A novel one-pot in situ templating method of synthesizing micro- and mesoporous carbon (spheres) in oxygenic conditions is reported. The mesoporous carbon has an extremely high surface area (over 1600 m(2) g(-1)). We also introduce, for the first time, lactate as a source of carbon, which is relatively inexpensive and bio-friendly. To achieve this, aerosol-based methods are employed to create a mesoporous and nanostructured carbon-based material with the ultimate goal of influencing human stem cell biology.