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Abstract
The use of stem cells for clinical applications has increased as biomedical researchers develop cell-based therapeutic approaches for use in tissue regeneration and/or the treatment of medical conditions such as diabetes or other diseases. Large numbers of stem cells are required as research progresses from the laboratory to clinical trials and on to subsequent industrial scale-up for large-scale manufacturing for distribution. There are a wide range of bioreactors available on the market for anchorage-dependent stem cell expansion, however, to increase accessibility and affordability of cell therapies, it is critical to consider the bioprocesses associated with culturing to support cell expansion and quality. In this work, we aimed to design a low-cost bioreactor system for as mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) expansion that yields clinically relevant numbers of cells with reduced labor, while maintaining cell potency and immunomodulatory capabilities essential for successful clinical application.