PeloBiotech

www.pelobiotech.com
Cell culture media play a pivotal role in establishing an environment conducive to optimal cellular growth and function.
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), a commonly used additive, provides essential nutrients, growth factors, and hormones crucial
for cell proliferation. Ethical and regulatory considerations prompt researchers to explore animal origin-free alternatives,
such as Human Platelet Lysate (hPL), derived from human platelets, ensuring a consistently ethically sourced supply. To
exercise even greater control, defined media exclude undefined components, offering precision in shaping culture
conditions.
Key components, including the buffer system for pH stability, carbon sources for energy, pH indicators for acidity level
monitoring, antibiotics for contamination prevention, and metabolites like amino acids, vitamins, and minerals for
nutritional support, contribute to the intricate balance. While serum-rich in nutrients introduces variability, defined media
empower researchers with explicit control over each component, facilitating fine-tuning of the culture environment. This
depth of understanding enables scientists to tailor media formulations to meet specific cellular requirements, fostering
successful and reproducible cell culture experiments. Ensuring the sterility and quality of individual components is
imperative for achieving GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) quality in the final media, highlighting the importance of
meticulous handling and stringent quality control measures.
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)
FBS is derived from the blood of fetal bovines and serves as a rich source of nutrients, growth factors, and hormones
essential for cell culture. The production of FBS involves collecting blood from fetal calves during the slaughter process.
After collection, the blood is processed to extract the serum, which is then subjected to filtration and heat inactivation to
eliminate potential contaminants. FBS is graded based on its origin, processing methods, and the absence of contaminants.
Research-grade FBS is commonly used in basic research, while GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) grade adheres to more
stringent quality control standards, making it suitable for the production of biopharmaceuticals or clinical applications.
Advantages:
• Rich in nutrients and growth factors, supporting a wide range of cell types.
• Well-established and widely used in cell culture applications.
• Enhances cell attachment, proliferation, and viability.
Disadvantages:
• Batch-to-batch variability can impact experimental consistency.
• Concerns about ethical and regulatory issues related to its production.
• Potential risk of introducing contaminants like mycoplasma.
Human Platelet Lysate (hPL)
HPL is an animal origin-free alternative to FBS, often chosen to address ethical concerns and regulatory restrictions. Its
production involves the collection of human platelets, typically obtained from donor blood. HPL grades vary based on
specific quality parameters. Fibrinogen-depleted hPL eliminates fibrinogen, reducing the risk of clot formation in cultures.
Gamma-irradiated hPL undergoes irradiation to ensure sterility. These different grades cater to diverse applications, with
researchers selecting the grade that aligns with their specific needs, whether it be minimizing the risk of contamination,
ensuring sterility, or meeting regulatory requirements. The flexibility in hPL grades allows for customization based on the
desired characteristics for specific cell culture applications. We also offer AB serum, A serum, BSA, HAS and other
supplemented media with ECGS and BPE.
Advantages:
• Animal origin-free, addressing ethical and regulatory concerns.
• Consistent composition, reducing batch-to-batch variability.
• Supports cell growth and expansion comparable to FBS.
Disadvantages:
• Costlier compared to FBS.
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