Description
Background
PurMa™ Chemically Defined MEM Alpha with Nucleosides in Earls’ buffer (CD-MEM-α-N/EBSS) is a proprietary formulation used to grow cells in vitro without any undefined or animal-derived components. Moreover, CD-MEM-α-N/EBSS Medium contains known quantities of pure chemicals, including amino acids, vitamins, salts, sugars, and more importantly a proprietary combination of synthetic growth factors.
It is absolutely crucial to mention that the PurMa™ Growth Supplement for each conventional media such as DMEM, IMDM, RPMI-1640… (base media) are slightly different in combination, amount of several growth factors, ions, chemicals, pH with particular adjustments need to be done, based on the environments the base media provides.
This provides a consistent and controlled environment for cell growth and research. Noticeably, CD-MEM-α-N/EBSS Medium is essential for applications that require reproducibility and regulatory compliance as well as for studying specific cellular processes without extraneous variables. Furthermore, CD-MEM-α-N /EBSS Medium is designed for custom formulations tailored for various cell types.
Important Notes:
It is crucially vital, for a gradual transition from media containing FBS to chemically defined cell culture media, to follow these steps:
- Starting Point: 10% FBS+ (control) (you need two controls, one to be left in only 10% FBS and continue monitoring for comparing with 0% FBS + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium. The second one chemically defined medium + 10% FBS which is going through the reduction of FBS process)
- 48 hours later: 8% FBS in + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
- 48 hours later: 6% FBS in + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
- 48 hours later: 4% FBS + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
- 48 hours later: 2% FBS + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
- 48 hours later: 1% FBS + PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
- 24 hours later: 0% FBS and only PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium
Importantly, for each change, spin down and fully discard the media and replace it with the less percentages of FBS.
Noticeably, you don’t have to start with a huge number of cells (~500,000 cells/ml). Additionally, we strongly recommend you start with more than one plate as some of the plates might get contaminated.
So, once the cells are kept in chemically defined Media, you should always keep them in the same chemically defined medium from the same vendor and the same formulation, even for freezing (see below).
Usually, after you get your cells adapted to PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium you need to make several plates and freeze down several vials. The mentioned cells are adapted to chemically defined medium and when you thaw them in the first week, in addition to PurMa™ Chemically Defined Medium, you need to add 10% PurMa™ CD Booster (Cat# P3C10144).
Formulation
The CD-MEM-α-N/EBSS Medium includes a base formulation including L-Alanine -L Glutamine :Base Formulation of Chemically Defined MEM-alpha with Nucleosides in Earl’s Buffer P3C310125
Additionally, CD-MEM-α-N/EBSS Medium contains a proprietary synthetic cocktail of specific growth factors, hormones, and other nutrients which make it independent of any serum and any trace of animal products.
References
- The growth of L-cells and Vero cells on an autoclavable MEM-peptone medium. L Keay Biotechnology and bioengineering, 19(3), 399-411 (1977-03-01).
- Minimum essential medium alpha (MEM) enhances assisted reproductive technology results. I. Mouse embryo study. Wun WS, et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1994 Jul;11(6):303-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02215717. PMID: 7734915.
- Alpha-minimum essential medium (MEM) enhances in vitro hatched blastocyst development and cell number per embryo over Ham’s F-10. Roudebush WE, et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 1994 Apr;11(4):203-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02211809. PMID: 7711383.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Red, clear liquid |
| pH | 7.2 ± 0.1 |
| Osmolality | 275-360 mOsm/L |
| Endotoxin | NMT< 2EU/mL |
| Mycoplasma | Negative |
| Suitability | Suitable for mammalian cell culture |
| Additive | Sodium pyruvate |
| Indicator | Phenol red |
| Mycoplasma Detection | Negative |
| Sterility Tested | Sterile filtered using 0.1 µm filter, 3 Times |
| Form | Liquid |
| Shipping Condition | Room temperature, Overnight |





Verified Customer, University of Oklahoma –
Verified Customer, University of Oklahoma –