High-throughput cell aggregate culture for stem cell chondrogenesis.

Cell aggregate culture is a widely used, reliable system for promoting chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells. A high-throughput cell pellet culture enables screening of various soluble factors for their effects on stem cell function and chondrogenesis. In this protocol, we report a platform that allows the formation of stem cell aggregates in a 96-well plate format. Specifically, stem cells are centrifuged to form high-density pellets, mimicking mesenchymal condensation. The cell aggregates can be differentiated into chondrocytes when cultured in chondrogenic medium for 4 weeks. Such a technique is compatible for high-throughput screening and can be very useful for optimizing conditions for cartilage tissue engineering.