Neurosphere formation, differentiation, and migration of human neural stem cells

Having an easy-to-use, reproducible neurosphere culture and analysis method for studying hNSC proliferation, migration, and neurotoxicity greatly enables their use for drug discovery and cell therapy applications. In this study, Corning spheroid microplates were used for neurosphere formation, proliferation, and migration of hNSCs in an easy-to-use format that is amenable to high throughput screening. The spheroid microplates were used for neurosphere culture of hNSCs over the course of 96 hours, throughout which multipotency was maintained as assessed through Nestin and SOX2 marker expression, followed by subsequent harvesting of neurospheres for differentiation into neuronal, astrocytic, and oligodendrocytic lineages.