Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (593 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or gelatin.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Media, Culture.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Laboratory Chemicals; Equipment and Supplies
- Narrower topics
- Culture Media, Conditioned; Culture Media, Serum-Free; Tissue Scaffolds
Related concepts
- Gelatin
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 177,875 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Culture Media” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 23,206 of them (13.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 74,793 records.
Reviews account for 8,065 records (4.5%) and meta-analyses for 96. Randomized controlled trials number 354 (0.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 74,793 |
| 2000-2009 | 34,356 |
| 2010-2019 | 45,520 |
| 2020 onward | 23,206 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 8,065 | 4.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 96 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 354 | 0.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Culture Media"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in diagnostics and medical technology
A test or device is judged by how well it detects a condition, how often it gives false alarms or misses cases, and whether using it improves outcomes for people. Accuracy depends on who is tested and how common the condition is, so a test that performs well in a specialist hospital can perform differently in the community. Check the reference standard, the population studied, the sensitivity and specificity and whether results were confirmed in a separate group.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bioinspired Engineering of Streamlined Skeletal Interoception: Neural Bioprinted Piezoelectric Scaffolds for Neuro-Vascularized Bone Regeneration | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41691467 · DOI · PMC13073224 |
| Bioprinting of Microtissues Within Mechanically Tunable Support Baths to Engineer Anisotropic Musculoskeletal Tissues | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41649171 · DOI · PMC13042905 |
| Mineralized DNA tetrahedron-structured hydrogels: a dual-functional Scaffold for immunomodulation and bone regeneration | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42103718 · DOI · PMC13156309 |
Bioinspired Engineering of Streamlined Skeletal Interoception: Neural Bioprinted Piezoelectric Scaffolds for Neuro-Vascularized Bone Regeneration [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The skeletal interoception system that orchestrates bone homeostasis and regeneration through a coordinated "afferent-integration-efferent" reflex arc has been overlooked in bone tissue engineering.
- Closing excerpt
- This study established a bioinspired platform with a self-contained "sensor-effector" circuit, offering a novel engineered strategy for bone regeneration.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (175 words)
The skeletal interoception system that orchestrates bone homeostasis and regeneration through a coordinated "afferent-integration-efferent" reflex arc has been overlooked in bone tissue engineering. The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons constitute the hubs of this system. Moreover, beyond their canonical role within the interoceptive pathway, these neurons exert a direct effector role by secreting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to promote bone repair. However, current sensory nerve-targeted strategies in bone tissue engineering remain static, bypassing the dynamic reflex arc and failing to establish an autonomous functional system. To address this, a streamlined interoception unit was engineered using neural bioprinting of DRG neurons within piezoelectric scaffolds. Upon sensing ultrasound (US) stimulation, the piezoelectric poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) component mediates mechanoelectrical coupling, triggering a Ca2 + influx-induced effector response in the incorporated DRG neurons that enhances CGRP secretion and expression. The secreted CGRP subsequently promotes osteogenesis and angiogenesis in vitro and accelerates neuro-vascularized bone regeneration in a rat femoral condyle defect model. This study established a bioinspired platform with a self-contained "sensor-effector" circuit, offering a novel engineered strategy for bone regeneration.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41691467 · DOI · PMC13073224
Bioprinting of Microtissues Within Mechanically Tunable Support Baths to Engineer Anisotropic Musculoskeletal Tissues [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Bioprinting is a powerful tool for engineering living grafts, however replicating the composition, structure and function of native tissues remains a major challenge.
- Closing excerpt
- This platform establishes a foundation for bioprinting structurally anisotropic and phenotypically distinct constructs, thereby enabling the scalable engineering of a range of different musculoskeletal tissues.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (199 words)
Bioprinting is a powerful tool for engineering living grafts, however replicating the composition, structure and function of native tissues remains a major challenge. During morphogenesis, cellular self-organization and matrix development are strongly influenced by the mechanical constraints provided by surrounding tissues, suggesting that such biophysical cues should be integrated into bioprinting strategies to engineer more biomimetic grafts. Here, we introduce a novel bioprinting platform that spatially patterns mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-derived microtissues into mechanically tunable support baths. By modulating the bath's mechanical properties, we can precisely control the physical constraints applied post-printing, directing both filament geometry and cellular behavior. Support bath stiffness regulated mechano-sensitive gene expression and microtissue phenotype, with softer matrices favoring chondrogenesis and stiffer environments promoting (myo)fibrogenic differentiation. In addition, the physical properties of the non-degradable support bath modulated microtissue fusion and extracellular matrix organization, with increased collagen fiber alignment in stiffer baths. Leveraging these findings, it was possible to engineer either articular cartilage, meniscus, or ligament grafts with user-defined collagen architectures by simply varying the physical properties of the support bath. This platform establishes a foundation for bioprinting structurally anisotropic and phenotypically distinct constructs, thereby enabling the scalable engineering of a range of different musculoskeletal tissues.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41649171 · DOI · PMC13042905
Mineralized DNA tetrahedron-structured hydrogels: a dual-functional Scaffold for immunomodulation and bone regeneration [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Clinical limitations of autografts and allografts have driven advances in bone tissue engineering.
- Closing excerpt
- The hydrogel exhibits antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and osteoinductive properties, enabling sequential regulation of the bone healing microenvironment and effectively promoting cranial defect regeneration.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (219 words)
Clinical limitations of autografts and allografts have driven advances in bone tissue engineering. Emerging biomaterials offer tunable mechanical and bio-regenerative properties for bone reconstruction. DNA hydrogels have attracted increasing attention due to their extracellular matrix-like architecture and excellent cargo-loading capacity. However, their rapid degradation and limited immunomodulatory activity have hindered their long-term efficacy in bone regeneration. To address these limitations, a mineralized tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) hydrogel (Cap-gel) was engineered to integrate early immunoregulation with sustained osteogenic activity. The stable and programmable spatial structure of tFNAs not only promotes macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype by presenting immunomodulatory ligands but also serves as a nucleation template for calcium phosphate crystallization, leading to the formation of nano-mineralized structures with controlled morphology. In vitro, Cap-gel promoted osteogenic differentiation via both immune-dependent and independent pathways, while in vivo, it modulated early immune responses and accelerated bone regeneration in a calvarial defect model. In summary, this study introduces a novel tFNA-based mineralized DNA hydrogel system that integrates immunomodulation and osteogenesis, providing a promising strategy for enhanced bone repair in tissue engineering applications. A mineralized DNA hydrogel is constructed by sticky-end self-assembly of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids followed by calcium-phosphate deposition. The hydrogel exhibits antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and osteoinductive properties, enabling sequential regulation of the bone healing microenvironment and effectively promoting cranial defect regeneration.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42103718 · DOI · PMC13156309
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article 2-year outcomes with the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold for treatment of coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomised trials with an individual patient data substudy [4]
- Research article Meniscal repair: The current state and recent advances in augmentation [5]
- Research article Systematic Review: Allogenic Use of Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) and Decellularized Extracellular Matrices (ECM) as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) in Tissue Regeneration [6]
- Research article Multifaceted Hydrogel Scaffolds: Bridging the Gap between Biomedical Needs and Environmental Sustainability [7]
- Research article Beyond hype: unveiling the Real challenges in clinical translation of 3D printed bone scaffolds and the fresh prospects of bioprinted organoids [8]
- Research article Advances in 3D-printed scaffold technologies for bone defect repair: materials, biomechanics, and clinical prospects [9]
References
- Su Y, Wang H, Liu W, Chen K, Min Y, Zhu J, et al.. Bioinspired Engineering of Streamlined Skeletal Interoception: Neural Bioprinted Piezoelectric Scaffolds for Neuro-Vascularized Bone Regeneration. . 2026. PMID 41691467 · DOI · PMC13073224
- Spagnuolo FD, Kronemberger GS, Kelly DJ. Bioprinting of Microtissues Within Mechanically Tunable Support Baths to Engineer Anisotropic Musculoskeletal Tissues. . 2026. PMID 41649171 · DOI · PMC13042905
- Yao L, Sun J, Liu Z, Liang J, Wang Y, Chen Y, et al.. Mineralized DNA tetrahedron-structured hydrogels: a dual-functional Scaffold for immunomodulation and bone regeneration. . 2026. PMID 42103718 · DOI · PMC13156309
- Ali ZA, Serruys PW, Kimura T, Gao R, Ellis SG, Kereiakes DJ, et al.. 2-year outcomes with the Absorb bioresorbable scaffold for treatment of coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven randomised trials with an individual patient data substudy. Lancet. 2017. PMID 28732815 · DOI
- Bansal S, Floyd ER, A Kowalski M, Aikman E, Elrod P, Burkey K, et al.. Meniscal repair: The current state and recent advances in augmentation. J Orthop Res. 2021. PMID 33751642 · DOI · PMC8249336
- Gentile P, Sterodimas A, Pizzicannella J, Dionisi L, De Fazio D, Calabrese C, et al.. Systematic Review: Allogenic Use of Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) and Decellularized Extracellular Matrices (ECM) as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) in Tissue Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci. 2020. PMID 32679697 · DOI · PMC7404290
- Mamidi N, De Silva FF, Vacas AB, Gutiérrez Gómez JA, Montes Goo NY, Mendoza DR, et al.. Multifaceted Hydrogel Scaffolds: Bridging the Gap between Biomedical Needs and Environmental Sustainability. Adv Healthc Mater. 2024. PMID 38824416 · DOI
- Zhao X, Li N, Zhang Z, Hong J, Zhang X, Hao Y, et al.. Beyond hype: unveiling the Real challenges in clinical translation of 3D printed bone scaffolds and the fresh prospects of bioprinted organoids. J Nanobiotechnology. 2024. PMID 39169401 · DOI · PMC11337604
- Sun J, Chen C, Zhang B, Yao C, Zhang Y. Advances in 3D-printed scaffold technologies for bone defect repair: materials, biomechanics, and clinical prospects. Biomed Eng Online. 2025. PMID 40301861 · DOI · PMC12042599
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.