%0 Journal Article %A Keller, Kevin C. %A Rodrigues, Beatriz %A zur Nieden, Nicole I. %D 2014 %I Begell House %K embryonic stem cells, suspension culture, bioreactor, embryoid body, cell aggregate, osteogenesis %N 1 %P 1-13 %R 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2013007558 %T Suspension Culture of Pluripotent Stem Cells: Effect of Shear on Stem Cell Fate %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/6dbf508d3b17c437,75feda1245856cd3,1ee802b030786e15.html %V 24 %X Despite significant promise, the routine usage of suspension cell culture to manufacture stem cell−derived differentiated cells has progressed slowly. Suspension culture is an innovative way of either expanding or differentiating cells and sometimes both are combined into a single bioprocess. Its advantages over static 2D culturing include a homogeneous and controllable culture environment and producing a large quantity of cells in a fraction of time. This feature makes suspension cell culture ideal for use in stem cell research and eventually ideal in the large-scale production of differentiated cells for regenerative medicine. Because of their tremendous differentiation capacities and unlimited growth properties, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in particular are considered potential sources for future cell-replacement therapies. Currently, expansion of PSCs is accomplished in 2D, which only permits a limited amount of cell growth per culture flask before cells need to be passaged. However, before stem cells can be applied clinically, several aspects of their expansion, such as directed growth, but also differentiation, need to be better controlled. This review will summarize recent advantages in suspension culture of PSCs, while at the same time highlighting current challenges. %8 2014-02-19