Keywords

Cell culture; Stem cells; Mesenchymal stem cells; Extracellular vesicles; Culture conditions; Adipose-derived stem cells

Abstract

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are promising candidates in regenerative medicine due to their proliferative capacity, self-renewal, and secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) that mediate intercellular communication. Serum-free media has been increasingly explored for MSC culture as it eliminates xenogeneic components, improving human therapeutic suitability. However, comparative evaluation of distinct serum-free formulations on ADSC proliferation and EV output simultaneously remains limited. This study compares a serum-containing medium to three proprietary serum-free media prototypes differing in composition, including the presence or absence of extracellular matrix proteins, to inform the optimization of culture conditions for clinical use. Proliferation, EV characteristics, and gene expression were assessed, and it was found that serum-containing and serum-free culture conditions differentially affect ADSC proliferation, EV yield, and stemness-associated gene expression. The outcomes of this study are expected to assist in the development of standardized strategies for ADSC culture and EV production.

Thesis Completion Year

2026

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Sugaya, Kiminobu

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Thesis Discipline

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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