Sigma-Aldrich introduces neural stem cell medium

Sigma, a division of Sigma-Aldrich, has launched Stemline Neural Stem Cell Expansion Medium, a new serum-free stem cell medium optimised specifically for expansion of human neural stem cells.

In an ongoing collaboration led by Clive Svendsen of the University of Wisconsin's Waisman Center in Madison, Wisconsin, Stemline has been developed for superior neurosphere as well as mono-layer NSC expansion.

'We're very excited about the introduction of this new member of the Stemline media platform,' said Lisa Masterson, Cell Culture product manager at Sigma-Aldrich. 'Our previous efforts have focused primarily on hematopoietic and bone marrow-derived stem cell expansion. Stemline is the first that will specifically support research in the area of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). It has shown very promising results in animal models, and we look forward to this medium playing a role in future advancements in this extremely important area of research.'

This new culture medium offers a consistently high neural stem cell yield in a serum-free environment. In order to be regulatory friendly, the formulation was designed to be entirely animal component-free as well as complete and ready to use, requiring only supplementation with the desired growth factor cocktail (not included).

The elimination of serum effectively reduces performance variability and removes safety risks as-sociated with possible adventitious agents in serum. In addition, expanded neural stem cells cultured in Stemline consistently yield a healthy, high-density, neural stem cell population that maintain their differentiative capacity.