Derivation, maintenance and cryostorage of human embryonic stem cells

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are today widely used as a research tools, and the first clinical trials are just about to be started. It is possible to culture hESC in chemically defined conditions, using either defined human feeder cells or feeder free on a human extracellular matrix. Standardized characterization has been established for both research and clinical purposes. Also effective cryopreservation methods exist and are discussed here.

Section editor:Peter Sartipy – Cellartis AB, Göteborg, Sweden