Cell culture platform for single cell sorting and enhanced reprogramming of ipscs

A method of increasing the potency of a cell, the method comprising:

• contacting a cell with a culture medium comprising at least one small molecule agent to obtain a cell having increased potency as compared to the cell prior to contacting with the culture medium, wherein the small molecule agent is selected from the group consisting of:
• i) a TFGβ inhibitor;
• ii) a GSK3 inhibitor;
• iii) a MEK inhibitor, and
• iv) a Rock inhibitor.

A method of improving the efficiency of reprogramming of a population of cells, the method comprising:

• contacting a population of cells in a culture medium with at least one small molecule agent selected from the group consisting of
• i) a TFGβ inhibitor;
• ii) a GSK3 inhibitor;
• iii) a MEK inhibitor, and
• iv) a Rock inhibitor
• under conditions sufficient to induce reprogramming, whereby the efficiency of reprogramming is improved by at least 10%, at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 300%, or at least 500% as compared to the efficiency of reprogramming without contacting the population of cells with the small molecule agent.