Global Scientific Research Collaboration Leads To Breakthrough In Culturing HEK 293 Cells In Animal-Free Media

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 04 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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A recent breakthrough was published in the scientific journal In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology showing the benefit of using recombinant lactoferrin (Lacromin) to promote growth of HEK 293 cells using a serum-free and animal-free media. Lactoferrin is a protein derived from colostrum and has been made using recombinant techniques in an animal-free system by InVitria (see Lacromin). HEK 293 cells are used by biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies to produce human therapeutics.

The peer-reviewed study showed that recombinant lactoferrin (Lacromin) was used as a serum-free and animal-free media component to enhance the growth of a variety of cell lines, including HEK cell lines. Using recombinant human lactoferrin (Lacromin), viable cell growth was considerably higher when compared to using recombinant or native human transferrin. The study also showed that recombinant human lactoferrin (Lacromin) was capable of promoting HEK293 cell growth faster than human transferrin, leading to faster doubling times.

Dr. Ning Huang, Vice President of Research and Development for InVitria, coordinated the study entitled, "Bioactive recombinant human lactoferrin, derived from rice, stimulates mammalian cell growth."

"This research supports the use of recombinant human lactoferrin for biopharmaceutical production companies that are currently using HEK 293 cells," said Dr. Huang. He continued, "Since recombinant lactoferrin is well defined and animal free, it is ideal for use in serum free or defined media to deliver a critical growth factor for HEK 293 cells."

Dr. Huang concluded, "This finding will lead to improved growth and performance of HEK 293 cell lines in animal free and defined media, leading to safer and more efficient biopharmaceutical production."

Research institutions from around the world were involved in this discovery including: University of Auckland in New Zealand and Barts & The London Queen Mary's School of Medicine & Dentistry in London. Also, cell culture industry researchers at HyClone, KC Bio and InVitria contributed to these findings.

About InVitria

InVitria has developed defined and animal free cell culture media components that enhance productivity, safety and time to market for companies in the biopharmaceutical, mammalian cell culture, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, stem cell and diagnostics industry. InVitria's recombinant human lactoferrin called Lacromin was utilized in this study. InVitria also produces other animal free and defined media components including recombinant albumin (Cellastim).

InVitria