This recent multinational study, led by Delabie et al. and published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2025), offers a breakthrough. The research marks the first coordinated effort to standardize hPL manufacturing across three European blood establishments—in Belgium, Iceland, and the Netherlands—using a harmonized protocol while preserving each center’s unique platelet sources.
Why standardization matters?
FBS has long been the go-to for cell culture, but it brings several drawbacks: ethical concerns, risk of zoonoses, and inconsistent composition. hPL, derived from human platelets, avoids these issues but has struggled with variability due to differences in blood collection, pathogen inactivation, and storage.
This study set out to determine if hPL could be produced in a reproducible way across borders, and whether pooling batches internationally could reduce variability.
At a glance
Design: Each center produced 24 hPL units from local platelet concentrates. Four national batches and four international mixed batches were created from these units.
Testing: All batches were blinded and tested for biochemical properties, growth factor content, and their performance in culturing endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
What we liked:
Successful Cross-Border Production: All three centers converted platelet concentrates into high-quality hPL using a shared production kit. This demonstrates the protocol’s robustness and feasibility for widespread use.
Consistent Biochemical Properties: Despite differences in the platelet sources, all hPL batches had similar levels of proteins, ions, pH, and other key components. Minor differences (e.g., slightly higher FGF2 and VEGF in Icelandic batches) were observed but did not impact function.
Superior Performance vs FBS:
- MSC Expansion: hPL supported faster MSC growth than FBS, with consistent phenotypes and differentiation potential into bone and fat tissue.
- Endothelial Cells: hPL supported endothelial cell growth and wound healing, albeit slightly slower than FBS.
Reduced Variability in International Batches: Pooling hPL from different centers into international batches significantly lowered batch-to-batch variation. This is a major step toward a stable, standardized hPL product for clinical use.
Implications for the Future
The study paves the way for a new model of hPL production: local manufacture using expired platelet units, followed by pooling and quality control at centralized facilities. This not only improves standardization but also reduces waste, supporting a more circular economy in blood banking.
More importantly, the findings provide the foundation for broader adoption of hPL in cell therapy, especially as regulatory frameworks evolve. The use of standardized, ethically sourced culture media could become a new norm—improving the safety, reproducibility, and scalability of regenerative treatments.
What’s Next?
The researchers plan to expand the study to more countries and investigate clinical applications, such as cartilage organoid development. As the field advances, collaboration among blood banks, researchers, and regulatory bodies will be essential to integrate hPL into mainstream therapeutic pipelines.
Want to learn more? Read the full study by Delabie et al. (2025) in Stem Cell Research & Therapy: Link to article
ULQA Scientific 
Leave a comment