Cell Culture Media

The purpose of choosing the right cell culture media for pharmaceutical research is to ensure the success and continuation of an active cell culture experiment. Cell culture media typically contains a pH buffer, a food source, a serum, a growth stimulant, and minerals for the metabolic functions of cells. Cell culture media might also contain antibiotic additives.

Next-generation cell culture media formulations are chemically defined (CD) where all the components are identified, and exact concentrations are known. By eliminating undefined ingredients such as serum and hydrolysates, manufacturers have better batch-to-batch consistency and less chance of contamination from adventitious viruses that may lurk in the undefined components during bioprocessing.

Pharmaceutical cell media can be purchased premade to perfectly complement your specific cell line and ensure its optimal growth and longevity based on pre-tested standards. Purchasing considerations for cell culture media include the types of cells being grown, the environment the cells will be exposed to, the chemical additives to be used within the cell-media matrix (for example, the addition of a drug component with specific chemical properties), and ultimately, the size of the cell culturing operation and the allocated budget.