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

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.