Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Culture Media

Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are typically cultured in several types of media, depending on the specific requirements of the experiment or production process. Commonly used media include:

• Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM): Often supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and other additives such as L-glutamine, non-essential amino acids, and antibiotics
• Ham's F-12 Nutrient Mixture: Frequently used alone or in combination with DMEM (e.g., DMEM/F-12) and supplemented with FBS and other nutrients
• RPMI-1640 Medium
• Serum-Free Media: without the use of animal serum (e.g., CHO-S-SFM II, EX-CELL® CHO DHFR-, CD OptiCHO™ Medium)
• Protein-Free Media: without the use of animal-derived proteins (e.g., CD CHO Medium, CHOgro® Expression Medium)

Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are cultured in the following way:

• Preparation: Use appropriate culture media (e.g., DMEM, Ham's F-12) supplemented with necessary nutrients
• Seeding: Plate cells in a sterile culture vessel (e.g., flasks, plates) at the desired density
• Incubation: Maintain cells in an incubator at 37°C with 5% CO₂
• Feeding: Regularly replace the spent media with fresh media to provide nutrients and remove waste
• Subculturing: Periodically pass the cells to new culture vessels to prevent over-confluence and maintain healthy growth

When selecting CHO cell culture media, consider:

1. Nutritional Requirements: Ensure the media provides all necessary nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, to support optimal cell growth and productivity
   
   
2. Serum Content: Decide between serum-containing, serum-free, or protein-free media based on the need for consistency, cost, and regulatory considerations. Serum-free and protein-free media are often preferred for biopharmaceutical production
   
   
3. Cell Line Compatibility: Choose a media formulation that is compatible and optimized for the specific CHO cell line you are using
   
   
4. Productivity and Quality: Evaluate how the media affects the yield and quality of the desired product, such as recombinant proteins or monoclonal antibodies
   
   
5. Regulatory Compliance: For biopharmaceutical applications, ensure the media components meet regulatory standards and are free from animal-derived components if required