Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are undifferentiated, self-renewing cells with potential for differentiation into various specialized cell types.
Stem cells are different from other cells in the body in three ways:
- They can divide and self-renew over an extended period;
- They can recreate functional tissues; and
- They do not have any tissue-specific characteristics.
Beyond these critical abilities, stem cells vary widely in what they can and cannot do and in the circumstances under certain conditions. Multiple types of stem cells have been identified, including pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, neural stem cells, and cancer stem cells. Research on stem cells not only advances our understanding of how an organism develops from a single cell in developmental biology, but also expands various research fields of disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.
For over a decade, MP Biomedicals has provided various workflow-based stem cell research tools and resources to help address challenges in stem cell research, from growth media to extracellular matrices to serum replacement. Our sera, sera replacement, attachment factors, basal media, cell detachment factors, antibiotics, cell cryopreservation and cell analysis products are time-tested to ensure high performance, consistency and reliability for your stem cell cultures.
Fetal Bovine Serum for Stem Cell Culture
Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is one of the most widely used serum-supplements for in vitro cell culture. FBS contains a complex array of protein components, excellent cell growth factors, low endotoxin levels, and low hemoglobin concentrations, all of which are required by many cells to survive, grow, and divide. FBS from MP Bio offers excellent value for stem cell culture. With our quality assurance system from raw material to final product, we ensure reliable and consistent delivery of high quality FBS to our customers.
- Tested on cell growth performance
- Low endotoxin levels
- Free of mycoplasma contamination
- Specific virus testing (BVD, IBR,PI3)
- Sterilization by triple 0.1-micron filtration
- Country origin and traceability
FastGroTM, Fully Chemically Defined FBS Replacement for Stem Cell Culture
Due to its undefined nature, FBS can lead to unexpected differentiation of stem cells and biorisk of animal protein or pathogen contamination in FBS, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). To avoid these concerns, we offer FastGroTM, a fully chemically defined FBS replacement for stem cell culture use. It allows culturing a wide range of cells in vitro without the use of serum or any animal or human derived compound. Our FastGroTM ensures in cell culture:
- Chemically defined nature without lot-to-lot variations
- No animal or human derived materials or compounds
- No interference with hormones or growth factors
- Elimination of the risk of contaminants – viruses, mycoplasma, prions, etc.
- Storage in the refrigerator, and no need for thawing before use
| SKU | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 0926400 | FastGro, Animal Free, Chemically Defined FBS Replacement |
Attachment factors for successful stem cell culture
Attachment factors are critical for many adherent cell types in cell culture, including stem cells, and particularly when grown in serum-free culture. To facilitate cell adhesion, migration, growth, morphology, and differentiation, MP Bio offers a selection of attachment and matrix factors, such as collagen type I, fibronectin, and laminin.
| SKU | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 021500268 | Collagen Type I from calf skin |
| 0219349220 | Collagen Solution, 0.3%, 20 mL |
| 0215112601 | Fibronectin, human, >95% |
| 0855913 | Fibronectin, human, purified |
| 0215002701 | Laminin |
| 02152690 | Poly-L-lysine hydrochloride |
| 02152689 | Poly-L-Lysine hydrobromide |
| 02150175 | Poly-D-Lysine hydrobromide, MW 70,000-150,000 |
| 02102694 | Poly-D-Lysine hydrobromide, MW 4,000-15,000 |
Chemically Defined Basal Media for Consistent Stem Cell Culture Results
Successful growth of stem cells requires high quality and reliable basal media, which contain amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, and a carbon source such as glucose. MP Biomedicals offers a complete range of products designed to support optimal stem cell growth, ensuring reproducible and consistent results.
Chemically defined powdered and liquid media are manufactured with minimal risk of contamination in an environmentally controlled facility. Chemicals used in production meet the highest quality and purity standards. The result is high cell yield and a homogeneous cell population for research and manufacturing applications.
- Chemically defined essential components
- Lot-to-lot consistency
- Extremely low endotoxin levels
- Free of mycoplasma contamination
- Animal-component free
- Liquid and powder formats
| SKU | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 091233254 | DMEM (1X), without L-glutamine |
| 091233354 | DMEM (1X), with 4.5 g/L dextrose, with L-glutamine |
| 091642149 | DMEM (1X), with 4.5 g/L dextrose, without L-glutamine and L-leucine and sodium pyruvate |
| 091642954 | DMEM (1X), with 4.5 g/L glucose, without L-glutamine and inositol |
| 0912334 | DMEM (1X) with 20 mM HEPES, without L-glutamine or sodium bicarbonate |
| 09103312 | DMEM, with L-glutamine, with 4.5 g/L glucose, without sodium bicarbonate, powder |
| 091210254 | MEM (1X), without L-glutamine |
| 091641454 | MEM (1X), Earle's Salts and 2.0 g/L sodium bicarbonate, without L-glutamine, L-cysteine, L-cystine, and L-methionine |
| 091601149 | MEM, Amino Acids (50X) solution |
| 09101012 | MEM, Earle's Salts and L-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate, powder |
| 091646454 | RPMI (1X), without L-glutamine, L-cysteine, L-cystine, and L-methionine |
| 091646854 | RPMI 1640 with 2 g/L sodium bicarbonate, without L-glutamine and glucose, powder |
| 091260254 | RPMI 1640 (1X), without glutamine |
| 0912603 | RPMI 1640 (1X), with L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate |
| 091440049 | Ham's F-10 (10X), without L-glutamine and sodium bicarbonate, with 12.4 mg/L phenol red |
| 09104012 | Ham's F-10, with L-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate, powder |
| 09104212 | Ham's F-12 (modified) with L-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate, powder |
| 091242354 | Ham's F12 (1X), with L-glutamine |
| 091960454 | Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (10X), without calcium and magnesium |
| 0918604 | Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (1X), without calcium and magnesium |
Bovine Extract for Maximum Mitogenicity in Stem Cell Culture
Containing a full spectrum of putative mitogens and growth factors, bovine pituitary extract (BPE) and bovine brain extract (BBE) continue to be the most successful tissue-sourced extracts for culturing a wide range of cells in vitro, particularly stem cells. To maintain the full spectrum of biological activities and minimize biorisk of animal origin products, MP Bio recently launched BPE and BBE made from young, healthy New Zealand cattle with USDA approved sources.
- Promotes maximum cell mitogenicity
- Promotes differentiation of pluripotent stem cells
- Sterile filtration from non-lyophilized tissue
- Maintains consistent activity in serum-free culture systems
Bovine Extract for Maximum Mitogenicity in Stem Cell Culture
One primary function of BSA as an additive is to bind, protect, and stabilize a range of important small molecules and ions in the cell culture media, especially serum-free media. To maximize its performance in stem cell culture, BSA from MP Biomedicals – New Zealand (AlbumiNZTM) has been purified by chromatography to ensure the highest purity. Unlike with other extraction procedures (e.g. Cohn, Heat Shock), our bovine serum albumin is more biologically intact and highly retains the cell growth stimulating activity.
- Superior cell culture performance over Cohn's Albumin Fraction V
- Intact proteins with high activity
- Highest purity and consistency
- New Zealand sourced raw materials having negligible BSE risk
- Free of BSE and List A animal diseases
Cell Detachment
For adherent stem cell cultures, cells first need to be detached before further study. This detachment process is commonly performed with a mixture of trypsin-EDTA. In some instances, trypsin reduces cell viability due to damage to the membrane and extracellular matrix. As a superior alternative to trypsin, we recommend Accutase®, a blend of proteolytic and collagenolytic enzymes for gentle cell detachment:
- Gentle and efficient for cell detachment
- Maximum cell viability compared to trypsin
- Proven effective over a wide range of primary cells
- Versatile on various cell culture surfaces
Detect and Eliminate Mycoplasma Contamination in Stem Cell Cultures
One of the major issues in dealing with stem cell cultures is mycoplasma infection. The presence of mycoplasma can alter a variety of cellular characteristics and functionalities. Therefore, a fast and simple mycoplasma detection method is necessary to ensure the reliability, reproducibility, and consistency of your stem cell research.
MP Bio is pleased to announce the launch of Myco-Sniff-Rapidâ„¢ Mycoplasma Luciferase Detection Kit, ensuring:
- Rapid results in 20 minutes
- Sensitive and specific for detecting all common mycoplasma species
- No interference with cell culture media components
- Simple operation: add reagents directly to the culture supernatant
If quantification and species determination of mycoplasma are required, we recommend our Myco-Sniff-Validâ„¢ Mycoplasma PCR Detection Kit, which can sensitively detect mycoplasma as low as 10 CFU/mL, as well as the species.
Related products:
Cell Culture Antibiotics: Keep Your Stem Cell Cultures Contamination Free
High quality antibiotics from MP Bio eliminate cell culture contamination with minimal impact on stem cells. These easy-to-use antibiotics can efficiently keep cell cultures contamination-free from a wide range of microbiological contaminants.
| SKU | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 0916723 | Amphotericin B, 250 μg/mL (Fungizone) |
| 091676045 | Gentamicin Sulfate Solution, 10 mg/mL |
| 0916762 | Gentamicin Sulfate Solution, 50 mg/mL |
| 09167254 | G418 Sulfate, 50 mg/mL (Geneticin) |
| 091672048 | Kanamycin Sulfate, 5 mg/mL |
| 091670249 | Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 IU/mL, 10 mg/mL) |
| 091674049 | Penicllin-Streptomycin-Amphotericin B (100X) |
Stem Cell Cryopreservation
With over 40 years of experience manufacturing and supplying cell biology products, MP Bio understands the challenges associated with stem cell cryopreservation. Cryopreservation media from MP Bio ensures:
- Consistent high cell viability
- Serum-free and protein-free formulation
- Validation with multiple cell types
- Long-term cell storage
- Balanced components for maintaining cellular functions
- Long shelf life
| SKU | Product Name |
|---|---|
| 092030346 | pZerve Cryopreservation Solution, 20 mL |
| 0920303M2 | pZerve Cryopreservation Solution, 60 mL |
| 092780248 | Cell Cryopreservation Medium with 10% DMSO, 50 mL |
| 092780145 | CryopresTM Dimethyl Sulfoxide (>99.9% USP DMSO), 10 mL |
| 092780148 | CryopresTM Dimethyl Sulfoxide (>99.9% USP DMSO), 50 mL |
| 092780349 | 2-8 CELLsiumTM medium for short-term cell storage, 100 mL |
| 092780354 | 2-8 CELLsiumTM medium for short-term cell storage, 500 mL |