Cell culture: The opportunities and the challenges

The demand for cell culture has increased dramatically in recent years and is likely to continue to do so. Cell culture methods are increasingly being used in research, in the production of food and beverages, and in the production of active plant compounds for use in medicines, pigments, and flavourings. There is also a growing demand for monoclonal antibodies and cell-based vaccines.

To meet this demand, it will be necessary to overcome some of the challenges associated with cell culture, such as variability in the growth, behaviour, and purity of cultured cells; a lack of proper infrastructure for cell-based research activities in developing countries; high costs involved in scaling up production or increasing throughput; and ethical issues associated with the use of animal-derived products.