Good manufacturing practice-compliant animal-free expansion of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stroma cells in a closed hollow-fiber-based bioreactor

► Mesenchymal stem cells were grown in a novel hollow-fiber based bioreactor system. ► We show preclinical large-scale animal-free expansion of MSC in a GMP-compliant manner. ► We show immunosuppressive and biologic properties of novel bioreactor-expanded MSC.