The present invention relates to the use of 3-dimensional (3D) synthetic or animal-derived bioscaffolds as substrates for the improved growth and differentiation of hPS (Human pluripotent stem cells); these scaffolds being adapted for use in conjunction with existing cell culture lab plastic-ware. More specifically, it relates to the seeding of these scaffolds, either alone or in conjunction with various biologic matrix coatings, with hPS cells for the improved differentiation of said hPS cells into hepatocyte or hepatocyte-like cell types. The invention also relates to the seeding of partially-differentiated hepatocyte progenitors onto scaffolds for further differentiation into more mature hepatocyte-cell types.