Food grade B8 media discovery kit (Qk503-FG)

Protein background

B8 medium is specifically designed to support the growth and expansion of pluripotent stem cells, demonstrating its ability to uphold pluripotency across various induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines as well as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) [1-2].

B8 media is a cost-effective media designed to support cell culture without the need for daily media changes. B8 media is a thermostable version of Essential 8 (E8) Medium, which is xeno-free and feeder-free, meaning it does not contain animal-derived components and does not require feeder cells for cell growth.

B8 medium provides an optimal environment for the maintenance of pluripotency in iPSCs, making it a popular choice among researchers in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Additionally, B8 media is often used in various experimental protocols and drug discovery studies involving iPSCs.

The activation of key signaling pathways crucial for maintaining pluripotency is facilitated by specific components within the medium. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and/or neuregulin 1 (NRG-1) stimulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK/ERK pathways by binding to FGFR1/FGFR4 or ERBB3/ERBB4 receptors, respectively. The TGF-β signaling pathway is activated by factors such as TGF-β1, nodal, or activin A, which bind to receptors TGFBR1/2 and/or ACVR2A/2B/1B/1C. Nodal activation is less common in pluripotent medium formulations due to the presence of nodal antagonists LEFTY1/2 in iPSCs. The PI3K/AKT pathway, crucial for promoting cell survival and growth, is activated by insulin or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which bind to insulin receptor (INSR) and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) respectively. These intricate signaling mechanisms underscore the precise formulation of this medium to sustain the delicate balance of pluripotency in stem cell cultures.

It is generally accepted that best practice is to use growth factors from the target species for reasons of consumer acceptance, regulatory considerations and species-matched activity including differences in receptor binding and efficacy in some cases. Some growth factor protein sequences are highly conserved and 100% identical across species. There is currently a lack of commercial availability of cultured-meat and fish relevant species-matched growth factors, so often human proteins, or indeed bovine serum, are used as a surrogate. It’s advisable to determine the conservation of protein sequence when selecting appropriate growth factors and switch to species-matched proteins if feasible.

Qkine provide extensive quality analysis, documentation and support with novel food dossier preparation. Qkine food grade growth factors are manufactured in the UK under a food manufacturing HACCP regime. Full raw materials traceability, allergen analysis, CoO, CoA, beta-lactam-free and animal origin-free certification are available.

Qkine high quality food grade products are intended solely for use as food processing aids, ex vivo cell manufacturing and research use. Not for direct human consumption, therapeutic or diagnostic use.

The authorization of novel foods, including the use of growth factors as food processing aids, is regulated by regional government agencies. The use of our products as food processing aids in novel foods requires the end-user to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.