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Classical Cell Culture Media

R&D Systems™ Classical Media for cell culture are designed to support the in vitro cultivation of cell lines, primary mammalian cells, and advanced cell culture models. With over 30 years of experience, our classical cell culture media are manufactured with the same quality and lot-to-lot consistency that researchers worldwide expect from our highly bioactive recombinant proteins. We offer ready-to-use liquid formulations of classical media as well as custom options for powder media and formula modifications.

 

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Classical Media

Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM)

DMEM is a modification of Eagle’s Basal Medium Eagle (BME) that is widely used for cell culture. Formulated by Renato Dulbecco, DMEM was designed to support the growth of non-transformed mouse and chicken cells; it is currently used as a base medium for culturing a broad spectrum of mammalian cells, including cell lines and primary cells such as fibroblasts, HUVECs, neurons, and glia. In comparison with Eagle’s BME, DMEM contains a four-fold higher concentration of amino acids and vitamins as well as additional nutrient components. DMEM is typically supplemented with fetal bovine serum or uses serum-free supplements. R&D Systems offers DMEM in high glucose and low glucose formulations, featuring different combinations of L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate.

DMEM, High Glucose Media DMEM, Low Glucose Media

Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM)

 

DMEM/F-12 Medium

Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium/Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM:F-12) is a 1:1 mixture of DMEM and F-12. This mixture was found to support the growth of a wide range of primary and immortalized mammalian cells under serum-free conditions when supplemented with hormones, growth factors and additional nutrients. DMEM/F-12 cell culture medium often contains HEPES to increase buffering capacity under serum-free culture conditions. R&D Systems offers DMEM/F-12 with and without L-glutamine or GlutaminePlus™ (stable glutamine).

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Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium

 

RPMI 1640 Medium

RPMI 1640 cell culture medium was developed in 1966 at Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) by George Moore and his co-workers as a modification of McCoy’s 5A medium. Traditionally used for culturing human lymphocytes, RPMI 1640 has been shown to support adherent and suspension culture for a broad spectrum of mammalian cells. It is also used in hybridoma fusion protocols and to support the growth of hybrid cells. RPMI 1640 often requires supplementation with serum (fetal bovine serum) or serum-free media supplements, since this medium does not contain proteins, lipids, or growth factors. R&D Systems offers RPMI 1640 with or without L-glutamine, stable L-glutamine substitutes, or HEPES buffer.

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RPMI 1640 Medium

 

Minimum Essential Medium (MEM)

Minimum Essential Media (MEM) is a cell culture medium that is suited for a wide variety of mammalian cell culture applications. MEM was developed by Harry Eagle as a modification of Basal Medium Eagle (BME) and formulated to contain higher concentrations of essential nutrients. R&D Systems offers MEM containing Earle’s Balanced Salts (for CO2-based cell culture) or Hanks’ Balanced Salts (for air atmosphere cultures using closed containers). We also offer MEM-Alpha Modification containing additional amino acids, vitamins, and nucleosides specialized for the growth of hybrid mouse and hamster cells.

MEM (Hank’s)  MEM (Earle’s)  MEM-Alpha Modification

 

Minimum Essential Medium (MEM)

 

Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 Medium

Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 (F-12) cell culture medium was originally formulated for the serum-free growth of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, lung cells, and mouse L-cells. It now is widely used with whole or dialyzed serum, or in combination with hormones and other supplements for serum-free cell culture. F-12 supports the growth of a broad spectrum of mammalian and hybridoma cells. R&D Systems™ F-12 is available with or without L-glutamine, GlutaminePlus™, or 25mM HEPES buffer.

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Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 Medium

 

Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium

Leibovitz’s L-15 cell culture medium supports the growth and proliferation of cell lines, human tumor cells, and primary cells in the absence of CO2. This medium does not require a sodium bicarbonate buffer system, but is buffered by a complement of phosphate salts, galactose, and free base amino acids.

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Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium

 

Custom Media Modifications

Modifications to our classical media are easily accessible through our custom media manufacturing group. We offer custom options to optimize your workflow within your budget requirements. Our services include formulation modifications, custom bottling volumes, and powder media manufacturing.

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Custom Media Services

 

Advanced and Specialized Media

Immune Cell Culture Media

Immune cells (T cells, NK cells, B cells, etc.) hold promise in defining new immuno-oncology targets and as sources for cell therapy manufacturing. Our portfolio of ExCellerate™ Immune Cell Culture Media is formulated for the robust xeno-free, ex vivo expansion and maintenance of specific leukocyte and monocyte populations.

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ExCellerate Media

 

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture Media

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that possess anti-inflammatory properties, making them attractive targets for research and development of regenerative medicine therapeutics. Ex vivo culture of MSCs requires specialized cell culture media that optimizes expansion while maintaining cell multipotency. R&D Systems offers serum-containing, serum-free, xeno-free, and GMP cell culture media options for MSCs.

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Mesenchymal Stem Cell Culture Media

 

Endothelial Cell Culture Medium

Primary endothelial cells are used for the study of developmental and disease mechanisms involving the blood vessels, such as angiogenesis. Culturing endothelial cells requires media supplemented with FGF basic, IGF-1, VEGF 165, EGF, and other specialized additives. Our Endothelial Cell Growth Medium is a low serum formulation that features a base culture media with a supplement designed to optimize the long-term culture of human endothelial cells. Base media and supplements can be purchased together or separately.

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Endothelial Cell Culture Medium

 

Pluripotent Stem Cells

Expansion and maintenance of embryonic (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) require defined media conditions that ensure maintained expression of stemness markers and cell pluripotency. R&D Systems offers media for the culture of mouse embryonic stem cells as well as a stem cell-specific cryopreservation medium.

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Pluripotent Stem Cells

 

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