A spatially and chemically defined platform for the uniform growth of human pluripotent stem cells

We report the design of a chemically defined platform engineered for the culture of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) that supports the long-term maintenance of self-renewing hPSC populations in a more uniform manner than standard culture systems. Microcontact printing (μCP) of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was used to spatially direct hPSC adherence. This technique not only establishes control over hPSC colony size and shape but also preserves genetic stability and provides unprecedented uniformity in the pluripotency of hPSC populations that is quantitatively assessed in the present study.

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► hPSC culturing platform based on patterned self assembled monolayers
► Surface chemistry directed hPSC growth, establishing uniform colony size and shape
► Self-renewal and genetic stability of hPSC colonies preserved on patterned μCP SAMs
► Improved uniformity of self-renewing hPSC populations
► First demonstration of serial passaging from μCP patterned SAM interfaces