NeoSerix

NeoSerix is a complete serum substitute and was specifically developed for a more sustainable cell culture. NeoSerix is a defined alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) and maintains the performance of FBS. At the same time, it is sustainable (for more sustainable cell culture) and defined, ensuring that your experiments are not subject to any variations due to batch-to-batch fluctuations (for greater reproducibility and reliability).

NeoSerix supports cell growth, adhesion, proliferation, viability, and morphology in a wide variety of cell types, such as A549, HeLa, MDCK, and Vero cells, as well as primary immune cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. The switch from FBS (at standard concentrations) to NeoSerix can be made easily without any adjustments to existing cell culture protocols.

• Sustainable and promotes animal welfare
• Consistent performance compared to FBS
• Defined formulation for improved reproducibility and control
• Validated for a wide range of cell lines and primary cells
• Direct replacement of FBS possible without adaptation
  
  

Why Is FBS Used in Cell Culture?

Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is one of the most widely used supplements in cell culture. Due to its complex biological composition, FBS can support the growth, proliferation, and function of various cell types. It is primarily used to supplement cell culture media with essential and supportive components that may be absent or present only in limited amounts in defined basal media.

Complex Biological Composition

FBS contains a wide range of naturally occurring bioactive components, including growth factors, hormones, proteins, lipids, and other nutrients and transport molecules. These components can influence various cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, adhesion, metabolism, and cellular function. The complex composition of FBS makes it a versatile supplement for a broad range of cell culture applications.

Broad Applicability in Cell Culture

One of the key advantages of FBS is its broad applicability across different cell types and cell culture systems. FBS is used for the cultivation of established cell lines as well as certain primary cells. However, the appropriate serum concentration and FBS product may vary depending on the cell type, culture conditions, and specific experimental requirements.

An Established Standard in Cell Culture Media

FBS has been an established supplement in cell culture for many decades and has been used extensively in scientific research and biotechnology applications. This long history of use has resulted in broad availability and a wide range of commercially available FBS products. At the same time, it is important to consider that FBS is a biologically complex and variable material. Therefore, factors such as serum quality, lot-to-lot variation, and appropriate product selection play an important role in achieving reproducible results.

Why Is FBS-Free Cell Culture a Valuable Approach?

Culturing cells without Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is becoming increasingly important in modern cell culture. In addition to ethical and sustainability considerations, scientific factors also support the development and use of serum-free and FBS-free cell culture media and supplements. In particular, the complex and variable composition of FBS can make the standardization and reproducibility of cell culture experiments more challenging.

FBS Is a Limited Animal-Derived Resource

FBS is obtained from fetal bovine blood and is therefore an animal-derived and limited biological resource. Its collection and availability raise ethical, environmental, and regulatory considerations. FBS-free cell culture systems can help reduce the use of animal-derived components in research and biotechnology, supporting the transition toward more sustainable cell culture practices.

Undefined Composition Can Affect Reproducibility

FBS is a complex biological mixture containing numerous components, including proteins, growth factors, hormones, lipids, and other bioactive molecules. Its precise composition is not fully defined and can vary between different lots. This lot-to-lot variability can affect cell behavior and, consequently, experimental outcomes. In contrast, the use of defined or serum-free cell culture media allows researchers to control the composition of the culture environment more precisely. This can help improve the standardization and reproducibility of cell culture experiments.

FBS Quality and Origin Can Influence Cellular Responses

In addition to lot-to-lot variability, factors such as the origin, manufacturing process, and quality characteristics of an FBS product can influence its properties. Because cells are sensitive to changes in their microenvironment, different serum lots may lead to different cellular responses. Carefully selected and quality-controlled FBS can help reduce this variability. However, due to the inherent biological complexity of FBS, variability cannot be completely eliminated.

High-Performance Alternatives to FBS

FBS-free and serum-free cell culture systems offer the opportunity to reduce the use of animal-derived components while creating more controlled culture conditions. Bio&SELL provides high-performance alternatives for a range of cell culture applications, specifically designed to meet the requirements of modern cell culture systems. Depending on the cell type and application, such alternatives can provide comparable or even more consistent and controllable cell culture performance. The optimal solution depends on the specific cells, culture medium, and experimental application.

FAQs

Does NeoSerix contain serum?

No. NeoSerix is nearly fully synthetic and does not contain serum.

Which animal-derived components does NeoSerix contain?

NeoSerix is nearly fully synthetic. The animal-derived components it contains are BSA (bovine serum albumin) and various adhesion factors (proteins).

Does NeoSerix contain extracellular vesicles (exosomes)?

No. NeoSerix is nearly fully synthetic and does not contain exosomes.

Can I switch directly from FBS to NeoSerix?

Cells that have previously been cultured in serum-containing or other serum-free media can generally be transferred to NeoSerix without or with only minor adaptation. In most cases, cells can be directly transferred to medium supplemented with NeoSerix. If direct transfer is not possible or adaptation issues occur, a stepwise adaptation according to the following protocol is recommended. We recommend maintaining a backup culture in the original medium until the cells have fully adapted to NeoSerix.

At what concentration should NeoSerix be used?

Use NeoSerix at the same concentration as you previously used for FBS. (Example: If you are culturing your cells with 5% FBS, replace the FBS with 5% NeoSerix.) We generally recommend using a standard concentration of 10% NeoSerix, although cell line-specific adjustments to the final working concentration may improve performance.

Is NeoSerix compatible with trypsin?

Yes. NeoSerix is compatible with trypsin-based cell detachment. The use of trypsin inhibitors is not required.

Does heat inactivation of NeoSerix help prevent contamination?

No. Heat inactivation of NeoSerix is not required due to its defined formulation, and we strongly advise against it.