A comparative study of fetal bovine serum alternatives for muscle tissue engineering applications

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) has been the primary cell culture supplement for 60 years due to its effectiveness, but its reliance on the meat industry raises ethical and supply concerns. FBS provides essential nutrients, hormones, and growth factors, though its composition varies, making it expensive and difficult to standardize. This study evaluated alternative FBS replacements for muscle tissue engineering and cultivated meat by measuring cell proliferation and confluency. Results suggest that protein-based alternatives support cell growth effectively.