FBS Delipidated

Delipidated FBS is a specially treated fetal bovine serum (FBS) with a reduced lipid content. It is suitable for lipid-free cell culture and experiments designed to investigate the influence of lipids on cellular processes.

Its reduced lipid content enables controlled experimental conditions, for example, when studying lipid metabolism, intracellular signaling pathways, and metabolic processes. Delipidated FBS is also ideal for studies on atherosclerosis, cholesterol biosynthesis, and adipocyte research.

To simulate in vivo conditions for in vitro cell culture, serum is often added to the cell culture medium. Serum serves as a source of growth factors, lipids, hormones, and minerals for the cells. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is particularly rich in growth factors and contains few antibodies that could interfere with cell culture. This unique composition makes FBS one of the most important supplements for cell proliferation in in vitro cell culture.

Lipids can influence certain experiments because they themselves regulate biological processes such as cellular metabolism, signal transduction, and gene expression. As a result, they can skew experimental results or mask the effects of specifically added lipids. Delipidized FBS reduces these confounding factors and enables more controlled experimental conditions. This allows for a more precise investigation of the influence of individual lipids on cellular processes.

FAQs

How are lipids removed from delipidated FBS?

Our FBS is delipidated using two different methods: a precipitation process with fumed silica and affinity chromatography.

Delipidation using pyrogenic silica
Pyrogenic silica consists largely of high-purity, amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂), which aggregates into larger units when dissolved. When pyrogenic silica is added to serum, nonpolar serum components such as lipids and steroids are adsorbed onto the surface of the silica. The pyrogenic silica aggregates together with the adsorbed lipids and can be removed from the remaining serum by centrifugation.

Delipidation using affinity chromatography
In affinity chromatography, the serum (the mobile phase) is passed through a separation column. Nonpolar ligands have been pre-coupled to the column material (stationary phase), with which the lipids interact. Delipidation occurs due to the high affinity of the serum lipids for the nonpolar ligands of the stationary phase.

Is delipidated FBS completely lipid-free?

No. During delipidation, the lipid content is significantly reduced but not completely removed. Delipidated FBS is low in lipids.

Does delipidated FBS support cell growth even without lipids?

Yes, delipidated FBS still contains all the serum components that support cell growth. However, some cell lines are sensitive to lipid removal, so we recommend prior validation.

Do I need low-lipid FBS for studies involving adipocytes?

Adipocytes play a central role in lipid metabolism, as they store lipids and release them as needed. So yes, delipidated FBS is useful in research on adipocytes (fat cells). However, it is not always necessary and depends on the specific experiment:

Delipidated FBS is suitable for:

• Lipid uptake: Investigation of the targeted uptake of specific fatty acids by adipocytes
• Lipolysis: Analysis of fat breakdown and the release of fatty acids
• Lipid metabolism: Investigation of lipid-dependent metabolic pathways and signaling processes
• Gene expression: Analysis of the regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism

Can delipidated FBS completely replace natural FBS?

Generally yes, but not in all applications. Since lipids are essential for numerous cellular functions, delipidated FBS can alter the growth, viability, and metabolism of certain cell types. Its suitability should therefore be tested for each cell line.