Mesenchymal stem cells media

Invitrogen has launched a serum-free media (SFM) designed specifically to culture mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), or stem cells derived from bone marrow. Stempro MSC SFM is claimed to overcome many challenges in MSC culture. In concert, Invitrogen also launched two kits designed to allow the differentiation of MSCs to either adipocytes (fat cells) or osteocytes (bone cells).

Stempro MSC SFM is completely defined, meaning that each element is present in the media at a known quantity, thereby eliminating significant lot-to-lot variability. The media maintains MSCs in an undifferentiated state for more than nine passages whereas cells in traditional media supplemented with serum start to demonstrate diminished cellular expansion and differentiation after five passages.

In addition to launching Stempro MSC SFM, Invitrogen launched Stempro Adipogenesis and Stempro Osteogenesis differentiation kits. These kits contain media and specific supplements that can induce MSCs to follow the development path to either bone cells or fat cells, allowing researchers to study how MSCs differentiate into multiple tissue types.