iPSC Differentiation Services

Overview Service Features FAQs Scientific Resources Related Services

Creative Biolabs is dedicated to providing several viable and cost-effective methods for pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) differentiation. With our well established iPSC technology platform, we have the capability to generate iPSC from patient material, either normal or diseased. A variety of cell types can be generated from these iPSCs, such as neuronal cells, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes.

Neuronal Cells Differentiation from iPSC

Due to the limited availability of living human brain tissue, the development in elucidating the molecular and cellular pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders has been hindered impeded. However, the discovery of iPSCs has offered the opportunity to study the physiology of living human neurons derived from individual patients. Until now, a variety of approaches have been developed for producing iPSC-derived neurons and many are available in creative biolabs showing as follows.

A most generally used method: neural induction through embryoid body (EB) formation.
An extensively implemented method: inhibition of the transforming growth factor-β/SMAD signaling pathway via Noggin and SB431542.
A novel approach: using forced expression of neurogenin-2 (NGN2) with puromycin selection to produce extremely pure networks of glutamatergic neurons from human embryonic stem cells and iPSCs.
Method for generate three-dimensional neural cultures: using cerebral organoids cultured in a spinning bioreactor, cortical spheroids in freefloating conditions or three-dimensional matrigel culture.
In vivo differentiation method: generating neural stem cells (NSCs) from iPSCs via chimera formation, in an in vivo environment

Fig 1. Generation and characterization of NPCs and neuronal networks from iPSCs. ( Gunhanlar, N., 2017)

Hepatocytes Differentiation from iPSC

Generation hepatocytes derived from iPSC is an important source for potential therapeutic application in human liver diseases, it also allows the understanding of inherited liver diseases through offering cell-based pathophysiological models in vitro. Besides, iPSCs derived from individual patients with a variety of monogenic liver diseases have been revealed to reflect many aspects of the pathologic phenotype of patients, also they are able to potentially offer deeper insights of disease processes and expose novel therapeutic targets. In mammalian embryos, the ventral foregut endoderm is the tissue from which the liver originates. Therefore, differentiation of hepatocytes from iPSC mainly includes three steps:

The initial step is generating with the phenotype of definitive endoderm. Essential requirement for this step is exposure to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily members activin A and bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4).
The next step of hepatocyte production is the developmental induction of hepatic progenitor cells or hepatoblasts from the definitive endoderm. This progress is performed via adding specific growth factors, of which hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is considered to be the most important.
The last step of the process is the induction of hepatocyte maturation. This is able to achieve by adding oncostatin M (OSM), an interleukin-6 family cytokine, in combination with glucocorticoids to the cell culture medium.
Fig 2. Generation of iPSCs and differentiation to hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps). (Sauer, V., 2014)

Cardiomyocytes Differentiation from iPSC

iPSCs have great replicative ability and demonstrated potential to form functional cardiomyocytes (CMs). These CMs stand for a promising source for cell replacement therapy to treat heart disease, and they may act as a potent tool for drug discovery and disease modeling. Until now, a variety of approaches have been developed for producing iPSC-derived CMs and many are available in creative biolabs showing as follows.

Embryoid Body-mediated Differentiation: Cultured mouse pluripotent cells comprising embryonal carcinoma cells (mECCs) and embryonic stem cells (mESCs) offered the first opportunities to develop approaches for in vitro differentiation of pluripotent cells to CMs.
Monolayer Differentiation to CMs: This differentiation method starts with cells grown as monolayers. Using a relatively uniform monolayer of cells without the complex diffusional barriers present in EBs, application of growth factors and other interventions will be more readily controlled and reproducible.
Inductive co-culture: Derivation of CMs from hPSC by co-culture with visceral endodermal-like cells is particularly effective for hESC and hiPSC being passaged mechanically.

Fig 3. Current methods for cardiac differentiation of human iPSC. (Mummery, C. L., 2012)

Other Types of Cell

With professional scientists devoted themselves in iPSC differentiation, Creative Biolabs is dedicated to providing the first class differentiation services of iPSC for our customers. Please contact us for more information and a detailed quote.

Features of Our Services

Our company offers a range of exceptional iPSC differentiation services, and cutting-edge solutions for various research and therapeutic applications. Here are the highlights of our services:

High-quality iPSCs - We start with high-quality iPSCs sourced from reputable donors or generated from our clients' own cell lines. Our rigorous quality control ensures the integrity and pluripotency of the iPSCs, laying a solid foundation for successful differentiation.
Customized differentiation protocols – We offer tailored differentiation protocols based on our clients' specific needs and desired cell types. Whether it's neurons, cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, or any other cell lineage, our team of experts designs protocols optimized for efficiency and reproducibility.
Advanced differentiation technologies - Leveraging state-of-the-art techniques and technologies, we employ a variety of differentiation methods such as small molecules, growth factors, and gene editing tools to efficiently direct iPSCs towards desired lineages. This allows for precise control over the differentiation process, resulting in pure and functional cell populations.
Scalability and flexibility - Whether our clients require small-scale proof-of-concept experiments or large-scale production of differentiated cells for downstream applications, our services are scalable to meet their needs. We offer flexible service packages tailored to different project scopes and timelines.

Overall, our iPSC differentiation services offer a reliable and efficient solution for researchers and biotech companies seeking high-quality differentiated cells for basic research, drug discovery, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine applications.

FAQs

Q: Can you handle high throughput projects requiring iPSC differentiation? Is it possible to scale out the number of differentiated cells based on my research needs?
A: Yes, we have optimized our protocols and workflows to accommodate high-volume batches without compromising on the quality of cells differentiated. We can scale up the differentiation process to produce the required number of cells for your research purposes. We have adequate facilities to cater to both small-scale and large-scale projects.
Q: Do you offer consulting services to help with experimental design for iPSC differentiation studies?
A: Absolutely, we provide consulting services to assist with experimental design for iPSC differentiation studies. Our team of experts can offer guidance on protocol selection, optimization strategies, and troubleshooting to help you achieve your research objectives.
Q: Do you offer troubleshooting or technical support if issues arise post-delivery of differentiated cells?
A: Yes, we provide full customer support if issues arise once you've received the cells. Our technical team can assist with any problems or queries you may have regarding the differentiated cells.
Q: Do you conduct any functional tests on the cells?
A: Yes, we perform a range of functional tests to ensure that the cells are active and are demonstrating the appropriate characteristics of the desired cell type. The nature of the tests varies depending on the specific cell type.
Q: How do you package and ship the differentiated cells?
A: We ensure that differentiated cells are packaged and shipped under conditions that maintain their viability and functionality. The shipping conditions are subject to the specific requirements of the cells.
Q: How do I get started with utilizing your iPSC differentiation services?
A: Getting started is simple. Just reach out to our team to discuss your experimental needs and objectives. From there, we can provide you with detailed information on our services, pricing, and how to initiate your project with us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Scientific Resources

iPSC Differentiation

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References

Gunhanlar, N., (2017). “A simplified protocol for differentiation of electrophysiologically mature neuronal networks from human induced pluripotent stem cells.” Molecular psychiatry.
Sauer, V., (2014). “Induced pluripotent stem cells as a source of hepatocytes.” Current pathobiology reports, 2(1), 11-20.
Mummery, C. L., (2012). “Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to cardiomyocytes: a methods overview.” Circulation research, 111(3), 344-358.

For Research Use Only. Not For Clinical Use.