Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are the inner cell mass from blastocyst. When culturing ex-vivo, these PSC can grow, replicate and retain the ability to differentiate. These features have made PSC the focus of research. Especially after the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technique was developed by Professor Yamanaka and followed by the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012. The investment in hPSC research is even more tremendous.

But hPSC culture ex-vivo is rather complicated. Traditionally, a layer of “feeder cells” must be cultured prior to hPSC, and the hPSC can then be cultured on the feeder cells. The results can easily be affected by operational variations, the sources of feeder cells and cell-cell interactions etc.

To be grateful to some of the big names in biochemical area, feeder cells are no longer required in hPSC culture. When pre-coating with certain extracellular matrix (ECM), hPSC can be cultured in-vitro without feeder cells.

• Pluto, which is a chemically defined medium, can support hPSC growth without feeder cells. The chemically defined formulation can reduce the variations and make hPSC culture easier than it used to be.
• hPSC remain undifferentiated and retain its pluripotency after long-term culture using Pluto. With specific stimulations, these hPSCs could differentiate to three germ layer cells.
• Pluto is manufactured under GMP and ISO 13485 certified factory, and the culture performance is tested from batch to batch.