Name: alginate encapsulation of pluripotent stem cells using a co-axial nozzle
Uploaded: 2015-07-02T10:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Alginate Encapsulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Co-axial Nozzle at JoVE.com

This research was supported by the S-Innovation project of the Japan Science and technology Agency (JST), the Graduate Program for Leaders in Life Innovation (GPLLI) of the University of Tokyo, and the Research Fellowship for Young Scientists of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. We thank nac Image Technology Inc. for taking movies using a hi-speed camera.

1. Preparing Materials
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 10 mM HEPES buffer. Adjust the pH to 7.0 at RT and add NaCl to 0.9%.</li>
	<li>Prepare 5% alginate solution and 10 mM EDTA solution by mixing HEPES-buffered saline prepared in 1.1. Adjust the pH to 7.0 at RT.</li>
	<li>Autoclave the reagents (1.1, 1.2) for 20 min at 121 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare gelatin-coated 60 mm dishes layered with 1.2 &#8722; 2.0 &#215; 106 mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells, which are treated as feeder cells by incubation within DMEM contai...

<ol>
	<li>Zweigerdt, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Large+scale+production+of+stem+cells+and+their+derivatives.">Large scale production of stem cells and their derivatives.</a> Adv. Biochem. Eng. Biotechnol. 114, 201-235 (2009).</li><li>Chen, A., Chen, X., Choo, A. B. H., Reuveny, S., Oh, S. K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Critical+microcarrier+properties+affecting+the+expansion+of+undifferentiated+human+embryonic+stem+cells.">Critical microcarrier properties affecting the expansion of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells.</a> Stem cell Res. 7 (2), 97-111 (2011).</li><li>Schroeder, 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=Differentiation+and+lineage+selection+of+mouse+embryonic+stem+cells+in+a+stirred+bench+scale+bioreactor+with+automated+process+control.">Differentiation and lineage selection of mouse embryonic stem cells in a stirred bench scale bioreactor with automated process control.</a> Biotechnol. Bioeng. 92 (7), 920-933 (2005).</li><li>Leung, H. W., Chen, A., Choo, A. B. H., Reuveny, S., Oh, S. K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Agitation+can+induce+differentiation+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cells+in+microcarrier+cultures.">Agitation can induce differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in microcarrier cultures.</a> Tissue Eng. Part C. 17 (2), 165-172 (2011).</li><li>Dang, S. M., Gerecht-Nir, S., Chen, J., Itskovitz-Eldor, J., Zandstra, P. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controlled,+scalable+embryonic+stem+cell+differentiation+culture.">Controlled, scalable embryonic stem cell differentiation culture.</a> Stem Cells. 22 (3), 275-282 (2004).</li><li>Weber, L. M., He, J., Haskins, K., Anseth, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PEG-based+hydrogels+as+an+in+vitro+encapsulation+platform+for+testing+controlled+for+testing+controlled+&#223;-cell+microenvironments.">PEG-based hydrogels as an in vitro encapsulation platform for testing controlled for testing controlled &#223;-cell microenvironments.</a> Acta Biomater. 2 (1), 1-8 (2006).</li><li>Horiguchi, I., Chowdhury, M. M., Sakai, Y., Tabata, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Proliferation,+morphology,+and+pluripotency+of+mouse+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells+in+three+different+types+of+alginate+beads+for+mass+production.">Proliferation, morphology, and pluripotency of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells in three different types of alginate beads for mass production.</a> Biotechnol. Prog. 30 (4), 896-904 (2014).</li><li>Rahman, N., Purpura, K. A., Wylie, R. G., Zandstra, P. W., Shoichet, M. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+use+of+vascular+endothelial+growth+factor+functionalized+agarose+to+guide+pluripotent+stem+cell+aggregates+toward+blood+progenitor+cells.">The use of vascular endothelial growth factor functionalized agarose to guide pluripotent stem cell aggregates toward blood progenitor cells.</a> Biomaterials. 31 (32), 8262-8270 (2010).</li><li>Siti-Ismail, N., Bishop, A. E., Polak, J. M., Mantalaris, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+benefit+of+human+embryonic+stem+cell+encapsulation+for+prolonged+feeder-free+maintenance.">The benefit of human embryonic stem cell encapsulation for prolonged feeder-free maintenance.</a> Biomaterials. 29, 3946-3952 (2008).</li><li>Magyer, J. P., Nemir, M., Ehler, E., Suter, N., Perriard, J., Eppenberger, H. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mass+Production+of+Embryoid+Bodies+in+Microbeads.">Mass Production of Embryoid Bodies in Microbeads.</a> Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 944, 135-143 (2001).</li><li>Xu, J., Li, S., Tan, J., Luo, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controllable+Preparation+of+Monodispersed+Calcium+Alginate+Microbeads+in+a+Novel+Microfluidic+System.">Controllable Preparation of Monodispersed Calcium Alginate Microbeads in a Novel Microfluidic System.</a> Chem. Eng. Technol. 31 (8), 1223-1226 (2008).</li><li>Sakai, M. P., Y, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+Bioactive+Hydrogel+Capsules+for+The+3D+Expansion+of+Pluripotent+Stem+Cells+in+Bioreactors.">Development of Bioactive Hydrogel Capsules for The 3D Expansion of Pluripotent Stem Cells in Bioreactors.</a> Biomater. Sci. 2 (176), 176-183 (2014).</li><li>Chowdhury, M. M., Katsuda, T., Montagne, K., Kimura, H., Kojima, N., Akutsu, H., Ochiya, T., Fujii, T., Sakai, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enhanced+effects+of+secreted+soluble+factor+preserve+better+pluripotent+state+of+embry-+onic+stem+cell+culture+in+a+membrane-based+compartmentalized+micro-bioreactor.">Enhanced effects of secreted soluble factor preserve better pluripotent state of embry- onic stem cell culture in a membrane-based compartmentalized micro-bioreactor.</a> Biomed. Microdevices. 12 (6), 1097-1105 (2010).</li><li>Chowdhury, M. M., Kimura, H., Fujii, T., Sakai, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induction+of+alternative+fate+other+than+default+neuronal+fate+of+embryonic+stem+cells+in+a+membrane-based+two-chambered+micro-+bioreactor+by+cell-secreted+BMP4.">Induction of alternative fate other than default neuronal fate of embryonic stem cells in a membrane-based two-chambered micro- bioreactor by cell-secreted BMP4.</a> Biomicrofluidics. 6 (1), 14117-14117-13 (2012).</li></ol>

Encapsulation culture can be compared with direct suspension cultures. Suspension culture is a simpler method to obtain large quantities of pluripotent stem cells than encapsulation methods. However, controlling the aggregation of cells in suspension culture is still challenging. In encapsulation method, cellular aggregation is limited in capsules and can therefore be well controlled. A previous publication showed that encapsulated cells formed aggregates of uniform size, whereas large cell clumps appeared in a free-susp...

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are currently the source of intense research due to their role in regenerative medicine. However, huge amounts of cells are required for tissue regeneration. For instance approximately one billion pancreatic cells required for a type 1 diabetic patient1. However, conventional dish culture is only able to obtain 1 &#215; 105 cells/cm2, thus requiring 1 m2 of culture area to obtain enough stem cell-derived pancreatic cells to treat a type 1 diabetic patient. The development of a system for the mass-culture of pluripotent stem cells, such as microcarrier2 and suspension culture is therefore required for regenerative medicine. Suspension culture represents a promising method of mass culture but controlling the aggregation of cells is challenging in direct suspension cultures of human iPS cells3. Indeed, suspended cells are exposed to shear stress, which causes cell damage3 or differentiation4.
Research into hydrogel-based encapsulation has been conducted to solve problems associated with suspension culture. In hydrogel capsules, cells are protected from the flow of the medium. Previous reports have documented the use of various types of hydrogel, including agarose5, PEG6, and alginate (Alg), for cellular encapsulation. Alg-Ca hydrogel is one of the most useful hydrogels for cell encapsulation because Alg&#8722;Ca hydrogel is formed immediately after dropping alginate solution into a CaCl2 solution and is also readily digested by enzymes or chelating reagents. 
Here, we have established a stable alginate encapsulation process for iPS cells using a co-axial nozzle. By using N2 gas flow for forming droplets, it is possible to encapsulate cells into uniform capsules without the need for other reagents such as oil. In this method, the flow rate of N2 and concentration of both CaCl2 and alginate are the major operating conditions affecting the size, shape, and uniformity of capsules. This report demonstrates the optimization of these operating conditions through the use of a hi-speed camera and a microscope.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse embryo fibroblast</td>
			<td>Cell Biolabs</td>
			<td>SNL 76/7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse induced pluripotent stem cell</td>
			<td>RIKEN Bio resorce centre</td>
			<td>iPS-MEF-Ng-20D-17</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM high-glucose</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>11995</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ES qualified&#160; FBS</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>16141079</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibacterial Antibiotics</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>15240</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nonessential Amino Acid</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>11140</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>21985-023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ESGRO Leukemia Inhibitory Factor</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>ESG1107</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin/EDTA</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>25300</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26G/16G needle</td>
			<td>Hoshiseido</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL Syringe</td>
			<td>TERUMO</td>
			<td>SS-10ESZ</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium&#160; Chloride</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>191-01665</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>H4034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Alginate</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>194-09955</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Calcium Chloride</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>039-00475</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly-L-lysine (Mw=15,000-30,000)</td>
			<td>SIGMA</td>
			<td>P7890</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EDTA</td>
			<td>DOJINDO</td>
			<td>345-01865</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sylinge pump</td>
			<td>AS ONE</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>IX71</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>DM IRB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hispeed camera</td>
			<td>nac image technology</td>
			<td>Memrecam HX-3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

alginate encapsulation of pluripotent stem cells using a co-axial nozzle

Pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) are the focus of intense research due to their role in regenerative medicine and drug screening. However, the development of a mass culture system would be required for using PS cells in these applications. Suspension culture is one promising culture method for the mass production of PS cells, although some issues such as controlling aggregation and limiting shear stress from the culture medium are still unsolved. In order to solve these problems, we developed a method of calcium alginate (Alg-Ca) encapsulation using a co-axial nozzle. This method can control the size of the capsules easily by co-flowing N2 gas. The controllable capsule diameter must be larger than 500 &#181;m because too high a flow rate of N2 gas causes the breakdown of droplets and thus heterogeneous-sized capsules. Moreover, a low concentration of Alg-Na and CaCl2 causes non-spherical capsules. Although an Alg-Ca capsule without a coating of Alg-PLL easily dissolves enabling the collection of cells, they can also potentially leak out from capsules lacking an Alg-PLL coating. Indeed, an alginate-PLL coating can prevent cellular leakage but is also hard to break. This technology can be used to research the stem cell niche as well as the mass production of PS cells because encapsulation can modify the micro-environment surrounding cells including the extracellular matrix and the concentration of secreted factors.

At protocol 2.5, the expelled alginate solution forms a spherical shape immediately after expulsion (Figure 2A &#8211; H). If the suspension is expelled with a N2 flow rate lower than 1L/min, the size of the droplets is uniform (Figure 2I). However, if the N2 flow is higher than 1L/min, the droplet breaks down (Figure 2G, white arrowed) and the size of the droplets becomes heterogeneous (Figure 2J). Given this, it is difficult to pr...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Alginate Encapsulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Co-axial Nozzle at JoVE.com

Alginate Encapsulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Co-axial Nozzle

We established a method of encapsulating pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) into alginate hydrogel capsules using a co-axial nozzle. This prevents cells from aggregating excessively and limits the shear stress experienced by cells in suspension culture. The technique is applicable to the mass production of PS cells as well as research on stem cell niche.

Pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) are the focus of intense research due to their role in regenerative medicine and drug screening.  However, the ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Frozen Buffy Coats using Non-integrating Episomal Plasmids

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by forcing the expression of four transcription factors (Oct-4, Sox-2, ...

Differentiation of Atrial Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Stem Cells Using the BMP Antagonist Grem2

Protocols for generating populations of cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been developed, but these generally yield cells of mixed ...

Large-Scale Production of Cardiomyocytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Highly Reproducible Small Molecule-Based Differentiation Protocol

Maximizing the benefit of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for research, disease modeling, pharmaceutical and clinical applications requires robust ...

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from mouse and human somatic cells by forced expression of defined transcription factors using ...

Generation of Integration-free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Using Episomal Vectors

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for disease modeling and regenerative therapies. We previously reported the use of Episomal ...

Horizontal Whole Mount: A Novel Processing and Imaging Protocol for Thick, Three-dimensional Tissue Cross-sections of Skin

Processing a tissue of interest to generate a microscopic image that supports a scientific argument can be challenging. The acquisition of high-quality ...

Integration Free Derivation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Laminin 521 Matrix

Xeno-free and fully defined conditions are key parameters for robust and reproducible generation of homogenous human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) ...

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocyte-like Cells for Drug Discovery

The ability to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) provides new opportunities to study inborn ...

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is mostly caused by low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mutations and results in an increased risk of early-onset ...

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...