform partial tasks.The simpler structure of the working urn has reduced the size and cost of the equipment. In addition, the tasks from cell maintenance to differentiation induction can be performed automatically, with only prior material preparation, and task setting on software. Machine repetition is remarkably accurate compared to human repetition.The use of such machines not only improves repeat usability, but also reduce human labor. Furthermore, if the parameters in each protocol are shared, researchers unfamiliar with iPS cells will be able to achieve similar results as well-experienced researchers, making it possible for them to easily enter into research using iPS cells. We are exploring the possibility of incorporating an AI-based image judgment system to automate the selection of the next work schedule, setting date, and work content from the learning of the experiment results.We also anticipate that allowing researchers to tailor their working protocols to their preferences, and share them online, will not only enhance reproducibility among the world researchers, but also encourage global research collaboration.

Maintenance of human-induced pluripotent stem cells 
We used three hPSC lines (RIKEN-2F, 253G1, and KMUR001). We have optimized the maintenance protocol through daily manually performed experiments and further optimized the detailed programs through the seven preliminary experiments performed by the system. For example, shear stresses caused by the liquid speeds of the spit flow from different pipets handled by humans and the system are quite different; therefore, we optimized the time length of the...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Automating iPSC Culture for Enhanced Reproducibility at JoVE.com

Here, we present a protocol for an automated cell culture system. This automated culture system reduces labor and benefits the users, including researchers unfamiliar with handling induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, from the maintenance of iPS cells to differentiation into various types of cells.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with infinite self-proliferating ability have been expected to have applications in numerous fields, ...

an-automated-culture-system-for-maintaining-differentiating-human

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Automated Cell Culture System Settings for Maintenance and Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

899 Views.  Kansai Medical University Graduate School of Medicine.  Here, we present a protocol for an automated cell culture system. This automated culture system reduces labor and benefits the users, including researchers unfamiliar with handling induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, from the maintenance of iPS cells to differentiation into various types of cells.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation Using an Automated Culture System

Summary