Microporous membrane growth substrates for embryonic stem cell culture and differentiation.

As the field of embryonic stem cell culture and differentiation advances, many diverse culturing techniques will ultimately be necessary in order to fully reproduce the various environments these cells normally encounter during development. Although most of the work to date has been performed on solid plastic supports, this growth support has several limitations in its representation of the in vivo environment. Impermeable substrates force the cells to exchange their gas and nutrients exclusively through the top side of the cultured cells. In contrast, cells growing in vivo are exposed from several directions to factors from the blood, other cells, soluble factors, and liquid-air interfaces. Additionally, solid plastic presents a smooth two-dimensional surface that is not experienced in vivo. Therefore, the use of traditional plastic presents limitations upon normal cellular morphology, function, and differentiation. An important alternative to growth on solid plastic is the growth of cells on microporous membranes. One of the many advantages to cell growth on porous membrane substrates is their ability to provide a surface that better mimics a three-dimensional in vivo setting. A porous membrane allows multidirectional exposure to nutrients and waste products. In addition, the membrane separation of dual chambers allows for the coculture of cells of different origin to study how cells interact through indirect signaling or through providing a conditioned niche for the proper growth and differentiation of cell types.