CTS™ NK-Xpander™ Medium, 500 mL, bottle - FAQs

View additional product information for CTS™ NK-Xpander™ Medium - FAQs (A5019001, A5019002, A5019003, A5019004, A5019005)

16 product FAQs found

What is CTS?

The Gibco Cell Therapy Systems (CTS) portfolio of cell and gene therapy products are GMP manufactured, safety tested, and backed by regulatory documentation to support your transition from discovery through clinical and commercial manufacturing. Through our CTS solutions, we are committed to helping customers streamline therapeutic development, minimize risk, and ease the burden on their quality systems. Learn more here.

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What medium do you recommend for the expansion of Natural Killer (NK) cells?

We recommend CTS NK-Xpander Medium (Cat. Nos. A5019001, A5019002) for the expansion of Natural Killer (NK) cells.

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Does the 100 mL CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X) also come in a bag?

No, due to challenges pertaining to storage and shipping, at this time, the 100 mL CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X) is provided in a bottle and must be added aseptically by septum cap via gravity or needle syringe.

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For how long can CTS NK-Xpander complete medium be used?

CTS NK-Xpander complete medium (CTS NK-Xpander Basal Medium, CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X), and 5% hAB serum) is stable for 3 weeks when stored in the dark at 2 to 8 degrees C.

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What is the shelf life for CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X)?

The shelf-life for CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X) is 12 months when stored at -20 to -5 degrees C, protected from light.
Note: Shelf-life duration is determined from Date of Manufacture as stated in the product manual. The expiration date is listed on the bottle.

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What is the shelf life for CTS NK-Xpander Basal Medium?

The shelf-life for CTS NK-Xpander Basal Medium is 12 months when stored at 2 to 8 degrees C, protected from light.
Note: Shelf-life duration is determined from Date of Manufacture as stated in the product manual. The expiration date is listed on the bottle.

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

At what temperature should I store CTS NK-Xpander Basal Medium and CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X)?

We recommend storing CTS NK-Xpander Basal Medium at 2 to 8 degrees C, protected from light and CTS NK-Xpander Supplement (50X) at -20 to -5 degrees C, protected from light.

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Is it normal to see solute in CTS NK-Xpander Supplement?

The appearance of solute in CTS NK-Xpander Supplement is normal after thaw and does not affect performance. Once the supplement reaches ambient temperature, mix gently by inverting the bottle 8-10 times. After mixing, no solute should be visible.

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When should I expect to see the most expansion of my NK cells using CTS NK-Xpander Medium?

The most NK cell expansion can be seen after Day 5.

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How can I address cell attachment in my NK cell culture?

Cell attachment is more frequently seen in flasks than plates. A cell scraper can be used to gently remove cells that lightly adhere to the flask surface. We recommend using non-tissue culture treated plates and flasks when expanding NK cells.

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Is it possible to get alternative volumes of CTS NK-Xpander Medium?

Yes. Custom batches of cGMP-manufactured CTS NK-Xpander Medium can be obtained in alternative bag sizes or tubing configurations through our Custom Media Service channel (custommedia@thermofisher.com).

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Does CTS NK-Xpander Medium contain blood-derived components?

No. CTS NK-Xpander Medium is manufactured under animal origin-free (AOF) conditions; however, we recommend supplementation of CTS NK-Xpander Medium with human AB serum for best results.

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Does CTS NK-Xpander Medium require activation beads for NK cell proliferation?

No. Unlike cytotoxic T cells, activation beads are not required for NK cell proliferation.

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Have you tried supplementing CTS NK-Xpander Medium with IL-15, IL-21, or other cytokines?

Yes. Combinations of IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21 were tested with CTS NK-Xpander Medium; however, alternative combinations were not found to affect performance or functionality. We recommend supplementation with IL-2 only.

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Can I use CTS NK-Xpander Medium to expand NK cells in a serum-free culture system?

Yes. Customer data has shown that CTS NK-Xpander Medium is capable of proliferating NK cells using 5% CTS Immune Cell Serum Replacement (SR) (Cat. No. A2596101, A2596102) with modified K562 feeder cells; however, this protocol has not been optimized in-house.

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Can I use CTS NK-Xpander Medium in a feeder culture system?

Yes. Customer data has shown that CTS NK-Xpander Medium is capable of proliferating NK cells in feeder culture systems; however, as it has not been tested for use with feeder cells in-house, we recommend optimization for best results.

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