Cell culture media, or optimized growth media, is used to support cell proliferation and function when grown outside of an organism. Media is a complex mixture of salts, carbohydrates, growth factors, hormones, and more that help regulate the conditions in the cell culture, including osmotic pressure and pH. Phenol red is frequently used as a pH indicator to show when your medium may no longer be at the appropriate pH.
Using optimized cell culture media for your primary cell culture is essential to help ensure adequate cell growth and function. Lonza offers a full suite of optimized cell culture formulated for a variety of primary cell types including endothelial cells, airways cells, glial cells and more.
Adherent vs. suspension culture
There are two cell culture techniques to grow cells in culture: adherent culture, as monolayers on an artificial substrate, or suspension culture, free-floating in culture medium.
The majority of the cells derived from vertebrates, with the exception of hematopoietic cell lines, have to be cultured on a suitable extracellular matrix to allow cell adhesion and spreading. (i.e., tissue culture treated). However, many cell lines can also be adapted for suspension culture. Cells that are cultured in suspension can be maintained in culture flasks that are not tissue culture treated.