Question

Compare serum-containing and serum-free media in terms of their advantage and disadvantages

Answer 1

Comparision of serum containing and serum free media:

Function of Serum in Cell Culture:

1.Hormone factors stimulate cell growth, proliferation and differentiation.

2.Attachment factors favour or enable the attachment of the cells to the culture dish (Biomatrix).

3.Transport and binding proteins take care among other things of the supply of hormones, minerals and lipids.

4.Serum proteins bind toxic substances.

5.This serum, mostly fetal bovine serum (FCS), is problematic for several reasons.

Disadvantages of Serum in Cell Culture

1.The composition of serum is not constant and varies with the age of the foetus, with the origin and feeding of the animals and with the time of the year.

2.Serum batches have to be tested for their suitability before use.

3.Test results are often not convincing and often not comparable because of the undefined and inconstant composition of the serum.

4.Risk of a contamination with bacteria, fungi, mycoplasm and virus from serum.

5.Risk of a contamination with TSE-agents (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy).

6.Possibility of a contamination of the end product with serum proteins or pyrogens.

7.Time-consuming cleaning of the end products from culture media containing serum.

8.Availability and costs of the serum.

Serum Free Cell Culture

Because of the numerous disadvantages of the cell culture with nutrient media containing serum, tests have been made for quite some time to establish cell cultures under serumfree conditions.

Advantages of Serum Free Cell Culture:

1.Lower risk with regard to a contamination with bacteria, fungi or virus.

2.Better defined and reproducible formulations allow more convincing and comparable research results.

3.Time-consuming batch tests are not necessary.

4.Elimination of a source for possible infectious agents (viruses, prions).

5.Facilitation of the cleaning of the end products.

6.Fulfilment of legal conditions for the production of medical products.

7.Reduction of contaminations of the end products by culture residues.