Joy Kong, MD explains why expanding stem cells in culture before use is risky. Just 24 hours in the lab can cripple their ability to reach target tissues and stay there. Convenience isn't worth losing what makes them work.
This study published, that's 20 years ago, said that even 24 hours of culturing can drastically reduce the potential of these cells to home in like homing mechanism and to engraft, meaning to stay in the place, actually be part of the tissue. So it impairs both capabilities. So even though it's nice and easy to grow these cells, but it does alter their nature.
