Stem cell aggregate suspension compositions and methods of differentiation thereof

1. A method of generating hES-derived cell aggregates in suspension, comprising:

(a) providing a culture of undifferentiated adherent hES cells;

(b) disassociating the adherent hES cell culture of step (a) into a hES single cell suspension;

(c) seeding the hES single cell suspension in a defined culture medium that supports undifferentiated growth of the hES cells, thereby forming a hES single cell suspension culture;

(d) agitating the hES single cell suspension culture at low shear, wherein the hES single cells in the suspension form substantially uniform hES cell aggregates; and

(e) contacting the hES cell aggregates in suspension with a differentiating culture condition wherein hES cell aggregates in suspension form hES-derived cell aggregates in suspension,

thereby generating hES-derived cell aggregates in suspension.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hES single cell suspension culture is agitated for at least 30 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hES single cell suspension culture is agitated by orbital rotation of the hES single cell suspension culture at 80 rpm to 160 rpm.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hES single cell suspension culture is agitated by orbital rotation of the hES single cell suspension culture at 100 rpm to 140 rpm.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of hES-derived cell aggregates are produced in suspension and the diameters of the hES-derived cell aggregates in suspension are essentially uniform in size and shape.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subsequent to the step of contacting with the differentiating culture condition, an additional step of selecting or purifying a desired hES-derived cell aggregate by use of one or more selectable markers or agents.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the selectable marker or agent is selected from the group consisting of CD30, CD49a, CD49e, CD55, CD98, CD99, CD142, CD165, CD200, CD318, CD334 and CD340.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the additional step of selecting or purifying of the desired hES-derived cell aggregate is by use of cell-sorting.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding to the hES single cell suspension culture an agent that promotes cell survival, wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of Y-27632, fasudil, H-1152P, and a mixture of insulin/transferrin/selenium (ITS).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the culture of undifferentiated adherent hES cells is devoid of substrate or matrix selected from the group consisting of extracellular matrix, extracellular matrix protein and human or mouse feeder layer.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the culture of undifferentiated adherent hES cells is xeno-free, matrix-free and feeder-free.