The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture method provides a physiological environment that is similar to the in vivo conditions. The spheroid culture method is a 3D cell-culture approach that facilitates aggregation and interaction of cells with other adjacent cells to establish a microenvironment in vitro. In this study, gelatin microparticles (GMPs) were introduced into spheroids to enhance stem cell proliferation and viability. GMPs with different sizes and numbers were prepared to investigate their corresponding effects on cell proliferation. To investigate the effect of surface charge on the properties of spheroids, positively and negatively charged GMPs were also prepared by conjugating poly-amino acids on the surfaces of the GMPs. GMPs were successfully incorporated into adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to form spheroids. The results revealed no cytotoxicity in all treatment groups. Spheroids combined with GMPs showed higher proliferation potential compared to cell spheroids alone, suggesting that GMP/cell spheroids can be used for efficient delivery of stem cells to defect sites without the need for surgery, thereby highlighting the potential use of GMP/cell spheroids for stem cell therapy.
Keywords: Gelatin microparticle; Stem cell spheroids; Three-dimensional culture.
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