Express Five™ SFM - FAQs

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12 product FAQs found

How do I adapt my cells to serum-free medium?

Cells can be adapted by Sequential or Direct Adaptation. Suggested protocols for each are below, and you can also find more information by searching "Adaptation of Cell Cultures to a Serum-Free Medium" from our website home page.

SEQUENTIAL ADAPTATION
1) Subculture the cells growing in serum-supplemented medium into a 25%:75% mixture of SFM and serum supplemented medium.
2) When the cell density is 5 x 10E5 cells/ml, subculture the cells into a 50%:50% mixture of SFM and serum supplemented medium at a cell density 2.5 x 10E5 to 3 x 10E5 cells/ml.
3) Continue to subculture after the cell density 5 x 10E5 cells/ml in gradually increasing proportions of SFM until the serum is ~0.1% with about 85% cell viability.
4) Subculture the cells into SFM with an innoculum of 2.5 x 10E5 to 3 x 10E5 cells/ml.
5) When the cell density is 1 x 10E6 to 3 x 10E6 cells/ml (4 to 6 days post planting) subculture the cells again.
6) Stock cultures of SFM adapted cells should be subcultured in SFM every 3 to 5 days when the cell density is 1 x 10E6 to 3 x 10E6 cells/ml with 90% viability.

DIRECT ADAPTATION
Some cells can be directly adapted from serum-containing medium to SFM. For direct adaptation, the cell innoculum should be 1.5 x 10E5 to 3 x 10E5 cells/ml.
Cells should be subcultured when the cell density is 1 x 10E6 to 3 x 10E6 cells/ml. Cells are fully adapted to SFM when the cell density is 2 x 10E6 to 4 x 10E6 cells/ml after 4 to 7 days in culture.
Stock cultures of cells adapted to SFM should be subcultured in SFM every 3 to 5 days when the cell density is 1 x 10E6 to 3 x 10E6 cells/ml with 90% viability.

Why is the glutamine requirement so high for Express Five media?

The glutamine concentration is correct. Insect media have historically been 2 to 10 fold higher in glutamine concentration vs. classical mammalian media. Express Five SFM was optimized for High Five cells which have especially high requirements for glutamine and asparagine. The liquid basal media is actually 1.09x in concentration and was designed to be diluted to the correct 1x composition with 90 ml/L of the 200 ml L-glutamine. Because the L-glutamine concentration is so high, we left it out of the basal formulation to avoid problems associated with glutamine degradation and the resulting ammonia build-up which can be toxic.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.

Why is it necessary to gradually adapt the cells to serum-free medium?

Some cells, such as insect cells, are sensitive to changes in their medium. By sequentially adapting cells, the medium is changed with minimal effects on cell growth.

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Can I use antibiotics such as Pen-Strep in Express Five SFM?

Many antibiotics are suitable for use with insect cells. The table on page 11 of the manual (https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/manuals/Insect_Cell_Lines_UG.pdf) summarizes some of the most commonly used antibiotics, their working concentrations, and their methods of action. Please see page 38 for ordering information.

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Can I add GlutaMAX to Express Five SFM instead of L-Glutamine?

We recommend that you use L-Glutamine instead of GlutaMAX, as insect cells lack the ability to sufficiently cleave the dipeptide bond in the GlutaMax, making it a poor source of glutamine for these cells.

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I am looking for a serum-free medium for growing Drosophila S-2 cells. What do you offer?

We recommend using Express Five SFM Medium (Cat. No. 10486025).

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Is there any cholesterol in your serum-free media for High-Five Cells?

There is no added cholesterol, however, there are yeastolates and hydrosylates which are cholesterol precursors. This is common for all insect serum-free media.

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Does your Express Five SFM contain L-glutamine? Is it protein free? Is it sterile-filtered?

Our Express Five SFM is protein free and sterile-filtered but does not contain L-glutamine.

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What is the detergent concentration in the Express Five SFM?

Please see the detergent concentrations below:
- 24 µg/L Tween-80
- 910 µg/L Pluronic Poly-all

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What antimicrobials can be used in insect culture and at what concentration?

Many antibiotics are suitable for use with insect cells. The following antibiotics are commonly used:
- Penicillin/Streptomycine: 50-100 U/mL; 50-100 µg/mL
- Amphotericin B (Fungizone antimycotic): 0.25 µg/mL
- Gentamicin: 0.5 mL of 10 mg/mL solution in 500 mL media (final concentration: 10 µg/mL)

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Is it necessary to heat-inactivate my serum before adding it to my medium?

Heat inactivation is not necessary. Our team has routinely used serum that has not been heat-inactivated, and we have not observed any effect on cell growth or morphology.

Many cells do not require heat-inactivated FBS. Some cells prefer heat-inactivated FBS. For instance, we use heat-inactivated FBS for our insect cell lines, i.e., Sf9 and Sf21 cells.

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Do you offer serum-free insect media?

Yes, we offer a variety of serum-free insect media. Please go here (http://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-culture/insect-cell-culture/insect-cell-culture-misc/serum-free-media.html?icid=cvc-insect-media-c2t2) to view the media we offer and the differences between them.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Culture Support Center.