Analytics-Based Process Development Strategy By Monitoring Amino Acids In Insect Cell Media

Insect cell lines like Sf9 and Sf21 are very adaptable to both culturing in adherent and suspension cultures, and in traditional media with serum, serum-free media, and protein-free media. The selection of the appropriate media is based on a variety of conditions, but one of the most important is the amino acid content. Many amino acids are not synthesized by insect cells, and some are crucial to be added to cell media for optimal growth and/or protein production. Knowledge of the insect cell metabolism coupled with an understanding of the amino acid content of the cell media allows for a more informed process development analytics strategy to correlate changes in cell growth/viability and productivity to the nutrient contents of the media.

This brief analysis demonstrates how it is vital to consider measuring the composition of amino acids in insect cell media. Knowledge of insect cell metabolism coupled with understanding of the amino acid content of the cell media allows for more informed process development.