Improved Production of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Dot Pattern Culture Plates

The rate of cell proliferation is a crucial factor in cell production under good manufacturing practice (GMP) control. In this study, we identified a culture system for induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) that supports cell proliferation and viability and maintains the cells in an undifferentiated state even at 8 days after seeding. This system involves the use of dot pattern culture plates that have been coated with a chemically defined scaffold which has high biocompatibility. Under cell starvation conditions, where medium exchange was not performed for 7 days or where the amount of medium exchange was reduced to half or a quarter, iPSC viability and lack of differentiation were maintained. The rate of cell viability in this culture system was greater than generally obtained by standard culture methods. The cells in this compartmentalized culture system could be induced to differentiate in a controlled and consistent manner: differentiation of endoderm occurred in a controlled and consistent manner: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm could be consistently induced to differentiate in the cultures. In conclusion, we have developed a culture system that supports high viability in iPSCs and allows their controlled differentiation. This system has the potential for use in GMP-based production of iPSCs for clinical purposes. IMPACT STATEMENT: Currently, the production of induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) for clinical use is manually performed in a clean room according to a protocol developed in academia. However, the standard protocol for iPSCs requires passage within 6 days. In the present study, we constricted the area in which cells attached on cell culture plates. We found that this change enabled iPSCs to be passaged at intervals of 7 days or longer. Such a change would greatly benefit the scheduling of commercial cell production.