The 3D Culture Technology for Fabrication of Stem Cell-based Biosystem

This chapter introduces various commonly synthetic and natural polymers and their unique properties. The combination of multiple types of scaffolds, microfabrication technologies, and types of stem cells have shown their potential applications in developing a 3D in vitro culture system for regulating the survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of stem cells. Recently, continuous advancements in technology have improved the limitation of the 2D stem cell culture system. Microsphere-based scaffolds are 3D culture environments that offer a high surface-to-volume ratio for shortening the cell expansion process and growing. Stem cells cultured with biomaterials is one of the most important and essential methods in medicine and cell biology. The chapter discusses synthetic and natural polymers, such as polyethylene glycol, Pluronic F-127, gellan gum, aloe vera, glycosyl-nucleoside-amphiphiles, and pullulan for the fabrication of 3D stem cell culture systems and the regulation of stem cell behaviors.