ENHANCED IGG PRODUCTION IN ERDF MEDIA WITH AND WITHOUT SERUM - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

The performance of three basal media RPMI, DMEM/F12 (DF) and eRDF (enh anced RDF, RPMI:DMEM:F12 in 2:1:1) were evaluated in cultures with and without serum with respect to cell proliferation, metabolism and mono clonal antibody (Mab) productivity. Based on the ease of adaptation, g rowth rate, maximum cell density and Mab production, the media were ra nked as follows: eRDF>DF >RPMI. This was true for serum-free (SF) and serum supplemented (SS) media in static and shaker cultures. Growth pe rformances in static and shaker cultures were consistently 20-50% lowe r in all three SF media compared to the corresponding SS conditions. A ntibody titres in DF/SF and RPMI/SF cultures, irrespective of the cult ure condition, were generally similar or slightly lower than their SS counterparts. However, eRDF/SF medium yielded a much higher Mab titre (193 mgl(-1)) compared to eRDF/SS medium (145 mgl(-1)). This was also six times higher than the lowest titre of 30 mgl (-1) in RPMI/SF mediu m. Hybridomas in eRDF/SF were further adapted to media without bovine serum albumin (eRDF/SF-BSA). Maximum cell densities in these cultures improved with scale up, from 1.1 x 10(6) ml(-1) in static, to 1.9 x 10 (6) ml(-1) in shaker flasks, to 2.5 x 10(6) ml(-1) in bioreactors. How ever, Ig levels remained between 100-130 mgl(-1) which were much lower than in eRDF/SF medium. Thus BSA appears to be necessary for Ig produ ction. The manufacturing cost (excluding purification) of Ig using eRD F was calculated to be between 17-50% of the price of the other two me dia and therefore this is regarded as the best medium for Ig productio n.