Advantages and Disadvantages of Serum-Free Media.
No. |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
1. |
Variation due to batch change of serum is avoided, thereby improving reproducibility in time and place. |
Different media required for different cell types, since serum-free media are specific to one cell type. |
2. |
Easier downstream processing. |
Desired formulations which are reliable are not commercially available. |
3. |
Toxic effects of serum avoided. |
A greater control of pH, temperature, etc. is required when compared to serum-containing media. |
4. |
Bioassays free from interference with serum proteins. |
Growth rate and cell density attained are lower. |
5. |
No danger of degradation of sensitive protein Serum protease. |
Cells tend to become fragile. |
6. |
Permits selective culture of differentiated cells and producing cell types from a heterogeneous culture. |
|
3. Chemically defined mediaThese media contain contaminationfree ultra-pure inorganic and organic constituents. They may contain pure protein additives like insulin, epidermal growth factors, etc., that have been produced in bacteria or yeast by genetic engineering.
4. Protein-free media These contain only non-protein constituents
which are necessary for culture of the cells.