Serum‐free media for the production of human mesenchymal stromal cells: a review

Abstract The regenerative potential of mesenchymal stromal cells ( MSC ) holds great promise in using them for treatment of a wide range of debilitating diseases. Several types of culture media and systems have been used for large‐scale expansion of MSC s in vitro; however, the majority of them rely heavily on using foetal bovine serum ( FBS )‐supplement for optimal cell proliferation. FBS ‐based cultures pose the potential threat of spread of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and bovine spongiform encephalopathy to MSC s and then to their recipients. A recent trend in cell culture is to change from serum‐use to serum‐free media ( SFM ). In this context, the current review focuses specifically on employment of various SFM for MSC s and discusses existences of various options with which to substitute FBS . In addition, we analyse MSC population growth kinetic patterns using various SFM for large‐scale production of MSC s.