July 1, 2008
Figure 1.
Albumin is used in cell culture media as a replacement for serum because of its positive effect on cell growth and productivity (1,2,3). Albumin is a known transporter of nutrients, lipids, and it removes toxins and waste products (2,3). Albumin is a classic performance-enhancing ingredient in many serum-free media formulations (1). However beneficial, plasma-derived albumin is undesirable because animal products present potential contamination by infectious agents. Cellastim™ recombinant human serum albumin is an animal-free albumin specifically developed for enhancing cell culture performance. Cellastim™ is manufactured using a plantderived expression system free of animal-derived components.
Cellastim™ rHSA vs. pHSA
The benefit of supplementing media with Cellastim™ rHSA was compared with plasma-derived HSA (pHSA) in three cell lines: hybridoma, CHO, and vero. Cellastim™ was evaluated in a variety of serum-free formulations including serum-free, protein-free, and chemically defined. Growth and productivity of cells were determined with 1g/L Cellastim™ or pHSA at 1 g/L or without any HSA. The degree of benefit was averaged across media formulations for each cell line.
Improved Growth and Productivity
Hybridoma: Across 11 different serum-free media, Cellastim™ increased three-day growth 140% compared with 35% for pHSA. Productivity increased 93% compared with 23% for pHSA.
CHO: On average, Cellastim™ increased five-day growth 82% compared with 23% for pHSA in six media. Productivity increased 49% compared with a negligible increase for pHSA. Productivity gains up to 80% were observed.
Vero: Across four media, Cellastim™ increased three-day growth 135% compared with 23% for pHSA.
Cellastim™ rHSA Uses
Improve performance of serum-free formulations.
Reduce batch process time and increase batches per year production.
Optimize cell growth kinetics in batch culture and bioreactors.
Reduce expansion time of seed-train culture.
Use in custom media formulation.
Conclusions
Cellastim cell culture grade rHSA is a robust animal-free supplement that can improve growth and productivity of a range of cell lines in various media formulations. Cellastim showed a performance profile that exceeded that of plasmaderived HSA.
1.) Iscove, NN. 1978. Complete replacement of Serum by Albumin, Transferrin, and Soybean Lipid in Cultures of Lipopolysaccharide-Reactive B-Lymphocytes. J. Exp. Med. 147:923-933.
2.) Fasano, M. 2005. The Extraordinary Ligand Binding Properties of Human Serum Albumin. IUBMB Life 57:787-796.
3.) Halliwell, B. 1988. Albumin: an important Extracellular Antioxidant?. Biochem. Pharmacol. 37:569-571.
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