Generating a Cost‐Effective, Weekend‐Free Chemically Defined Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (hiPSC) Culture Medium

We have previously developed a cost-effective chemically defined medium formula for weekend-free culture of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), costing ∼3% of the price of commercial medium. This medium, which we termed B8, is specifically optimized for robust and fast growth of hiPSCs and for a weekend-free medium change regimen. We demonstrated that this medium is suitable for reprogramming of somatic cells into hiPSCs and for differentiation into a variety of lineages. Here, we provide a protocol for simple generation of the most cost-effective variant of this medium, along with a protocol for making Matrigel-coated plates and culturing, passaging, cryopreserving, and thawing hiPSCs. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of a highly optimized, robust, and cost-effective human induced pluripotent stem cell culture medium Basic Protocol 2: Weekend-free maintenance and passaging of human induced pluripotent stem cells in B8 medium.