Cord blood serum harvesting by hydroxyethyl starch: a fetal bovine serum alternative in expansion of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells

As a widely used cell culture supplement, fetal bovine serum (FBS) harbor high content of growth, proliferation, and adhesion factors. However, high cost, bio-safety, possible xenogeneic agent transmission, finite accessible, and ethical controversy are major obstacles that discourage the use of this additive. Accordingly, novel alternatives have been proposed with various pros and cons. Still, caution should be taken in choosing suitable...