Insect Cell Culture Medium Selection and Optimisation Based on Monitoring and Economical Considerations

The culture of insect cells is currently done using different media specifically developed for these cells (among them, IPL-41, Grace's, and TC-100). The growth of a Sf9 cell line was studied in each of these media, and IPL-41 showed the best results. Nevertheless, this medium contains various carbohydrates as carbon and energy sources, and this fact supposes a complication for the monitoring of the culture. In order to make possible the control of the sugar exhaustion, its formulation was simplified to a unique saccaride source, as it was seen that one of this nutrients was sufficient to enable an efficient growth of the cells.