Improved Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Attachment and Spreading on Xeno-Free Laminin-521-Coated Microcarriers Results in Efficient Growth in Agitated Cultures

This study compares the use of laminin-521 (LN521) and laminin-111 (LN111) coatings for microcarriers (MCs) in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) cultures. It demonstrates that LN521-coated MCs outperform LN111 by supporting more efficient cell attachment, spreading, and growth in agitated cultures without requiring additional coatings, like poly-l-lysine. LN521 also avoids the pre-aggregation issues seen with LN111, allowing for stable cell aggregates and higher yields. The system enables long-term hESC propagation, tri-lineage differentiation, and cardiomyocyte formation, making it scalable and suitable for clinical applications, with a 34% cost savings over traditional methods.