Advances and perspectives in human and mouse embryonic stem cell bioprocessing

In recent years, there has been good progress made particularly in technologies for automated processing, expansion and differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and to a smaller extent for human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Quality control assays have been developed for hESC through the International Stem Cell Initiative. However, there are still some significant technological gaps that have to be bridged in the areas of monitoring or imaging, expansion, differentiation, purification and cryopreservation of hESC. The building and integration of this train of bioprocess capabilities will accelerate the commercialization of these pluripotent cells as therapeutics.

Section editor:Peter Sartipy – Cellartis AB, Göteborg, Sweden