Intact-Cell Mass Spectrometry for Monitoring of Stem Cells Cultures

User Benefits

- Uncover hidden unfavorable changes within the cell ahead of microscope. - Unbiased, feasible and time-efficient approach for monitoring cell cultures. - Quick method using bench-top MALDI-TOF MS and statistical software

Introduction

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a simple and quick analytical method to obtain qualitative and quantitative information from diverse types of samples. Intact cell MALDI-TOF MS provides spectral information generated from eukaryotic cells spotted directly on the target plate without preceding lysis, fractionation or separation of particular molecular species or biomolecules. Here, we demonstrate a novel application of MALDI-TOF MS in quality control and monitoring of routine stem cell cultures. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are promising tools for cell therapy, bio-industry or drug development. However, long-term cultured hESCs inevitably develop unwanted and potentially hazardous changes in phenotype, that may prevent safe application. These changes remain unnoticed if cell morphology is not altered, or in case of genetically or karyotypically silent changes that appear over time in long-term cell cultures. hESCs differentiation to clinically relevant cell types is a gradual process, from immature stages to the final phenotype. However, the substantial heterogeneity in the complex differentiation process produces cells with unwanted properties, such as lack of functional phenotype, or propensity to cancer growth. Intact cell MALDI-TOF MS allows feasible and unbiased discrimination between normal and aberrant hESCs.

September 24, 2021 GMT