At Defined Bioscience, our mission is to deliver chemically defined, serum-free media that unlock reproducibility, scalability, and translational potential across both human and non-human stem cell applications. While HiDef® B8 was originally developed to support the maintenance and expansion of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), recent collaborations are revealing its broader flexibility.
A new study, conducted by iLABS Inc. (Santa Clara, CA), Kaplan Labs at Tufts University (Boston, MA), and Defined Bioscience (San Diego, CA), explored how HiDef® B8 performs in supporting immortalized bovine satellite cells (iBSCs) — a cornerstone cell type for cultivated meat research.
Study Overview
The white paper, “Growth & Morphological Assessment of Immortalized Bovine Satellite Cells (iBSCs) Treated with HiDef® B8 Using the iLABS Platform,” evaluates how well HiDef® B8 alone — without additional supplementation — can sustain robust proliferation and morphology of iBSCs in standard 2D culture conditions.
To achieve this, researchers used the iLABS automated imaging and analysis platform, which leverages deep learning and live-cell imaging to perform high-content, reproducible assessments of cell growth, morphology, and motility. This platform eliminates subjectivity from traditional microscopy and accelerates discovery by standardizing data acquisition and analysis.
Key Findings
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Comparable Growth to Optimized Control: iBSCs cultured in HiDef® B8 reached confluence and doubling times nearly identical to those seen with albumin-supplemented control medium.
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Healthy Morphology Maintained: Cells displayed typical spindle-like morphology and retained structural integrity in HiDef® B8, consistent with healthy bovine satellite cell behavior.
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Motility Preserved: HiDef® B8 supported robust motility, maintaining movement and viability comparable to the control condition.
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Species-Agility of HiDef® B8: Though developed for human PSCs, HiDef® B8 demonstrated the flexibility to support immortalized bovine muscle precursor cells, underscoring its cross-species applicability.
Why It Matters
For the cultivated meat field, consistent and serum-free media solutions remain one of the biggest bottlenecks in achieving scalable production. Variability introduced by animal-derived supplements increases cost, complicates regulatory approval, and undermines reproducibility.
This study underscores how HiDef® B8 can serve as a template media formulation adaptable to multiple species. By eliminating serum and maintaining high performance in immortalized bovine satellite cells, HiDef® B8 could accelerate the development of scalable workflows for cultivated beef and potentially other livestock species.
The Role of iLABS
The iLABS imaging and analysis platform played a central role in this collaboration by enabling:
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Automated cell segmentation and tracking
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Hourly time-series imaging
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Quantitative assessments of proliferation, morphology, and differentiation indicators
By integrating AI-driven analysis pipelines, iLABS ensures reproducible, high-throughput insights that support both academic research and industrial development.
Looking Ahead
The findings open new doors for both Defined Bioscience and the cultivated meat community:
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Media Optimization: Explore livestock-specific growth factor supplementation and long-term expansion.
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3D Systems: Evaluate HiDef® B8 in scaffold- and hydrogel-based cultures.
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Cross-Species Validation: Extend studies to additional livestock and seafood species to assess broader applicability.
Conclusion
This collaboration between iLABS, Kaplan Labs, and Defined Bioscience demonstrates that HiDef® B8 — a medium purpose-built for human PSCs — is also capable of supporting robust proliferation and healthy morphology in bovine satellite cells. By coupling HiDef® B8 with advanced imaging and analysis platforms like iLABS, researchers gain access to powerful, reproducible tools that accelerate progress toward scalable cultivated meat.
At Defined Bioscience, we are proud to see HiDef® B8 contributing to innovations that reach beyond its original design — from regenerative medicine to sustainable food systems.
