Scale-down optimization of a robust, parallelizable human induced pluripotent stem cell bioprocess for high-throughput research

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived therapeutics require clinically relevant quantities of high-quality cell populations for applications in regenerative medicine. The lack of efficacy exhibited across clinical trials suggests deeper understanding of the networks governing phenotype is needed. Further, costs limit study throughput in characterizing the artificial niche relative to outcomes. We present herein an optimized strategy to enable high-throughput hiPSC expansion at <20 mL research scale. We assessed viability of single cell inoculation and aggregate preformation to facilitate proliferation. We modeled aggregate characteristics against agitation rate. Our results demonstrate tunable control with fold expansion comparable to commercial systems. Marker quantification and teratoma assay confirm functional pluripotency. This approach constitutes a scalable protocol to accelerate hiPSC research, and a significant step in advancing the rate of progress in elucidating links to derivative functionality. This work will enable statistically rigorous studies targeting hiPSC and downstream phenotype for clinical manufacturing.