title: Serum-free media formulations are cell line-specific and require optimization for microcarrier culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being investigated as potential cell therapies for many different indications. Current methods of production rely on traditional monolayer culture on tissue-culture plastic, usually with the use of serum-supplemented growth media. However, the monolayer culturing system has scale-up limitations and may not meet the projected hundreds of billions to trillions batches of cells needed for therapy. Furthermore, serum-free medium offers several advantages over serum-supplemented medium, which may have supply and contaminant issues, leading to many serum-free medium formulations being developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We cultured seven MSC lines in six different serum-free media and compared their growth between monolayer and microcarrier culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We show that (i) expansion levels of MSCs in serum-free monolayer cultures may not correlate with expansion in serum-containing media; (ii) optimal culture conditions (serum-free media for monolayer or microcarrier culture) differ for each cell line; (iii) growth in static microcarrier culture does not correlate with growth in stirred spinner culture; (iv) and that early cell attachment and spreading onto microcarriers does not necessarily predict efficiency of cell expansion in agitated microcarrier culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current serum-free media developed for monolayer cultures of MSCs may not support MSC proliferation in microcarrier cultures. Further optimization in medium composition will be required for microcarrier suspension culture for each cell line.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore. Electronic address: tan_kah_yong@bti.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Kah Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kim Leng
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jessica F Y
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore.
authors.forename: Allen K L
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choolani
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reuveny
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centros, Singapore. Electronic address: steve_oh@bti.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Steve Kw
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free
keywords: mesenchymal stromal cell; microcarrier; serum-free medium