Stock Liquid Solution For In Vitro Cell Culture Applications

By Marcus Curl, Director, Product Applications

Human serum albumin (HSA) has been identified as a powerful tool for the expansion of many cell types in vitro [1]. HSA is a multifaceted protein capable of binding many different types of molecules [2]. HSA therefore plays diverse roles in cell biology, acting as an antioxidant to improve health of cells by binding to reactive oxygen species, as an energy-delivery system by chaperoning fatty acids in the bloodstream, and as a mediator for solubilization and stabilization of metal ions required for cellular processes [2,3]. These functions make HSA supplementation of cell culture media an integral step in facilitating cell growth and expansion in vitro, especially when removing serum or blood-derived proteins for use in clinical manufacturing. Using Cellastim S as a recombinant and scalable source of albumin in cell culture is an enabling tool for large-scale manufacture of cell-based and gene therapies. It is the goal of this app note to provide a step-by-step overview for preparing Cellastim S for use as a stock liquid solution for in vitro cell culture applications.