{"id":102801,"date":"2024-07-08T16:20:09","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T22:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/?post_type=product&#038;p=102801"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:43:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T18:43:43","slug":"rpmi-1640-max","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/product\/rpmi-1640-max\/","title":{"rendered":"PurMa\u2122 Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640-MAX (RPMI-1640-MAX)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>PurMa\u2122 RPMI-1640-MAX Cell Culture Medium<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>Product Description<\/h2>\n<p>PurMa\u2122 RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine. PurMa\u2122 Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640-MAX (RPMI-1640-MAX) is a specialized mammalian cell culture medium. This RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium is engineered for demanding research and bioprocess workflows that need stable glutamine and strong pH control. The key innovation in RPMI-1640-MAX is the use of L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine instead of free L\u2011glutamine. This single change dramatically improves medium stability, shelf life, and performance in culture.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What makes RPMI-1640-MAX different?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The major difference between RPMI-1640-MAX and regular RPMI\u20111640 is the glutamine source. Standard RPMI\u20111640 contains free L\u2011glutamine, which is chemically unstable in aqueous solution. Over time, L\u2011glutamine degrades and generates toxic ammonia and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. PurMa\u2122 RPMI-1640-MAX replaces L\u2011glutamine with 4 mM L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine (0.869 g\/L). This dipeptide is far more stable and degrades much more slowly in liquid media. As a result, the medium maintains its composition, pH, and performance for a longer period.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Advantages of RPMI-1640-MAX over standard RPMI\u20111640<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Because RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine, it offers several critical performance advantages:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Higher pH buffering capacity<\/strong><br \/>\nOptimized sodium bicarbonate and, where applicable, HEPES levels provide superior pH stability during culture.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Longer shelf life<\/strong><br \/>\nRPMI1640 with l alanyl lglutamine is highly stable in aqueous solution, extending the functional shelf life of the medium.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduced toxic ammonia build\u2011up<\/strong><br \/>\nMinimal glutamine degradation means less ammonia accumulation, helping protect sensitive cell lines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Improved cell viability and growth<\/strong><br \/>\nMore stable glutamine delivery supports robust proliferation and higher overall culture performance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Temperature stability<\/strong><br \/>\nThe formulation remains stable across a wide range of temperatures during storage and handling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Better performance with primary cells<\/strong><br \/>\nPrimary and hard\u2011to\u2011grow cells often respond better to the lower ammonia and stable nutrient environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These advantages make RPMI-1640-MAX ideally suited for long\u2011term cultures, high\u2011density cultures, and experiments that require reproducible conditions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mechanism: Why L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>L\u2011glutamine is an essential amino acid for mammalian cell growth and protein synthesis.<br \/>\nHowever, in aqueous media it degrades over time, producing ammonia and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.<br \/>\nThis degradation changes the medium composition, raises toxicity, and can compromise experimental results.<\/p>\n<p>One strategy is to repeatedly add fresh L\u2011glutamine to the culture.<br \/>\nIn practice, this is labor\u2011intensive and difficult to control precisely over time.<\/p>\n<p>Advantages of a cell culture medium that contains L-alanyl-L-glutamine.<br \/>\nThis dipeptide is much more stable in solution and does not rapidly generate ammonia.<br \/>\nInstead, cellular aminopeptidases gradually cleave L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine into L\u2011glutamine and L\u2011alanine.<br \/>\nThe released amino acids are then used by the cells for protein synthesis and energy production in the TCA cycle.<\/p>\n<p>By providing a controlled, sustained release of glutamine, RPMI-1640-MAX helps maintain consistent culture conditions from start to finish.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Composition of RPMI-1640-MAX<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PurMa\u2122 RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium is based on a modified RPMI\u20111640 formulation and contains:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4 mM L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine (0.869 g\/L) instead of L\u2011glutamine<\/li>\n<li>5 mM <a href=\"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/product\/cell-culture-supplements\/\">sodium pyruvate<\/a><\/li>\n<li>High glucose (4.5 g\/L)<\/li>\n<li>Non\u2011essential amino acids (NEAA)<\/li>\n<li>3.7 g\/L sodium bicarbonate<\/li>\n<li>Phenol red as a pH indicator<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>PurMa Biologics manufactures several RPMI-1640-MAX variants with different sodium bicarbonate and HEPES concentrations. For instance RPMI1640-MAX alanyl lglutamine hepes without phenol is available in PurMa Biologics. The combination of L-alanyl-L-glutamine and HEPES offers an extra buffering capacity which prevents contamination against mold as well as mycoplasma. PurMa Biologics manufactures\u00a0 RPMI with\u00a0 lglutamine hepes without phenol red as well: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/product\/optimizing-cell-culture-with-purma-rpmi-1640-cell-culture-medium\/\">Here is the Link\u00a0<\/a><\/span><br \/>\nThese options allow you to select the pH buffering capacity that best matches your incubator conditions and experimental needs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine but does not contain any proteins, lipids, or growth factors.<br \/>\nFor complete medium, supplementation with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or an appropriate serum replacement is required.<\/p>\n<h4>Formulation<\/h4>\n<p>For complete formulation click here: <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/RPMI-1640-MAX-Formulation-P3M110109.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RPMI-1640 MAX Formulation<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h5>Applications<\/h5>\n<p>This RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium is designed for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Routine culture of mammalian cell lines historically grown in RPMI\u20111640<\/li>\n<li>Long\u2011term and high\u2011density cultures requiring stable glutamine levels<\/li>\n<li>Primary cells and sensitive cell types that are susceptible to ammonia toxicity<\/li>\n<li>Experiments needing highly reproducible metabolic and pH conditions<\/li>\n<li>Assays where changes in ammonia or pH could confound functional readouts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By minimizing medium variability, RPMI-1640-MAX supports high\u2011quality, publication\u2011ready data and smoother scale\u2011up.<\/p>\n<h3>Related stabilized glutamine product<\/h3>\n<p>In addition to our MAX formulation media, PurMa Biologics manufactures <strong>PurMa\u2122 GluaSup (Cat# P3S210 559)<\/strong>.<br \/>\nPurMa\u2122 GluaSup is a concentrated L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine supplement designed to prevent L\u2011glutamine degradation in other basal media.<br \/>\nIt is ideal when you want to upgrade existing media formulations with the same stabilized glutamine technology used in RPMI-1640-MAX.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Q1. What is the main difference between RPMI-1640-MAX and standard RPMI\u20111640?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe main difference is the glutamine source.<br \/>\nRPMI-1640-MAX replaces unstable L\u2011glutamine with 4 mM L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine.<br \/>\nThis change improves pH stability, shelf life, and reduces toxic ammonia build\u2011up, which enhances cell viability and growth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2. Why does L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine extend the shelf life of the medium?<\/strong><br \/>\nL\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine is much more stable in aqueous solution than free L\u2011glutamine.<br \/>\nIt degrades slowly and does not rapidly generate ammonia or breakdown products.<br \/>\nRPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine, which keeps the medium closer to its original composition for a longer time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3. Does RPMI-1640-MAX reduce the risk of contamination?<\/strong><br \/>\nRPMI-1640-MAX does not directly sterilize cultures, but its higher buffering capacity and stability help maintain physiological pH.<br \/>\nStable pH and consistent medium composition reduce stress on cells and minimize conditions that can favor opportunistic contaminants.<br \/>\nStandard aseptic technique and proper filtration are still required.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4. Do I need to add FBS or other supplements to RPMI-1640-MAX?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes. RPMI-1640-MAX does not contain proteins, lipids, or growth factors.<br \/>\nFor most applications, we recommend supplementing with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) or an appropriate serum alternative.<br \/>\nAdditional supplements can be added according to your cell line\u2019s specific requirements. But because RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine, FBS performs better due to the condition mentioned above.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5. Is RPMI-1640-MAX suitable for primary cells?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes. RPMI-1640-MAX is particularly well suited for primary and sensitive cells.<br \/>\nThe stabilized L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine minimizes ammonia accumulation and maintains more consistent pH.<br \/>\nThese features create a gentler environment that can support better attachment, viability, and long\u2011term growth of primary cells.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q6. How should I store and handle RPMI-1640-MAX?<\/strong><br \/>\nStore RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium, which contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine, as recommended on the product label, typically at 2\u20138 \u00b0C and protected from light.<br \/>\nAvoid repeated freeze\u2013thaw cycles and prolonged exposure to room temperature. Because RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine, it will keep the potency much longer.<br \/>\nUse aseptic technique when opening and aliquoting to maintain sterility and maximize shelf life.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/4960081\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Culture of normal human leukocytes.<\/span> <\/a>Moore GE, et al. 1967 Feb 20;199(8):519-24. PMID: 4960081<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/5437104\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Leukocytes as carriers in the transmission of bovine leukemia: certain morphologic and functional characteristics of cultured leukocytes from normal and leukemic cattle. <\/a><\/span>Dunne HW, et al. Am J Vet Res. 1970 Apr;31(4):597-617. PMID: 5437104.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/5274436\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Long-term culture of human leukaemic leukocytes. <\/a><\/span>P\u00f6ssnerov\u00e1 V, et al. 1970;17(5):513-23. PMID: 5274436<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table width=\"450\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\"><strong>Parameter<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"248\"><strong>Specification<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Appearance<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">clear liquid, Red liquid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">pH<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">7.4 \u00b1 0.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Osmolality<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">275-360 mOsm\/L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Endotoxin<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">NMT&lt; 2EU\/mL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Mycoplasma<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">Negative<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Suitability<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">Suitable for mammalian cell culture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Additive<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">NA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Indicator<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">NA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Sterility Tested<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">Sterile filtered using 0.22 \u00b5m filter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Form<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">Liquid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"201\">Shipping Condition<\/td>\n<td width=\"248\">Dry Ice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/what-is-rpmi-1640\/\">What Is RPMI 1640?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">PurMa\u2122 RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine.PurMa\u2122 Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640-MAX (RPMI-1640-MAX) is a next\u2011generation mammalian cell culture medium. Unlike standard RPMI\u20111640, this RPMI-1640-MAX cell culture medium contains 4 mM L\u2011alanyl\u2011L\u2011glutamine instead of L\u2011glutamine. This stabilized dipeptide provides higher pH buffering capacity, significantly longer shelf life, and reduced toxic ammonia build\u2011up. The result is more consistent cultures, improved viability and growth, and better support for sensitive primary cells.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":125903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[283,512],"product_tag":[581,682,666,556,595,545,664,665,546],"class_list":["post-102801","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-cell-culture-media","product_cat-roswell-park-memorial-institute-1640","product_tag-cell-culture","product_tag-glucose","product_tag-l-alanyl-l-glutamine","product_tag-mammalian-cells","product_tag-max","product_tag-phenol-red","product_tag-rpmi","product_tag-rpmi-1640","product_tag-without-phenol-red","entry","has-media","first","instock","sale","taxable","shipping-taxable","purchasable","product-type-variable","has-product-nav","col","span_1_of_4","owp-content-center","owp-thumbs-layout-horizontal","owp-btn-normal","owp-tabs-layout-horizontal","has-no-thumbnails"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/102801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102801"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=102801"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=102801"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purmabiologics.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=102801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}