Transitioning from fetal bovine serum to platelet lysate: A novel epoch in stem cell advancement

Culturing of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for different cell therapies requires advancements to enable routine application in clinical environments. The primary concern pertains to the utilization of reagents derived from animals, particularly the incorporation of fetal bovine serum (FBS) into the culture medium. The human platelet lysate (HPL) has emerged as an excellent supplement for a viable animal-free alternative and MSC culture. Most of the researchers focused on the proliferation rates of cells grown with FBS and HPL. Moreover, the HPL was able to enhance the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor and maintain the immunomodulatory function of various cell types. This mini-review presents novel contributions from recent papers, highlighting the superior efficacy of HPL over FBS, which may facilitate the scientific community's shift towards cellular growth for various clinical applications.