In Vitro and In Vivo Osteogenesis of Human Embryonic Stem cells with 3-D Porous PLGA Scaffold

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of human embryonic stem cells (hES) in two- and three- dimensional (2D and 3D) culture systems. The H1 line was cultured and kept pluripotent. Following 5 days of embryoid body (EB) culture, EB-derived single cells were seeded in 3D PLGA scaffolds or 2D culture dishes with same cell number. Osteogenic differentiation was induced. Three weeks later, quantitative and qualitative assessments of osteogenesis were conducted. Osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase secretion were detected higher in 3D culture compared with 2D system. Subsequently, the cell-scaffold constructs were implanted in the defects of iliac crests of immunosuppressed rabbits and kept for 4 weeks. Bone formation was found within scaffolds. These data therefore demonstrate that 3D culture system is more advantageous than 2D environment for differentiation of hES cells, and hES cells may provide a source for treatment of bone diseases.