Optimizing Cell Culture Media – Achieving Super Soup DVD

Optimizing Cell Culture Media – Achieving Super Soup DVD

The cell culture medium is a dynamic mixture consisting of amino acids, vitamins, a source of energy, growth factors, trace minerals and other components in a buffered salt solution.  Each component has a shelf life, sensitivity to the physical environment and a variety of interactive and break-down products.  The Classical mammalian cell culture formulations require further supplementation with a protein source such as serum and were designed using cancer-derived cell lines.  Serum supplemented formulations for mammalian cells can be very sub-optimal for the growth of cells at high cell concentrations and for the isolation of recombinant products, antibodies or virus. This seminar will start with the role and problems associated with some of the key basic components of the medium and then show how Industry has been able to progress from serum-requiring to serum-free, to animal-component-free and then to chemically-defined formulations. 

Emphasis will be placed on how the cell culturist can reduce apoptosis by controlling the physical environment and the production of ammonia and free radicals through the optimization of the media formulation and the proper handling of the cells. Cell culturing conditions play an important role in providing a suitable environment for the growth and development of animal cells.  As expectations for productivity and reproducibility increase, a closer examination of mammalian cell culture media components is necessary.  Therefore, the instructors discuss key media components, their reason for inclusion in media and the positive and negative results of decay, and metabolic breakdown.  A rationale for monitoring some key media constituents and metabolites is also provided along with suggestions for enhancing culturing conditions and increasing productivity.

In the final presentation, Dr. Jason Nichol, a member of Ali Khademhosseini’s group at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Department of Medicine, will discuss their work in using microtechnologies such as microfluidics, micropatterning and micromolding of biomaterials for controlling the cellular microenvironment for regulating stem cell behavior and tissue formation.