Optimization of capacity and cost of ex-vivo expansion using bioreactors to facilitate commercialization of MSC as ATMP

Bioreactor system
Perfusion bioreactor is used to evaluate the effect of fluid flow stimuli on BMSC fate and growth.
The fate and growth of mesenchymal stem cells are regulated not only by bioactive molecules but mechanical stimuli. A number of bioreactor systems that create dynamic cell culture environment have been developed by aiming at improving cell growth and targeted differentiation.
In the project, a custom-designed perfusion bioreactor has been utilized to evaluate the effect of fluid stimuli on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) fate and growth on 3D polymeric scaffolds.
Even under the effect of sub-physiological level of fluid stimuli, we found that the formation of filamentous actin of BMSC was highly enhanced, which was associated with decreased cell proliferation.
Contrarily, fluid flow stimuli induced the initiation of osteogenic differentiation confirmed by multiple assays including mRNA expression of osteogenic markers and collagen matrix formation.
Accessment of cell morphology and proliferation
Under the effect of fluid flow, BMSC exhibited enhanced filamentous actin formation and reduced cell proliferation in a flow-magnitude manner. FL-L and FL-H refer to fluid flow that exert up to 7 mPa and 14 mPa shear stress to BMSC on the scaffolds.
Altered expression of osteogenic markers under fluid flow stimuli
The expression of osteogenic markers were significantly unregulated by fluid flow stimuli.
This findings open the possibility of preconditioning BMSC to be of more osteogenic phenotype by aiming at improving regenerative efficiency after cell transplantation therapy.
Current projects also include the investigation of mechanotransduction related to flow-inducing osteogenesis, further optimization of ideal flow magnitude for osteoinduction and developing next generation bioreactor systems.
Reference
Shuntaro Yamada, Mohammed Ahmed Yassin, Thomas Schwarz, Jan Hansmann, Kamal Mustafa. Induction of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells on 3D polyester-based scaffolds solely by subphysiological fluidic stimulation in a laminar flow bioreactor. J Tissue Eng (2021)
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