A Novel Synthetic, Xeno‐Free Biomimetic Surface for Serum‐Free Expansion of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Abstract

Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) have enormous potential for the treatment of various inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Their manufacturing for cell‐based therapies requires extensive ex vivo expansion and optimal growth conditions. To support cell adhesion, spreading, and growth in serum‐free culture conditions, the applied plasticware needs to be functionalized with essential biochemical cues. By employing a recently developed screening tool, a chemically defined functional matrix composed of dextran sulfate and a bone‐related extracellular matrix peptide is identified, which supports long‐term culture of bone marrow‐derived hMSCs in serum‐free culture conditions. Cells grown under these conditions display rapid proliferation and high viability while maintaining their differentiation and immunomodulatory capacity, characteristic cell morphology, expression of hMSC‐specific surface antigens as well as important markers of stemness and differentiation potential. The chemically defined, serum‐free culture environment enables reliable and reproducible expansion of hMSCs important for cell based‐therapies, drug screening, and disease modeling.