Substrates and supplements for hESCs: a critical review

Area of Science:

• Stem cell biology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line establishment is globally achieved, but protocols vary significantly.
• Most hESC derivation protocols involve animal-derived components, posing challenges for clinical applications.
• Minimizing or excluding animal-derived materials is crucial for generating clinical-grade hESC lines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review achievements in hESC creation and culturing.
• To analyze substrates and media formulations used in hESC protocols.
• To guide the selection of materials for clinical-grade hESC generation.

Main Methods:

• Review of past and recent literature on hESC derivation and culture.
• Detailed examination of matrices and supplements used for derivation, maintenance, and cryostorage.
• Categorization of components as defined, undefined, or animal-derived.

Main Results:

• Variability in hESC culture conditions worldwide.
• Prevalence of animal-derived components in established protocols.
• Identification of key factors influencing the choice of culture substrates and media.

Conclusions:

• The reviewed information is valuable for developing new substrates and supplements.
• Informed choices of materials are essential for advancing hESC research for therapeutic purposes.
• Minimizing animal-derived components is a critical consideration for clinical translation.