Search
On this page:
Support T cell growth with CTS cell therapy media
Maintaining consistent T cell activation and expansion can be challenging, especially when donor variability, open handling steps, and complex supplementation can introduce inconsistency into early culture performance. These pressures make it difficult to achieve reproducible viability, stable early memory phenotypes, and reliable scale-up. Gibco CTS OpTmizer cell therapy media are designed to support efficient, standardized T cell growth by offering defined, serum-free, and animal origin–free (AOF) formulations that can integrate easily into closed and automated bioprocessing workflows.
Benefits of CTS cell therapy media
Across T cell applications, CTS OpTmizer cell culture media formulations support strong proliferation, early memory phenotype retention, and steady cell viability across diverse donor sources. Designed for use from bench development through clinical manufacturing, they offer flexible options for activation, expansion, and engineering within closed, automation-ready environments.
Support consistent T cell expansion across donors and culture formats
CTS OpTmizer One SFM supports reliable T cell proliferation with a defined AOF formulation designed to help reduce the risk of adventitious agent introduction. Studies across healthy and diseased donor sources show robust fold expansion, with performance observed across multiple culture formats, including static and rocking bioreactors, as well as stirred-tank systems.
Figure 1. Total Cell Count . Comparable or higher cell growth (bars) was consistently demonstrated in healthy donors (dots) with CTS OpTmizer One SFM relative to media from three different suppliers (CM1, CM2, and CM3).
Figure 2. Fold expansion . By day 10, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) donor cells achieved more consistent and robust expansion (284-fold, as indicated by bars) with CTS OpTmizer One SFM compared to media from other suppliers (CM1, CM2, and CM3).
Enable scalable T cell expansion across autologous therapies
CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM has demonstrated consistent performance across culture plates and larger bioreactor formats, with fold expansion profiles that compare favorably to serum-containing media during scale-up.
Figure 3. Fold expansion of T cells in three bioreactors . Cultures exhibited higher fold expansion in stirred-tank bioreactors, followed by rocking-motion and static systems.
Maintain early memory phenotypes and high viability
Support stable early memory phenotypes and high viability across varied donor sources with media for cell therapy, such as the CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM. This medium is formulated to help maintain CCR7⁺ and CD62L⁺ markers during activation and expansion. Data from healthy and diseased donor studies demonstrate proliferation and phenotype stability across extended culture periods.
Figure 4. T cell proliferation in healthy donors evaluated using CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM. Enhanced cell growth was observed when cultured in the presence of CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM. Cells from six healthy donors were expanded in CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM. Cells were assessed on day 17. The results of the study showed that improved growth became more pronounced overtime, as indicated by an average increase of 187% compared to CTS OpTmizer SFM.
Ordering information
Related resource
Enhance your workflow with connected cell therapy solutions
Strengthen upstream consistency by integrating cell therapy products that support isolation, activation, and expansion across development and manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM is the original formulation designed to support consistent T cell activation and expansion during early development. CTS OpTmizer One SFM builds on that foundation with a defined, AOF formulation compatible with closed, automated systems, supporting reliable proliferation across donor sources and a wider range of culture platforms.
Autologous processes typically benefit from media that perform reliably with variable patient-derived starting material. CTS OpTmizer One SFM offers a defined option for activation and expansion with steady viability, while CTS OpTmizer T Cell Expansion SFM supports established clinical processes that require consistent optical readouts and standardized culture conditions.
Allogeneic manufacturing often requires longer culture periods and higher cell numbers, making CTS OpTmizer Pro SFM an attractive option. Its thoughtfully designed formulation supports strong proliferation and helps sustain early memory characteristics across extended timelines, facilitating alignment with the demands of donor-derived, large-scale production. CTS OpTmizer One SFM is a flexible, workflow-agnostic option that can be used across both autologous and allogeneic applications based on process needs.
Start by establishing defined activation conditions and maintaining early memory phenotypes throughout expansion. Pairing CTS OpTmizer cell therapy media with CTS Dynabeads CD3/CD28 beads for controlled activation can help set a consistent foundation, while automated systems, such as the CTS DynaCellect Magnetic Separation System or CTS Rotea Counterflow Centrifugation System, support steady handling as cultures scale. Together, these solutions can help improve expansion, viability, and early memory marker retention in engineered and donor-derived workflows.
Successful scale-up depends on using materials with appropriate quality documentation, establishing clear process controls early, and maintaining consistency as volumes increase. The Gibco Cell Therapy Systems (CTS) portfolio can help streamline this transition. CTS products, including CTS OpTmizer cell therapy media, are GMP manufactured and supplied with the documentation needed to support regulatory filings. Technical support helps teams adapt their processes as they transition from development to clinical and commercial manufacturing.
Additional bioprocessing resources
Bioprocessing resources
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.