Multi-functional particles for stem cell isolation and expansion

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this STTR Phase I proposal is to develop novel multi-layer microparticles and demonstrate their feasibility to isolate and expand stem cells for medical research and therapeutic applications. In recentyears, stem cells have been used in a wide variety of applications, including cell- based therapies, drug screening, and models to understand the disease development. Unfortunately, many of these applications require large number of stem cells which cannotbe produced by most of the current cell isolation and culture methods. The limitations of the current methods include the use of harmful chemicals and enzymes for cell isolation and expansion, and harsh shear forces from centrifugation during cell passaging process. To overcome these drawbacks, we will develop novel multi-layer microparticles that allow stem cell isolation via magnetic separation, cell attachment using a temperature-sensitive mechanism that binds cells at 370C, cell expansion via 3-D