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Table 3 Advantages and disadvantages of various PSC to MSC differentiation techniques. Some differentiation techniques are superior that others in terms of length (time), economy (cost), the level of difficulty, and the yield (number of differentiated cells) of the technique

From: Progress and emerging techniques for biomaterial-based derivation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs)

Techniques

Advantages

Disadvantages

Growth Factors

Easy and faster treatment, Multiple growth factor options available

Efficient in 2D differentiation.

Production of more homogeneous cell population

This method involves 2D differentiation thus does not mimic human in-vivo condition.

Longer differentiation time that requires numerous sub-cultures.

Requires enormous amount of growth factors

Embryoid Body

Mimics human physiological (in-vivo condition).

Fast, more effective, and more efficient differentiation.

Possibility of necrotic zone formation.

Production of heterogeneous cell population

Other techniques

OP9 monolayer cells

OP9 cells provide the necessary supplements, cytokines and growth factors for MSC differentiation.

Results to production of cells with better trilineage differentiation.

Possibility of animal cells contamination.

Longer differentiation time

Additional sorting step is required

Selective pressure

Homogeneous cell population.

Animal free cells,

Results to production of cells with better trilineage differentiation.

Longer time required,

Negative effect of trypsin over cells,

High batch-to-batch variations due to the complete dependency on cell passaging

Genetic manipulations

Faster differentiation,

Effective and efficient differentiation

Results to production of cells with better trilineage differentiation.

Trained laboratory technicians required.

Costly,

Possibility of genetic mutations.

Epigenetic inhibitor

Fast differentiation, good osteogenic potential

Results to production of cells with poor trilineage differentiation.