BME
Basal Medium Eagle (BME) was originally developed by Harry Eagle as a minimum formulation to support the growth of monolayer cultures. BME used with a serum supplement is well suited for a wide variety of normal and transformed cell lines.

DMEM
Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) is one of many modifications of Eagle’s BME and possibly the most widely used. DMEM was originally formulated by Renato Dulbecco to support the growth of non-transformed mouse and chicken cells. In comparison with BME, it contains a four-fold higher concentration of amino acids, vitamins and additional components and is available in various modifications of the original formulation. DMEM and its modifications, typically used with a serum supplement, support the growth of a broad spectrum of mammalian cells.

DMEM is available in high glucose and low glucose formulations, with different combinations of L-glutamine and sodium pyruvate. Additionally, these formulations are also offered with further modifications.

DMEM:F-12
Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium/Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM:F-12) is a 1:1 mixture of DMEM and F-12. This mixture was found to support the growth of a wide range of mammalian cells under serum-free conditions when supplemented with hormones, growth factors and additional nutrients.

HEPES buffer at a final concentration of 15mM is included to compensate for the loss of buffering capacity resulting from the omission of serum.

This medium is also available without L-glutamine, and with our stable L-glutamine substitutes.

F-12
Ham’s Nutrient Mixture F-12 (F-12) was originally formulated for the serum-free growth of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, lung cells and mouse L-cells. It now is widely used with whole or dialyzed serum, or in combination with hormones and other supplements for serum-free cultures. F-12 supports the growth of a broad spectrum of mammalian and hybridoma cells.

F-12 is also available with HEPES buffer, providing a more effective buffering capacity in the optimum pH range of 7.2 to 7.4.

Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium
Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium (IMDM), a modification of DMEM, was published by Guilbert and Iscove in 1976. It was designed to be used as a defined serum-free medium to support the growth of precursor cells of erythrocytes and macrophages when supplemented with albumin, lecithin and transferrin. With a serum supplement, IMDM supports the growth of a wide range of mammalian cells.

IMDM is available with or without HEPES buffer.

Leibovitz’s L-15
Leibovitz’s L-15 Medium was formulated to support the growth and proliferation of a variety of established cell lines as well as primary cells in non-CO2-equilibrated environments. This medium does not require a sodium bicarbonate buffer system, but is buffered by a complement of phosphate salts, galactose, and free base amino acids.

McCoy’s 5A
McCoy’s 5A Medium is a modification of Basal Medium 5A, based on McCoy’s results in 1959 regarding the amino acid requirements of hepatoma cells in culture. The current formulation reflects further modifications by Iwakata and Grace, based on their work with human myeloblasts. McCoy’s 5A Medium, Iwakata and Grace Modification, is used for primary and established cell lines.

Media 199
Medium 199 was originally described by Morgan, Morton, and Parker in 1950, as one of the first defined media used without a serum supplement for the continuous growth of primary chick embryo fibroblasts and heart cells. It is currently used supplemented with serum in virology and vaccine production, and in the culture of many non-transformed cells. It is also used in combination with less complex media.

Medium 199 containing Earle’s Balanced Salts (EBSS) is designed for use in atmospheres charged with CO2 gas, whereas Medium 199 containing Hanks’ Balanced Salts (HBSS) is intended for an air atmosphere in closed containers.

MEM
Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) was developed by Harry Eagle as a modification of Eagle’s earlier medium Basal Medium Eagle (BME) and formulated with higher concentrations of essential nutrients.
MEM containing Earle’s Balanced Salts (EBSS) was designed for use in atmospheres charged with CO2 gas, whereas MEM containing Hanks’ Balanced Salts (HBSS) is intended for an air atmosphere in closed containers. NEAA Modified MEM/EBSS includes non-essential amino acids to further support cell growth and expression. The Alpha Modification (alpha-MEM) contains additional amino acids, vitamins, and is also available with additional nucleosides. Alpha-MEM was developed for the growth of hybrid mouse and hamster cells.

Minimum Essential Media are widely used and are well suited for a wide variety of mammalian cell lines.

MEM is available with EBSS, HBSS, NEAA, and as Alpha-modification. These formulations are also offered with further modifications.

RPMI 1640
RPMI 1640 was developed by Moore and his co-workers as a modification of McCoy’s 5A medium while at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in 1966. Originally developed for human leukemic cells in monolayer or suspension cultures, it has since been shown to support a broad spectrum of anchorage dependent and suspension mammalian cells. It is also widely used in hybridoma fusion protocols and to support the growth of hybrid cells.

This enriched medium is available with or without L-glutamine, with stable L-glutamine substitutes and with HEPES buffer.