Strategies for adaptation of mAb-producing CHO cells to serum-free medium

Background The large-scale production of biopharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), commonly requires the use of serum-free medium, for both safety and economical reasons. However, because serum is such an essential supplement of the growth medium of most mammalian cells, its removal demands a very time-consuming process of cell adaptation. In this process, cells are usually subjected to a gradual, step-wise, decrease of serum concentration in the medium. With the purpose of alleviating cell adaptation, other medium supplements such as insulin and trace elements can be used, either isolated or in combination. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess strategies for the adaptation of CHO cells to serum-free media, using different supplement combinations, as well as to identify the most critical steps of the process.