Strategies for development of culture media: application to embryonic and adult stem cells

Abstract

Both exploratory research and proposed clinical applications of human stem cells and derived cell populations demand refinements in the nutrient environment. Significant early research has been performed with serum supplementation, using FBS lots that were carefully selected for performance characteristics based on expansion and maintenance of the undifferentiated phenotype. However, the ill-defined composition and lotto-lot variability in proliferation and differentiation factors inherent to serum and potential foreign protein immunogenicity and adventitious agent contamination make serum unattractive for these applications.