PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12 (CD-DMEM F-12)

Description

PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12 for Serum-Free Mammalian Cell Culture (CD- DMEM/F12)

Product Description

PurMa™ Chemically Defined (CD) DMEM/F12 is an advanced serum-free and animal-component–free medium formulated for highly reproducible mammalian cell culture. It contains only fully defined components, including amino acids, vitamins, salts, sugars, L‑alanyl‑L‑glutamine, and a proprietary synthetic cocktail of growth factors and hormones, eliminating the variability associated with FBS and other undefined supplements.

Traditional DMEM/F12 formulations depend on serum for growth factors and survival signals, which introduces lot-to-lot variability and complicates regulatory compliance. In contrast, PurMa™CD DMEM/F12 provides known quantities of pure chemicals and synthetic growth factors, creating a consistent and tightly controlled environment for in vitro cell growth, process development, and mechanistic studies.

Key Features of PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12

•  PurMa chemically defined DMEMF12 contains no animal-derived or undefined components
• Contains L‑alanyl‑L‑glutamine (DMEM/F12 MAX formulation) for improved stability and longer shelf life
• Proprietary synthetic cocktail of growth factors, hormones, and nutrients – independent of serum
• CD-DMEM/F12 chemically defined medium offers high reproducibility for research, bioprocess development, and regulatory applications
• Designed for custom formulations tailored to diverse mammalian and primary cell types
• CD-DMEMF12 is in fact the serum-free type of Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium F12, which is proven to support robust cell growth and viability in serum-free conditions

The core of this chemically defined DMEM/F12 is the DMEM/F12 MAX base, which includes L‑alanyl‑L‑glutamine in place of free L‑glutamine to minimize ammonia buildup, increase pH stability, and reduce the risk of contamination. The addition of well-characterized synthetic growth factors and hormones allows the medium to fully support cell proliferation without any FBS.

Gradual Transition from FBS to Chemically Defined DMEM/F12

To adapt cells from serum-containing media to PurMa™ chemically defined DMEM/F12, a gradual reduction of FBS is strongly recommended:

• Start: Control in 10% FBS (standard medium)
• Parallel control: 10% FBS + PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12
• Then, every 48 hours reduce FBS in PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12 to: 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, then 1%
• Final step (after 24 hours at 1%): 0% FBS with only PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12

At each step, spin down the cells, fully discard the old medium, and replace with fresh medium containing the next lower FBS percentage. It is not necessary to start with very high cell numbers, but using more than one plate is recommended because some plates may become contaminated.

Once cells are fully adapted to PurMa™ chemically defined DMEM/F12, they should remain in the same chemically defined formulation and vendor, including during freezing and thawing. After adaptation, prepare multiple plates and freeze several vials. During the first week after thawing, supplement PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12 with 10% PurMa™ CD Booster (Cat# P3C10144) to support recovery.

Formulation Overview

PurMa™ Chemically Defined DMEM/F12 is based on the DMEM/F12 MAX formulation, which includes:DMEM/F12 MAX Formulation

• L‑alanyl‑L‑glutamine (stable dipeptide)
• High-glucose DMEM/F12 components (amino acids, vitamins, salts, sugars)
• Optimized buffering system for pH stability
• Proprietary, fully synthetic growth factors, hormones, and nutrients

The  chemically defined DMEM/F12 is independent of any serum addition, enabling consistent, regulatory-friendly cell culture workflows.

FAQ

Q1. What is PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12?
A1. PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12 is a serum-free, animal-component–free, CD DMEM/F12 medium. It contains only pure, known chemicals and a proprietary mixture of synthetic growth factors and hormones, providing a fully controlled environment for mammalian cell culture and high experimental reproducibility.

Q2. How is PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12 different from standard DMEM/F12 with FBS?
A2. Standard DMEM/F12 with FBS relies on undefined, animal-derived components, leading to variability between batches. PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12 removes serum and all undefined components, replacing them with defined nutrients and synthetic growth factors. This improves consistency, facilitates regulatory compliance, and allows more precise control of cellular responses.

Q3. Why does the medium use L-alanyl-L-glutamine (MAX formulation)?
A3. L‑alanyl‑L‑glutamine is a stable dipeptide that prevents rapid L‑glutamine degradation and ammonia buildup. By using this MAX formulation in our chemically defined DMEM/F12, the medium offers longer shelf life, better pH stability, and a reduced risk of toxicity or contamination compared to media containing free L‑glutamine.

Q4. How do I transition my cells from FBS-containing media to PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12?
A4. Gradually reduce FBS while increasing the proportion of PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12. Start with 10% FBS, then step down to 8%, 6%, 4%, 2%, and 1% every 48 hours, spinning down cells and fully replacing the medium at each step. Finally, move to 0% FBS with only PurMa™ CD DMEM/F12. Maintaining parallel controls in standard 10% FBS is recommended for comparison.

References

1.  Clonal growth of mammalian cells in a chemically defined, synthetic medium . DULBECCO et al. 1959 Jul;8(3):396-7. doi: 10.1016 /0042-68 22(59)90043-1. PMID: 13669362.
2. Plaque production by the polyoma virus. DULBECCO et al. 1959 Jul;8(3):396-7. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(59)90043-1. PMID: 1366936.
3. Evaluation of a simple protein free medium that supports high levels of monoclonal antibody production. Qi et al. 1996 Jun;21(2):95-109. doi: 10.1007/BF02215660. PMID: 22358660.

Learn more: What Is DMEM/F-12?