Direct synthesis of self-organized blastocyst-like cysts derived from human pluripotent stem cells

We introduce a simple, robust and scalable method to generate self-organized blastocyst-like cysts (soBLCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We use a copolymer hydrogel of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PNIPAAm-PEG). hPSC aggregates with a diameter of approximately 117.2 {+/-} 5.1 {micro}m are cultured in a medium supplemented with a hydrogel and a serum for three days. Molecular signatures in the medium revealed the generation of trophoblasts and inner cell mass at specific positions in the soBLCs.