Heparan Sulfate-Collagen Surface Multilayers Support Serum-Free Microcarrier Culture of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

The increasing cost of high-volume cultures and dependence on serum and growth factor supplementation limit the affordability of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies. This has spurred interest in developing strategies that support adherent cell expansion while reducing raw material costs. Culture surfaces coated with sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), specifically heparan sulfate (HS), are an alternative to prolong growth factor retention in cell cultures.

Heparin-collagen I bilayers stimulate FAK/ERK½ signaling via α2β1 integrin to support the growth and anti-inflammatory potency of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Understanding mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) growth mechanisms in response to surface chemistries is essential to optimize culture methods for high-quality and robust cell yields in cell manufacturing applications. Heparin (HEP) and collagen 1 (COL) substrates have been reported to enhance cell adhesion, growth, viability, and secretory potential in MSCs. However, the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of combined HEP/COL substrates are unknown.

Heparin/collagen surface coatings modulate the growth, secretome, and morphology of human mesenchymal stromal cell response to interferon-gamma.

The therapeutic potential of human mesenchymal stromal cells (h-MSC) is dependent on the viability and secretory capacity of cells both modulated by the culture environment. Our previous studies introduced heparin and collagen I (HEP/COL) alternating stacked layers as a potential substrate to enhance the secretion of immunosuppressive factors of h-MSCs. Herein, we examined the impact of HEP/COL multilayers on the growth, morphology, and secretome of bone marrow and adipose-derived h-MSCs.