Three-dimentional differentiation of human IPS cells through core-shell hydrogel microfiber

It is expected that induced pluripotent stem(iPS) cells contribute regenerative medicine. To reconstruct organ-like structure and function in vitro, the technological development of formation of three dimensional(3D) iPS cell culture and differentiation system has been required. Recently core-shell hydrogel microfiber system was reported in which cells were cultured with forming fibrous structure in extracellular matrix(ECM) rich environment. The core-shell microfibers provide us to easily handle the three dimensionally cultured cell aggregations to form complex structure. Here we show that iPS cells fabricated in the core-shell microfibers (iPSC fibers) maintained the pluripotency and specifically differentiated by stimulations mimicking early embryogenesis. The finding suggest a new concept of regenerative medicine by the cell fiber technology.