Non-pooled Human Platelet Lysate: A Potential Serum Alternative for In Vitro Cell Culture

摘要

The practice of adding serum supplements to the culture media has always been part of in vitro cell culture methodology. These supplements crucially provide all of the essential nutrients needed for the attachment, metabolism, growth, proliferation and differentiation of cells cultured in vitro.1'2 Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the serum 'gold standard', with a worldwide consumption of around 800,000 litres per year.3'4 For the production of one single litre of FBS, two to three bovine fetuses are needed, thus amounting to around two million fetuses being used each year for this sole purpose.3'5 Furthermore, the fetus harvesting required for the production process raises serious ethical concerns, because of the potential suffering of the bovine fetuses. Since the use of in vitro methods in research and testing is steadily growing year on year, in order to comply with the Three Rs principles of reduction and replacement, the demand for FBS is likely to increase significantly in the near future.