The importance of providing a physiologically
relevant environment
for cell culture is well recognized. The combination of proper environmental
cues which are provided in vivo by the bloodstream
and extracellular matrix must be reproduced to properly examine cell
response in vitro, and cannot be recapitulated using
traditional culture on polystyrene. Here, we have developed a device,
the dynamic stem cell culture platform (DSCCP), consisting of a biomimetic
scaffold cultured within the dynamic environment of a perfusion bioreactor.
By varying scaffold parameters including stiffness and protein inclusion
at the material surface, we found that human mesenchymal stem cells
(hMSCs) were able to adhere to modified substrates, while still maintaining
multipotency. Culture in a perfusion bioreactor showed cell survival
and proliferation, particularly on modified substrates. The DSCCP
represents a complete platform for cell adhesion and subsequent evaluation,
including the response of a cell population to drug treatment.