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Substrates and supplements for hESCs: a critical review

  • Stem Cell Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Different laboratories around the world have succeeded in establishing human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. However, culture conditions vary considerably among the protocols used and the vast majority of the lines at some stage of their creation have been in contact with an animal derived component. One of the main problems to be overcome for the generation of a clinical-grade hESC line is the choice of a substrate and medium that allows derivation and culture, where animal derived components are kept to a minimum or completely excluded.

Materials and methods

The following review describes past and more recent achievements in the creation and culturing of hESC. It describes protocols, giving special attention to the matrices and supplements used for derivation, mantainance and cryostorage, considering whether they included defined, undefined and/or animal-derived components in their formulations.

Conclusion

This information shall be useful for the creation and choice of new substrates and supplements for future research in the field of hESC for therapeutic purposes.

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Acknowledgments

The present work was partially funded by a PLISSER training fellowship (Programa Latinoamericano de Investigación en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva A.C.).

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No competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Mario Fatala Chaben” ANLIS Malbrán, Av. Paseo Colón 568, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Melisa Candela Crocco

  2. Nilo Frantz Reserach and Human Reproduction Center, Nilo Peçanha 1221, Porto alegre, RS, Brazil

    Nilo Fratnz

  3. Department of Morphological Sciences, ICBS, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Adriana Bos-Mikich

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  1. Melisa Candela Crocco
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  2. Nilo Fratnz
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  3. Adriana Bos-Mikich
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Correspondence to Melisa Candela Crocco.

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This is a comprehensive review on the past and present methods employed for the creation of new embryonic stem cell lines giving special emphasis to the substrate and supplements used on their generation.

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Crocco, M.C., Fratnz, N. & Bos-Mikich, A. Substrates and supplements for hESCs: a critical review. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 315–323 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9914-8

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